High Sierra Trail

The High Sierra Trail is a 116 km (72-mile) point-to-point trail in Sequoia National Park, California, USA, gaining roughly 3,600 m of cumulative elevation over 6–9 days. Rated Class 1–2 on the Yosemite Decimal System, it crosses the Great Western Divide at Kaweah Gap (3,261 m) and culminates at Mount Whitney (4,421 m) — the highest peak in the contiguous United States.

About the High Sierra Trail

The High Sierra Trail (HST) is one of California's most celebrated long-distance routes, cutting east–west through the heart of Sequoia National Park before joining the John Muir Trail and ascending to Mount Whitney. Construction began in 1928, and the NPS dedicated the route as the first Sierra trail built solely for recreational use — a legacy that still draws thousands of backcountry hikers every summer.

The trail begins at Crescent Meadow (2,042 m / 6,700 ft) in the Giant Forest, steps from the General Sherman Tree — the world's largest living tree by volume. From there, the route works eastward along the steep southern wall of the Middle Fork Kaweah River gorge, enters the granite-walled Hamilton Lakes Basin, and crests the Great Western Divide at Kaweah Gap (3,261 m). The second half descends into the broad Kern River Canyon before climbing back above the treeline toward the Mount Whitney summit (4,421 m / 14,505 ft), then dropping to Whitney Portal (2,550 m) via the famous 99 switchbacks.

Most hikers tackle the full 116 km route in 7–9 days, averaging 13–16 km per day. Fit hikers who pack light — for guidance, see the best ultralight backpacks for 2026 — can complete it in 6 days. The high altitude and multi-day calorie demands make nutrition planning essential; the guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day is a useful reference for Sierra conditions.

The HST is officially Class 1–2: well-marked and maintained, but demanding. The combination of altitude, remote terrain, mandatory bear canister food storage, and competitive permit quotas puts it firmly in the "serious backcountry" category. No technical climbing gear is required, but solid aerobic fitness, altitude acclimatisation, and experience with multi-day wilderness travel are essential before you set off.

Route Overview & Stages

The standard itinerary runs west to east — Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal — keeping the highest-altitude sections for the second half of the trip after the body has had time to acclimatise. The table below covers the full 116 km extended route including the Mount Whitney summit.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Giant Forest & Crescent Meadow — The trail departs from one of the world's greatest groves of giant sequoias. The General Sherman Tree (1,487 m³ by volume) stands just minutes from the trailhead, a fittingly monumental gateway to five days of wilderness.
• Bearpaw Meadow High Sierra Camp (2,375 m) — Established in 1934, this NPS-operated tent-cabin camp is one of only a handful of High Sierra Camps still running. Hot meals, linens, and a wilderness setting make it a celebrated first-night stop — and reservations sell out within hours of opening each autumn.
• Hamilton Lakes — A pair of glacially carved alpine lakes cradled beneath sheer 600 m granite walls. The upper lake at 2,896 m is one of the most photographed spots on the entire route and a popular overnight campsite for hikers pacing the Kaweah Gap crossing over two days.
• Kaweah Gap (3,261 m) — The principal pass of the HST and the crossing of the Great Western Divide. The jagged Kaweah Peaks Ridge dominates the skyline to the north; on clear days, Mount Whitney is visible 50 km to the east. Snowfields can linger on the approach until mid-July.
• Kern Hot Spring — A natural geothermal pool on the bank of the Kern River at approximately 2,060 m, maintaining a year-round temperature of 38–41 °C. It sits at roughly the halfway point of the journey and functions as a celebrated backcountry reward — sore legs appreciate it thoroughly.
• Guitar Lake (3,535 m) — Named for its distinctive guitar-body outline, this high tarn sits directly beneath the west face of Mount Whitney and serves as the standard final basecamp before the summit push. Alpenglow on Whitney's granite at sunset is exceptional.
• Mount Whitney Summit (4,421 m) — The highest point in the contiguous United States and the dramatic climax of the HST. A stone emergency shelter built in 1909 still stands at the summit; on clear days, the Great Basin desert stretches 250 km to the east.
• The 99 Switchbacks — The descent from Trail Crest (4,117 m) to Whitney Portal follows the iconic main Mount Whitney Trail, with 99 precisely cut switchbacks winding down the granite escarpment — a memorable final chapter before the trailhead and a cold drink at the Whitney Portal Store.

Best Time to Hike the High Sierra Trail

The HST's high-elevation passes remain snowbound into early summer most years. As of 2026, the Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPS continues to advise against attempting Kaweah Gap before mid-July without an ice axe and microspikes, and the upper Whitney approaches carry similar risk before that date.

• Early July (1–15 July): Snow typically lingers on north-facing slopes near Kaweah Gap and on the upper Whitney approaches. Stream crossings run dangerously high from snowmelt. Experienced alpinists with appropriate gear can manage, but it is not recommended for first-timers or groups without winter skills.
• Mid-July – late July: The route generally clears of snow. Daytime temperatures at Kaweah Gap reach 10–16 °C; nights at Guitar Lake drop to -5 °C or below. Afternoon thunderstorms are common — plan to be below exposed ridgelines by noon.
• August (best month): The single best month to hike the High Sierra Trail. Passes are fully clear, weather is the most stable of the season, and water sources remain reliable. Daytime temperatures at the Crescent Meadow trailhead reach 24–28 °C; high-camp nights dip to -3 – 0 °C. Permits for August start dates are the most competitive — book exactly 168 days in advance.
• September: An excellent alternative to August, with noticeably fewer crowds after Labour Day. Aspen groves in the Kern Canyon turn gold. Overnight temperatures below Guitar Lake can reach -8 °C, so a sleeping bag rated to at least -10 °C is advisable.
• October onwards: Early-season winter storms are a real risk above 3,000 m. Not recommended unless you are fully equipped and experienced in winter Sierra conditions.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Backcountry camping along the HST uses designated sites and dispersed wilderness camping. Bear canisters are mandatory for the entire route — rangers conduct checks at the trailhead and in the field; violations carry fines of up to $250. Renting a canister from the Lodgepole Visitor Center costs approximately $5 per day.

The sole in-route built accommodation is Bearpaw Meadow High Sierra Camp (2,375 m), offering tent cabins with meals and linens. In 2026, rates are approximately $350–$400 per person per night (meals included, charged in USD). Reservations open each autumn for the following summer season and sell out within days; check the official Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPS page for current booking information.

At the trail's end, Whitney Portal has a small store and basic facilities. The nearest full accommodation is in Lone Pine, CA, 25 km east on US-395, where motel rooms run €80–€160 per night. Visalia (130 km west) and Bishop (100 km north) offer wider hotel options for post-hike recovery.

Getting There & Back

To the start (Crescent Meadow, Sequoia National Park): The nearest major airport is Fresno Yosemite International (FAT), approximately 130 km west of the park entrance (about 2 hours by car). Los Angeles International (LAX) is approximately 370 km south (~4 hours). No public transit reaches Crescent Meadow directly; a rental car or pre-arranged shuttle is required. During summer, a free NPS shuttle connects Lodgepole Visitor Center with Crescent Meadow — park at Lodgepole or Wuksachi Lodge to use it.

From the end (Whitney Portal): Whitney Portal sits 24 km west of Lone Pine on Whitney Portal Road. Eastern Sierra Transit Authority operates bus services connecting Lone Pine north to Bishop and south toward Ridgecrest. Several outfitters in Lone Pine and Visalia offer HST-specific car shuttles, transporting your vehicle from Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal while you hike.

Permits & Fees

A Sequoia National Park wilderness permit is mandatory for all overnight stays and subject to a daily quota of approximately 25 hikers entering from Crescent Meadow. Permits are booked via recreation.gov, opening 168 days in advance of your start date. A 40% walk-up quota is available at Lodgepole Visitor Center from 11:00 the day before entry, but competition is fierce in July and August.

• Reservation fee: $6 per permit (non-refundable) + $6 per person
• Park entrance fee: $35 per vehicle (valid 7 days); the America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) covers all NPS sites
• Mount Whitney Zone: Covered by the HST wilderness permit if entering from Crescent Meadow — no separate quota required for the summit

If you plan to hike the reverse direction (Whitney Portal to Crescent Meadow), a separate Mount Whitney Trail overnight permit applies, with a quota of 100 hikers per day. That lottery typically opens in February for the full summer season.

Gear & Packing List

The HST demands a carefully balanced pack. The route's elevation range — 2,042 m at Crescent Meadow to 4,421 m on Whitney — means temperatures can swing 30 °C within a single day. The mandatory bear canister adds 700–900 g of fixed weight; factor that into your pack selection before loading food for 6–9 days.

• Backpack: For a resupply-free 7–9 day trip, aim for 50–65 L capacity. The Osprey Aether 65 is a proven choice with excellent back-panel ventilation for the Kern Canyon heat. Ultralight hikers targeting a sub-12 kg base weight should consider the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 50L or the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider — both handle the structural load of a loaded bear canister well.
• Sleeping system: A bag rated to -10 °C / 14 °F suits September starts; -5 °C is adequate for August. Use a full-length insulated sleeping mat with R-value ≥ 3.5 — bare granite at Guitar Lake bleeds heat quickly.
• Bear canister: A Garcia Backpacker's Cache or BearVault BV500 (1.0 kg) fits 5–7 days of food per person and doubles as a camp stool. Rangers enforce canister requirements strictly.
• Navigation: Download offline maps before departure — cell service is absent for virtually the entire 116 km. Carry a paper backup; the NPS distributes detailed topographic maps at Lodgepole Visitor Center.
• Water treatment: All water sources should be filtered or chemically treated; giardia is endemic in Sierran water. A lightweight squeeze filter adds under 100 g.
• Altitude preparation: If flying in from sea level, spend 1–2 nights at elevation in Lone Pine (1,130 m) or Fresno (94 m) before starting. AMS symptoms — headache, nausea, fatigue — can begin as low as 2,500 m in unacclimatised hikers.
• Trekking poles: Strongly recommended for the 1,850 m descent from Whitney summit to Whitney Portal and for the potentially slick Tyndall Creek crossing after heavy snowmelt years.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the High Sierra Trail appeals to you, these routes share its character — granite wilderness, significant elevation change, and a compelling sense of journey from start to finish. For international alternatives with comparable mountain drama, the Theth to Valbona hike in Albania delivers spectacular alpine scenery at a fraction of the logistical complexity.

• Clouds Rest Trail (United States) — A Yosemite day-hike classic delivering 360-degree granite panoramas from one of the range's finest viewpoints, without the multi-day commitment.
• Panorama Trail (United States) — A scenic Yosemite loop passing Nevada Fall, Illilouette Fall, and the high rim above Yosemite Valley; an excellent tune-up hike before an HST attempt.
• South Kaibab Trail (United States) — A steep rim-to-river descent into the Grand Canyon with dramatic open exposure and jaw-dropping colour contrasts; iconic American backcountry of a very different character.
• North Kaibab Trail (United States) — The return leg of the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim traverse, comparable in total elevation change to the HST's Kern Canyon sections.
• Hidden Canyon (United States) — A short, thrilling slot-canyon route in Zion National Park; ideal for hikers exploring the American Southwest between Sierra trips.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the High Sierra Trail?
August is the single best month. Snow has cleared from all passes, afternoon thunderstorms are less frequent than in July, and daytime temperatures at lower elevations make for comfortable hiking. Permits for August starts are the most competitive, so enter the recreation.gov reservation system exactly 168 days before your planned departure. September is an excellent runner-up with thinner crowds, autumn colour in the Kern Canyon, and stable weather — just pack a warmer sleeping bag.

How difficult is the High Sierra Trail?
The HST is rated Class 1–2 — no technical climbing is required — but the combination of sustained high altitude (up to 4,421 m on Mount Whitney), roughly 3,600 m of cumulative elevation gain, a multi-day duration of 6–9 days, remote terrain, and mandatory bear canister logistics makes it a serious backcountry undertaking. Prior overnight backpacking experience, strong cardiovascular fitness, and awareness of altitude sickness symptoms are essential. The trail is not appropriate for inexperienced hikers without preparation.

How many kilometres per day should I plan for?
Most hikers average 14–18 km per day over a 7–9 day itinerary. Day 1 (Crescent Meadow to Bearpaw Meadow, 18.3 km) is deceptively demanding due to initial altitude exposure. The long Kern Canyon stage (~24 km) is better split across two days for anyone carrying a fully loaded bear canister. Stage 6 — Wallace Creek to Whitney Portal via the summit — covers 38 km and is virtually always split at Guitar Lake, with an alpine start at 03:00–04:00 for the summit bid to avoid afternoon lightning risk.

What accommodation is available on the trail?
The only in-route built accommodation is Bearpaw Meadow High Sierra Camp — a tent-cabin camp with meals and linens, operating since 1934, at approximately $350–$400 per person per night in 2026. Reservations sell out within days of opening each autumn. Beyond Bearpaw, the entire trail is backcountry camping. Popular designated campsites include Hamilton Lakes, Big Arroyo, Kern Hot Spring, and Guitar Lake. Note that camping within 45 m of any lake or watercourse is prohibited throughout Sequoia National Park wilderness.

Do I need a permit to hike the High Sierra Trail?
Yes. An overnight wilderness permit is mandatory and the Crescent Meadow trailhead is subject to a daily entry quota of approximately 25 hikers. Permits are reserved via recreation.gov, opening 168 days before your start date; the reservation fee is $6 per permit plus $6 per person. A Sequoia National Park vehicle entrance fee of $35 (valid 7 days) also applies. Walk-up permits are theoretically available the day before entry, but in July and August demand is intense — online advance reservation is strongly advised.