High Sierra Trail

The High Sierra Trail (HST) is a hiking trail in Sequoia National Park, California. The trail crosses the Sierra Nevada from west to east. According to the Yosemite Decimal System, the HST is a Class 1/Class 2 trail, which means simple scrambling, with the possibility of occasional use of the hands for balance.[2]

The High Sierra Trail has switchbacks above Hamilton Lake. It passes over the Great Western Divide at Kaweah Gap, climbing some 3,000 feet (910 m) in 4 miles (6.4 km).[3]
Not to be confused with Sierra High Route.
High Sierra Trail
Trail near Hamilton Lake
Length49 miles (79 km) [1]
LocationSequoia National Park, Tulare County, California, USA
TrailheadsCrescent Meadow
John Muir Trail
UseHiking
Elevation
Highest point10,700 feet (3,300 m) [1]
Lowest point6,700 feet (2,000 m) [1]

From the plateau of the Giant Forest at Crescent Meadow (elevation 6,700 ft or 2,000 m) the trail travels high on the northern wall of the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River to Bearpaw Meadow. This first 11.4 miles (18.3 km) of the trail is a popular though strenuous two-day round trip hike. The Bearpaw Meadow High Sierra Camp (a simple tent hotel) located here dates back to 1934.[4]

Bearpaw High Sierra Camp Main Tent 36°33′54″N 118°37′15″W

Leaving the meadow, the trail climbs through the Hamilton Lakes Basin to Kaweah Gap which, at 10,700 feet (3,300 m), is one of the lowest passes over the Great Western Divide within the park. From this pass, the route descends into Big Arroyo and then climbs to the Chagoopa Plateau, only to drop again to 6,700 feet (2,000 m) in the Kern River Canyon. After following along the Kern River, it turns east and climbs parallel to Wallace Creek to the junction with the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail 48.9 miles (78.7 km) from Crescent Meadow. This is the end of the High Sierra Trail. Hikers may continue on the John Muir Trail 12.6 miles (20.3 km) to the summit of Mount Whitney.

The Mount Whitney Trail branches to the east from the John Muir Trail 2.4 miles (3.9 km) south of Mount Whitney's summit, and descends to Whitney Portal located at the end of the road from Lone Pine, California. From Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal, the trail is 72.2 miles (116.2 km) long and often takes 6 days or more for the average hiker to complete. The fastest claimed time to traverse is 15 hours 46 minutes, by Leor Pantilat.[5]

Work began on the High Sierra Trail in 1928, and it was the first Sierra trail built solely for recreational use.

Hikers should check with park rangers before planning a trip with riding or pack stock. At least one section of the trail is closed to stock, and grazing is limited in many areas.

References
  1. Secor, R. J. (1999). The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, and Trails (2nd ed.). Mountaineers Books. p. 92. ISBN 0-89886-625-1.
  2. Wallace, Z. (2016). Plan & Go: High Sierra Trail. sandiburg press. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-943126-02-6.
  3. "High Sierra Trail Map". HighSierraTrails.com.
  4. "Bearpaw High Sierra Camp Guest Information" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-10-04. (commercial)
  5. Bakwin, Peter. "High Sierra Trail". Fastest Known Time.
  • "High Sierra Trail". Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  • Starr, Walter A. Jr. (1977). Starr's Guide to the John Muir Trail and the High Sierra Region. Sierra Club Books. ISBN 0-87156-172-7.
  • USGS 7.5 minute maps through which the trail passes: Lodgepole, Triple Divide Peak, Mt. Kaweah, Chagoopa Falls, Mount Whitney, Mount Langley


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