High Sierra Trail
Sierra Nevada, CA
Elevation Profile
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Waypoints
Crescent Meadow Trailhead
Start near the giant sequoias of the Giant Forest. Stunning beginning to the route.
6,299 ft
Hamilton Lakes
Beautiful alpine lakes with dramatic views of Kaweah Peaks Ridge.
9,603 ft
Kern Hot Spring
Natural hot spring in the Kern River canyon. Rest day destination.
6,299 ft
Guitar Lake
Alpine base camp for Whitney summit. Named for its shape.
11,447 ft
Mount Whitney Summit
Eastern terminus. Summit of the highest peak in the contiguous US.
14,505 ft
Route Details
Distance
72.0 mi
Elevation Gain
17,999 ft
Elevation Loss
10,000 ft
Max Elevation
14,505 ft
Estimated Days
10
Trailhead
Crescent Meadow (Sequoia NP)
Best Season
July through September. Stream crossings high in June. Permits from Sequoia NP.
Permit Required
Sequoia NP wilderness permit from Lodgepole Visitor Center. recreation.gov advance reservations.
About This Route
The High Sierra Trail is one of the finest trans-Sierra routes, traversing 72 miles from Crescent Meadow in Sequoia National Park to the summit of Mount Whitney. The trail offers a complete Sierra experience—giant sequoias, deep river canyons, high alpine terrain, and the highest peak in the lower 48. Unlike the more crowded JMT, the HST sees a fraction of the foot traffic despite comparable scenery. The trail begins in the Giant Forest near Crescent Meadow, drops into the Kern River canyon (one of the deepest in the US), and climbs back up to Whitney through the Guitar Lake basin. The trail crosses several streams that can be challenging in early season snowmelt—particularly in June. Rattlesnakes are common in the lower canyon sections. The final approach to Whitney involves the same summit plateau as the main Whitney trail. Most hikers complete the HST in 8-12 days. Permits are required from both the Sequoia and Inyo National Forest sides. The route is well-maintained but gets minimal maintenance compared to the JMT, so expect some blowdowns after winter storms.
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