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High Sierra Trail

Tulare · Managed by Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS) · Region: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Difficulty 88/100 · Extremepoint to point#thru-hike#whitney#kern-river#high-sierra
Distance
72.2 mi
Total gain
15,300 ft
Net gain
1,600 ft
Net loss
0 ft
Days
6–8
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires allowed seasonally

Overview

The High Sierra Trail crosses Sequoia National Park from Crescent Meadow to the summit of Mount Whitney: 61.5 miles through the Great Western Divide at Kaweah Gap, down the Kern River canyon, and up to the highest point in the contiguous United States — 72.2 miles if you continue to Whitney Portal. It is the classic one-week Sierra traverse.

Highlights

  • Kaweah Gap at 10,700 ft — the hinge of the Great Western Divide
  • Six days of stage camps: Bearpaw, Hamilton Lakes, Big Arroyo, the Kern's hot springs, Junction Meadow, Crabtree
  • A soak in Kern Hot Springs' 115°F bathtub
  • Precipice Lake and the Hamilton Gorge tunnel blasted by the CCC
  • The final climb to Whitney's 14,505-ft summit

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Crescent Meadow (Giant Forest) · parking: Crescent Meadow parking; wilderness permit holders may access the trailhead 24/7 in season
  • Water: Frequent creeks on the west side; the Kern River throughout the canyon; scarce between Guitar Lake and Trail Crest.
  • Resupply: Bearpaw Meadow tent camp sells limited supplies in season; otherwise none.
  • Shuttle: Required — the route ends 72 miles from the start at Whitney Portal; commercial shuttle from Lone Pine.
  • Stove required: yes — no fires possible on this route
  • Bear canister required.

Permits

  • Agency: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS)
  • Reserve or apply on recreation.gov
  • Quota: High Sierra Trail entry quota applies; one of SEKI's most requested permits.
  • Reservation window: Advance reservations via recreation.gov; walk-ups when quota remains.

Campfires & stove regulations

Campfires allowed seasonally. Fires are prohibited above 10,000 ft in the Kern River drainage of Sequoia NP and restricted during high fire danger. Most of this route is stove country. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: July, August, September.

Snow: Kaweah Gap and the Whitney crest are snow-free roughly July through September.

Heat: The Kern Canyon bottom is hot and dry in midsummer afternoons.

Bugs: Moderate at the meadows and lakes in early summer.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • One of the Sierra's great undertakings — acclimate, train, and reserve the permit months ahead
  • No reliable water between Guitar Lake and Trail Crest on summit day
  • The Kern canyon bottom is hot and dry by afternoon
  • Altitude sickness is the leading hazard; descend if symptoms worsen

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. High Sierra Trail. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/high-sierra-trail.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Official stage distances (Crescent Meadow to JMT junction 49 mi, to Mount Whitney summit 61.5 mi, to Whitney Portal 72.2 mi), Kaweah Gap elevation (10,700 ft), day-by-day route, and permit requirements. Cumulative climbing estimated from the park's stage profile.
  2. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits. Recreation.gov / National Park Service. https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445857. Accessed 2026-09-07. Quota season, fees, food-storage requirements, and fire rules above 10,000 ft in the Kern drainage.
  3. Mount Whitney. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Whitney. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Summit elevation (14,505 ft) and Whitney Portal trailhead context.