34.6 hr
Overview
The High Sierra Trail (HST) is an epic 73 mile trek across the sierras ending with a Mt. Whitney summit. The High Sierra Trail begins at Crescent Meadow in Sequoia National Park then heads up the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River, past the majestic beauty of Hamilton and Precipice Lakes, and then traverses the Great Western Divide at Kaweah Gap 10,700 feet. The trail then descends into the beautiful Big Arroyo before beginning a steady climb up to the Chagoopa Plateau. <br><br>Once again the hiker will lose hard gained elevation and drop down over 3,000 feet into the Kern River Canyon. While in the Kern River Canyon, sore-footed hikers will enjoy the natural hot spring tub alongside the mighty Kern River. The trail then continues up the bottom of the Kern Canyon and turns east, climbing parallel to Wallace Creek and merging with the John Muir Trail Segment 7, 49 miles from the starting point. Once on JMT Segment 7, the hiker can then follow the John Muir Trail about 13 more miles to the summit of Mount Whitney. With Whitney bagged, most hiker will continue the remaining 12 miles downhill to Whitney Portal to complete the trail.
Trail Stats
107.0 km
4730 m
4405 m
2042 m
—
Photos
Gorgeous views and a welcome break await you on the summit of Mount Whitney.
Gorgeous views and a welcome break await you on the summit of Mount Whitney.
An iconic USGS marker awaits those who summit Mt. Whitney
An iconic USGS marker awaits those who summit Mt. Whitney
Fall foliage on the Mt. Whitney Trail.
Fall foliage on the Mt. Whitney Trail.
A brief pass in the mountains give a view from the Mt. Whitney Trail.
A brief pass in the mountains give a view from the Mt. Whitney Trail.
Less than a mile from the Crescent Meadow trailhead, the trail exits the forest with seeping views of the High Sierra and the foothills. At Eagle View the view is amazing. Just taking the trail to Eagle View is a short day
Less than a mile from the Crescent Meadow trailhead, the trail exits the forest with seeping views of the High Sierra and the foothills. At Eagle View the view is amazing. Just taking the trail to Eagle View is a short day
Great views accompany the trail split!
Great views accompany the trail split!
Bear paw Camp. Luxury camping.
Bear paw Camp. Luxury camping.
Hiker on High Sierra Trail near Crescent Meadow
Hiker on High Sierra Trail near Crescent Meadow
Crescent Meadow, Sequoia National Park
Crescent Meadow, Sequoia National Park
Hamilton Lake
Hamilton Lake
Day breaks four hours from the start on the Mount Whitney Trail.
Day breaks four hours from the start on the Mount Whitney Trail.
Crescent Meadow from the Loop Trail.
Crescent Meadow from the Loop Trail.
9/11/2018 @The Windows, Mt. Whitney Trail
9/11/2018 @The Windows, Mt. Whitney Trail
9/11/2018 Almost there! The altitude was a problem for Victor from Hawaii. Mt. Whitney Trail near the summit.
9/11/2018 Almost there! The altitude was a problem for Victor from Hawaii. Mt. Whitney Trail near the summit.
Crescent Meadow, Sequoia National Park
Crescent Meadow, Sequoia National Park
Looking up the Hamilton Creek Canyon with Angles Wings on the left and Mt. Stewart in the center.
Looking up the Hamilton Creek Canyon with Angles Wings on the left and Mt. Stewart in the center.
9/11/28 @"The Cables", Mt. Whitney Trail
9/11/28 @"The Cables", Mt. Whitney Trail
Summit views!
Summit views!
Morning haze looking south. Sunlight hitting the east faces
Morning haze looking south. Sunlight hitting the east faces
Climbing to Hamilton Lake.
Climbing to Hamilton Lake.
Leopard Lilly
Leopard Lilly
Sunset on the top of Mt Whitney.
Sunset on the top of Mt Whitney.
9/11/2018 @Whitney Summit perfect cloudless day, no wind!
9/11/2018 @Whitney Summit perfect cloudless day, no wind!
Bridge crossing Lone Pine Creek.
Bridge crossing Lone Pine Creek.
Precipice Lake
Precipice Lake
Last chance for water before 99 switchbacks.
Last chance for water before 99 switchbacks.
Looking down Kern Canyon
Looking down Kern Canyon
Big Arroyo from Kaweah Gap
Big Arroyo from Kaweah Gap
Pit toilet at Hamilton Lake. Greatest toilet view I've ever had ;-)
Pit toilet at Hamilton Lake. Greatest toilet view I've ever had ;-)
Just above Outpost Camp Jul 31, 2019
Just above Outpost Camp Jul 31, 2019
Bear paw meadow mess hall (great stop for a beer)!
Bear paw meadow mess hall (great stop for a beer)!
Hamilton Creek crossing, on top of the waterfall. Great views, but don't slip!
Hamilton Creek crossing, on top of the waterfall. Great views, but don't slip!
July 2018 - JMT thru hike. On our way up to summit Mt. Whitney
July 2018 - JMT thru hike. On our way up to summit Mt. Whitney
View of Guitar Lake from above.
View of Guitar Lake from above.
Only a few more rocks and I will be at the summit.
Only a few more rocks and I will be at the summit.
Made it to Mt. Whitney (14,505’) after 4 days of backpacking from Cottonwood Pass to Mt. Whitney.
Made it to Mt. Whitney (14,505’) after 4 days of backpacking from Cottonwood Pass to Mt. Whitney.
Lots of great spots to stop while on this trail to take amazing photos of the Crescent Meadow!
Lots of great spots to stop while on this trail to take amazing photos of the Crescent Meadow!
Suns coming up! Whitney Trail 6:30am
Suns coming up! Whitney Trail 6:30am
One mile from the Crescent. Less than a mile from the Crescent Meadow trailhead, the trail exits the forest with sweeping views of the High Sierra and the foothills. At Eagle View the view is amazing.
One mile from the Crescent. Less than a mile from the Crescent Meadow trailhead, the trail exits the forest with sweeping views of the High Sierra and the foothills. At Eagle View the view is amazing.
Mt Whitney from Iceberg Lake.
Mt Whitney from Iceberg Lake.
Enjoying the Moment: Hikers at Mt Whitney Trail, Highest Peak in Continental USA with permission from Elena Omelchenko
Enjoying the Moment: Hikers at Mt Whitney Trail, Highest Peak in Continental USA with permission from Elena Omelchenko
Sitting atop Mount Whitney
Sitting atop Mount Whitney
Looking up toward 9-lake basin after descending Kaweah gap.
Looking up toward 9-lake basin after descending Kaweah gap.
Hamilton Lake
Hamilton Lake
09/11/2018 Trail Crest looking west towards Hitchcock Lakes and Sequoia. Cloudless day and only a breeze.
09/11/2018 Trail Crest looking west towards Hitchcock Lakes and Sequoia. Cloudless day and only a breeze.
It's a long, rough trail to the summit of Mount Whitney.
It's a long, rough trail to the summit of Mount Whitney.
Daybreak looking down on Trail Camp from the middle of the 99 switchbacks. Can you find the tents?
Daybreak looking down on Trail Camp from the middle of the 99 switchbacks. Can you find the tents?
View of Kaweah Queen and Black Kaweah over Big arroyo and Nine Lakes Basin
View of Kaweah Queen and Black Kaweah over Big arroyo and Nine Lakes Basin
Climbing up the chute
Climbing up the chute
Gorgeous views abound while climbing Mt. Whitney's Mountaineer's Route.
Gorgeous views abound while climbing Mt. Whitney's Mountaineer's Route.
In the Chute.
In the Chute.
After crossing Kaweah Gap.
After crossing Kaweah Gap.
Hamilton Gorge Tunnel - High Sierra Trail
Hamilton Gorge Tunnel - High Sierra Trail
Approaching the Chute.
Approaching the Chute.
Looking east near Eagle View
Looking east near Eagle View
Tired and happy to be on the summit of Mt. Whitney, a pair of hikers enjoys their accomplishment.
Tired and happy to be on the summit of Mt. Whitney, a pair of hikers enjoys their accomplishment.
View west from Mount Whitney Trail
View west from Mount Whitney Trail
Hiker and forest in Kern Canyon on High Sierra Trail.
Hiker and forest in Kern Canyon on High Sierra Trail.