https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/high-sierra-trail The 72-mile High Sierra Trail (HST) has all the memory-making potential of a much longer hike, packaged into a job-friendly, one-week vacation. Step 2: Create a Recreation.gov account. It evokes the very ghost of John Muir with its soaring peaks, highly varied terrain, grand vistas and spectacular ending at the top of Mt. Whitney on the High Sierra Trail If you fail to get a permit starting at Crescent Meadow, you can choose Alta trail as an alternative starting point (it connects to the HST at mile 5.8). Please fill out the permit legibly. If you need to pick up your permit later than 9:00 am on the morning of your entry date, simply notify the Wilderness Office at (559-565-3766) leave a message with your permit number and name. Begin the High Sierra Trail at Crescent Meadow in Sequoia National Park. Email communications about trail closures, advisories and important information through Recreation.gov. Best practices for traveling with stock in wilderness areas, 47050 Generals Highway Welcome to Campsite Vibes! Select your exit point, exit date, and nightly itinerary to the best of your ability; these can be modified later but providing an accurate itinerary will save you time a the trailhead. Our trails offer possibilities for hiking, photography, peak bagging, fishing, or simply … You may pick up a wilderness permit as early as 1:00 PM the day prior to your entry date. Located just a few miles west of Lone Pine, this popular trail is a … The reservation window can be as early as 6 months in advance to one week prior to your desired start date. Frontcountry camping is also limited and camping outside of established campgrounds such as trailhead parking lots is not permitted. We got on the trail at about 9 am, … Whitney. It became about the journey, … The high passes on the High Sierra Trail hold snow sometimes even year round. There is a lottery process for reservations at the High Sierra Camps due to high demand. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $70. The best conditions! Enter up to three alternate trip leaders that can pick up the permit in your place. Backpacker’s Pantry Kung Pao Rice with Chicken. Permits … Thinking about doing this as my first thru hike next year. It’s available in both paperback and a Kindle version. High Sierra Trail Permits & Packing List. It was cold! Neither of these trails was completed in 1930! Is there a max on the days that we can leave our car? The ranger station does ask that you park in the overflow parking (lower parking) if you’re going to be gone for an extended amount of time. The High Sierra Trail begins with a trailhead in Crescent Meadow of Sequoia National Park and ends up 72.2 miles later at Whitney Portal. Wallace Creek to Guitar Lake – 6.8 miles, 1,530′ ascent. Whitney. See more ideas about thru hiking, sequoia national park, trail guide. There’s a limit of six active permits at any given time. Animal-resistant food storage containers (bear canisters) are still required in most of the park, but may not be available for rental. For more inspiration visit www.campsitevibes.com. Thank you for this post it has been very helpful to my wife and I as we plan our trip this summer. We had a bit of a slow start, being wiped out from the day before. Wilderness permits cost $15 plus $5 per person within the quota season. Your High Sierra Trail permit allows you to exit at Whitney Portal, which few wilderness permits do, and is a major perk of hiking the trail. The shorter, 72-mile High Sierra Trail runs west to east across the Sierras and can be done in six to ten days. Whitney. The VVR shuttle will stop in Prather. To hike Mount Whitney from the east side of the Sierra Nevada, visit Inyo National Forest's website or call them at (760) 873-2483. You can also e-mail at seki_wilderness_office@nps.gov ahead of time. The existence of the High Sierra Trail is the direct result of a, rather significant, expansion of Sequoia National Park in 1926, nearly tripling its, previously protected, acreage. The quota season is designed to limit how many backpackers can enter the wilderness on any given day during the high season (summer). A note on permits: To do the HST in one push (without camping) one requires only a day-use permit for Mt Whitney. You can get a permit for day use or overnight; with a day use permit you must not camp or sleep. His answer was that the JMT and HST were considered one trail system during … The High Sierra Trail (HST) starts in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI), travels east and eventually meets up with the John Muir Trail (JMT). Ability to modify your exit date and itinerary locations through Recreation.gov. Integrated payment and the ability to pay entry fees and make campground reservations at the same time you make a permit reservation on the recreation.gov website. While optional, creating a recreation.gov account before your trip will save time at the trailhead. Find the name of and quota limit for your desired trailhead on the Wilderness Trip Planner or at Recreation.gov. If you will be accessing the park through the Jennie Lakes wilderness (Sequoia National Forest), obtain a permit following the steps above for the JO Pass, Belle Canyon, or Sugarloaf entry points. The trail gains over 6,200 feet of elevation 22-mile round-trip hike Expect to hike 12 to 14 hours to the summit and back A wilderness permit for hiking or backpacking … Together they have some close calls with lightning, climb the highest mountain in the United States, and discover the history of the trail. But there are more bugs and some of the water crossings will be difficult and fast moving. If you start at Road’s End, you will need a permit from Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP; they detail the permit system on their website. Prior to 2014, I had never slept in a tent or even hiked more than a mile or two. On our JMT thru-hike in 2007, we did the very same thing and found it to be a perfect choice. Creating a recreation.gov account will make reservations, payment and issuance a streamlined process. You will also need to bring proof of your identity. At Crescent Meadow there is long-term parking and restrooms, but no fresh water. Rangers are not available to answer questions at the trailhead. With every featured trip . This exciting documentary bounces back and forth between the modern experience of hiking the High Sierra Trail, and the early 1900’s when the trail was created. The opening segment of the High Sierra Trail is perhaps one of the most beautiful footpaths in the western half of Sequoia. The journey begins amidst giant redwoods in Sequoia National Park and ends at Mt. Did the JMT last August (Cottonwood Pass to Yosemite including summiting Whitney). So since I don’t know anything about this … Emailed applications are no longer accepted; go to Recreation.gov to make a reservation. On the way to Mt. Days will be warm, sometimes humid. You will pay the fee of $15 per permit plus $5 per person at the issuing station. Here is an official ov… For more permit information check out the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Mark website. When filling out your permit application, select ‘High Sierra’ (Crescent Meadow) as your entry trail, and ‘Whitney Portal’ as your exit trail. High Sierra Camp Lottery Process. Permit Pick Up: Pick up the permit from the High Sierra Ranger District office in Prather up to 48 hours before or by 12 noon on the day of your hike. Honestly, this part was actually super easy for me because I didn’t actually have any part in obtaining permits at all… I heard it was a real pain in the butt! Thanks for sharing it! You can list up to 3 alternate trip leaders. A SEKI park ranger put out this beautiful video that talks about this trail. And I was so happy to have all of those layers up there even if they did add weight. The best time is usually early July … With John Awe-Shum, Chris Smead, William Tweed. There is perhaps no better way to laterally cross the immense Sierra Nevada mountain range on foot. Plan & Go | High Sierra Trail provides great details on how to get permits, how long it takes to hike, when to get a permit and the tricky transportation options. Typically no snow on the ground, nights won’t be cold, water readily available almost everywhere. These permit systems exist to: - Preserve the Wilderness Experience: We go to wilderness areas partly for “outstanding opportunities for solitude,” as outlined in the Wilderness Act of 1964. John Muir Trail; Kalalau Trail; Michigan! Decide where you want to go by looking at Trail Descriptions, the Park Atlas and Trail Conditions. A permit is required to visit many of the Sierra Nevada’s wilderness areas, and some popular areas have quotas (a limit on the number of visitors). It takes them a couple of weeks to get back to you because they go through all of the emails manually and award dates based on a first come first serve basis of when the emails come in. Great post! The National Forests and Parks administering the High Sierra are subdivided into Ranger Districts. Together they have some close calls with lightning, climb the highest mountain in the continental US, and discover the history of the trail brought to life via 3d … Permits: Backcountry permit (reservation/walk-up) Trail Summary. Permits are required and cost $10 per permit + $5 for each person.Reserved permits: Approximately two-thirds of the daily entry quota can be reserved in advance by following these directions. Whitney, the … Day 7: Guitar Lake to Mt.Whitney Summit to Whitney Port. If you will be accessing the park through the Jennie Lakes wilderness (Sequoia National Forest), obtain a permit following the steps above for the JO Pass, Belle Canyon, or Sugarloaf entry points. Have someone drop you off at the start and pick you up at the end. Or…. Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States. I prefer to have my car waiting for me at the end of a hike so I’m not relying on others for transportation at the end when I’m exhausted. Days are mild, the nights will be cold, some of the water sources may be dried up but the crossings will be easier! a complete trail description, including a trail elevation profile; custom maps showing trails, natural features, mileages, and the best campsite locations; photographs of the trail and the countryside; trailhead information, parking, how to obtain necessary permits; applicable wilderness rules, including special regulations governing campfires, bear canisters, … DAY 1 on the High Sierra Trail. March 2, 2019; I’d been wanting to do the High Sierra Trail for a number of years now and after hiking the Rae Lakes Loop last year, I decided that this year it was going to happen. Whitney kicked my butt and it has kept me coming back for more. A permit system operates on the trail. Thanks for all the info! The views … It’s available in both paperback and a Kindle version. It is a rugged alternate to the John Muir Trail (JMT), boasting about… Where does the High Sierra Trail start? Step 1: Decide where and when to go. **You do not need to bring these items if you are going in summer conditions. You will be able to pay for your permit directly on Recreation.gov. High Sierra Trail Permits The High Sierra Trail is subject to a daily quota between late May and late September. My first attempt at Mt. It was a … Whitney kicked my butt and it has kept me coming back for more. So you still need to go to the wilderness office before your trip and get a permit but you can have a group of 2 or 12 join you. There are usually a handful of walk up permits reserved each day but those numbers change year to year. Directed by Chris Smead. Afternoon thunderstorms are common. We planned the High Sierra Trail for a year. The existence of the High Sierra Trail is the direct result of a, rather significant, expansion of Sequoia National Park in 1926, nearly tripling its, previously protected, acreage. If you do not make arrangements for a late pickup, your reservation will be canceled at 9:00 am and your spot(s) may be given to people waiting for walk-up permits. The High Sierra Trail (HST), a 72 mile trail in Sequoia National Park (NP), is a classic hike in the Sierra Nevada. Step 2: Create a Recreation.gov account (optional). The 72-mile High Sierra Trail (HST) has all the memory-making potential of a much longer hike, packaged into a job-friendly, one-week vacation. There is a lottery process for reservations at the High Sierra Camps due to high demand. For more on what to bring backpacking, look through my current backpacking pack list. Honestly, this part was actually super easy for me because I didn’t actually have any part in obtaining permits at all… The reservation fee base price has increased from $10 to $15, and the per-person fee will stay at $5. The high point to the South of Sonora Pass is Leavitt Peak sitting upon the massive bulk of the Leavitt Massif surrounded by subordinate peaks. The High Sierra Trail is a fully developed trail in Sequoia National Park. The relatively accessible lake basins near Lodgepole and Mineral King are busy on weekends but can be quiet mid-week. The information you provide on your self-issued permit may be helpful in a search and rescue incident . Sep 19, 2020 - Plan your High Sierra Trail hike with blog posts on how to get permits, a daily overview of the trail, essential planning tips, packing list and more tips to help you hike this thru-hike that runs from the Sequoia National Park to Mt. There will still be snow on the ground, especially at higher elevations. Notable changes of the Recreation.gov transition. High Sierra Trail: Day 7 – Guitar Lake to Mt. Crescent Meadow. When Should I Hike the High Sierra Trail. Your confirmation letter will include details of where to pick up your permit. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Whitney. Whitney. Emailed applications before that date will not be processed. This exciting documentary bounces back and forth between the modern experience of hiking the High Sierra Trail, and the early 1900’s when the trail was created. If you’re going in the summer months, it’ll still be cold, but you won’t need snow gear. Refunds of the per-person portion of the fee will now be available in the event of cancellations or party size reductions. No mail, email, or fax reservations requests will be accepted. This is to help protect the wilderness from too many visitors at the same time. We weren't able to get any permits until the very end of the season, September 17-24th. In addition to the giant sequoias, which served as the original inspiration for creating a national park, the park now included the highest el… Sep 19, 2020 - Plan your High Sierra Trail hike with blog posts on how to get permits, a daily overview of the trail, essential planning tips, packing list and more tips to help you hike this thru-hike that runs from the Sequoia National Park to Mt. Backpacking permits are traditionally issued by the Ranger District administering the trailhead we use to start our backpacking trip. Prepare for scenic views from start to finish. The High Sierra Trail leads from Crescent Meadow up the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River, crossing the Great Western Divide by the 10,700' (3261 meters) pass known as Kaweah Gap. Once your payment is made, you will receive an email confirmation at the email address on your Recreation.gov account. It’s under the Lodgepole trailhead options. You may pick up a wilderness permit as early as 1:00 PM the day prior to your entry date. For more inspiration visit www.campsitevibes.com. You will have to pick it up at the Road’s End Permit Station, … Bring you entire party to the orientation. There is no quota to backpack the wilderness for the fall, winter and spring months. At Lodgepole Village facilities include a Visitor Center, … I created Campsite Vibes as a place to share my story and my adventures to inspire and empower you to go on the adventures you’ve been dreaming of! So when I wasn’t awarded permits from the … That was with 2L of water, 8 days of food and winter gear in case it got chilly, which it did! Decide where you want to go by looking at the Trail Descriptions, the Park Atlas and Trail Conditions web pages or by visiting Recreation.gov. The Sierra High Route is one of the most spectacular and challenging treks in North America. If you mail them your key, they will also drive your vehicle from the start of the trailhead to the end for roughly the same price. Outside the quota season (September 20, 2020 – May 28, 2021), wilderness permits are free, self-issued, and are not limited to daily entry quotas. All applications must be submitted by snail mail. The whole 72 miles, West to East across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, that make up the High Sierra Trail. Because of the pandemic, we are working on safety measures to make this possible while protecting visitor and employee health. the Inyo, Sierra, or Sequoia national forests, or Yosemite National Park). Leave Lone Pine by… You should assume it is a six to eight day hike, from start to finish, not including any transportation time, for most average hikers. Join Chris as he drives his friend John to insanity over 6 days in the Sierra Nevada. First off, permits are absolutely required for the High Sierra Trail and although they’re said to be easier to obtain than permits for the John Muir Trail, they’re still tough to get and done through a lottery. The High Sierra Trail also ended up being my first thru-hike, my longest backpacking trip by miles and by days, and honestly the hardest hike that I have ever done both physically and mentally. Permit quota season: May 22 - roughly mid September When you can book: Mar 1, 2020 at 12:01am Wilderness permit instructions. In addition to the giant sequoias, which served as the original inspiration for creating a national park, the park now included the highest el… Your post is v insuring! Thanks a lot! There are 40 permits issued for the High Sierra Trail each day between these dates, which you can find at this link. Starting your trip outside of the parks? Most HST trips are taken in July and August, but you’ll find smaller crowds in September after school starts. Whitney, which is one of my favorite places and the highest summit in the contiguous United States. You may pick up your wilderness permit as early as 1:00 pm the day prior to your entry date or no later than 9:00 am on the morning of your entry date. Getting permits in January was surprisingly easy — I requested three sets of dates and got the ones I … The High Sierra Trail starts at Crescent Meadow in Sequoia National Park. The trail starts in the West from Crescent Meadows in the Sequoia National Park and runs to the East across the mountain range to the Mt. Permits for the HST are easier to obtain compared to the famous John Muir Trail out of Yosemite Valley, but the High Sierra Trail can still be difficult to snag on peak summer weekend starts. I had all kinds of questions about this, the first of which is the 1930 completion date for the "John Muir Trail/High Sierra Trail." You can check space for the date that you wish to start your trip on Recreation.gov. Reservations are available for most, but not all entry points. Permits for the HST are easier to obtain compared to the famous John Muir Trail out of Yosemite Valley, but the High Sierra Trail can still be difficult to snag on peak summer weekend starts. High Sierra Camp Lottery Process. DAY 1 on the High Sierra Trail. Really hope I get the chance to do this one day! 5 hours), Lodgepole Visitors Center to pick up permits. Backpacking permits are traditionally issued by the Ranger District administering the trailhead we use to start our backpacking trip. Description The SHR is a 195-mile trekking route that runs north-south through the heart of the High Sierra, the crown jewel of the Sierra Nevada Range. The elevation gain/loss is +15,531/-13,866 feet according to Paul Richins, Jr., author of Mount Whitney (2ndEd., The Mountaineers Books). Also, I can’t find Crescent Meadow as an entry point. There are bear boxes in the parking lots, put everything scented in there. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park. You may start before sunrise and you are limited to a 24-hour period on the trail. Permits are required and cost $10 per permit + $5 for each person.Reserved permits: Approximately two-thirds of the daily entry quota can be reserved in advance by following these directions. Obtaining Permits. If you are entering on foot or bike the fee is $20 per person. It passes through two National Parks—Sequoia-Kings Canyon and Yosemite—and two wilderness areas—John Muir and Ansel Adams. There are two ways to get permits for this trail, inside the quota season and outside of the quota season. Well-known destinations such as Mount Whitney and popular itineraries such as the John Muir Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, High Sierra Trail, and Rae Lakes Loop are heavily traveled and there is high demand for limited entry. The hiking season for the High Sierra Trail is similar to the John Muir Trail. Permits. The shorter, 72-mile High Sierra Trail runs west to east across the Sierras and can be done in six to ten days. Zebulon Wallace’s book, Plan & Go: High Sierra Trail (Sandiburg Press, £9.95), is a comprehensive guide. For more permit information check out the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Mark website. . If you start from the West, you don’t need a permit to finish on Mt. Super helpful stuff. Getting Permits for the HST Here is an official ov… I wrongly thought this would be simple, but it is more than … Now, this is probably the hardest part of planning the hike since the trail runs West to East (or vice versa). Whitney. Go to Recreation.gov. Watch our series of short films to learn about wilderness best practices, including human waste, hygiene, and food storage. My first attempt at Mt. There is perhaps no better way to laterally cross the immense Sierra Nevada mountain range on foot. Wilderness permits are only issued during Permitting Desk Operating Hours by trailhead rangers who provide important area information. It descends into Big Arroyo, then climbs up to the Chagoopa Plateau, and drops down again into the Kern River Canyon. Step 5: Finalize your reservation and pay fees. Whitney along the way. If you’re going West to East, pick up permits from the Lodgepole Visitors Center in the Sequoia National Park. Real-time reservation availability can be checked on Recreation.gov. Carefully choose your entry point and entry date – these cannot be modified later without creating a new reservation. The climb out of Hamilton Lake is … Located in California's beautiful eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Inyo National Forest offers challenging trails, high mountain peaks, and unparalleled views. I went in late September when the weather is cooler, especially at night, but manageable. For information about other changes and the availability of services in the parks, please visit our current conditions page. (Entries are required.) There are usually a handful of walk up permits reserved each day but those numbers change year to year. I didn’t grow up living the outdoor lifestyle I do now. What should I pick if I wanted to start from there? Lesser-known destinations such as the Monarch Divide, Roaring … You Can … The Camp overlooks the Great Western … Permits. Where does the High Sierra Trail start? But permits are still required! There are no, “night drops”. Refunds for cancellations and party size reductions (>1 week). At this time, we are also planning to resume in-person, “walk-up” permit issuance for the 2021 quota season. This trail is typically done West to East from Crescent Meadows in Sequoina National Park to Whitney Portal. Lottery entries can be submitted between October 1, 2020 and October 31, 2020. The journey begins amidst giant redwoods in Sequoia National Park and ends at Mt. Advance reservations for wilderness permits can be made using the website Recreation.gov. See more ideas about thru hiking, sequoia national park, trail guide. High Sierra Trail permit applications are accepted starting at midnight on March 1st. We weren't able to get any permits until the very end of the season, September 17-24th. The High Sierra Trail goes over the Great Western Divide, down to the Big Arroyo and Kern River Valley, then up again to where it connects to the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, and finally finishing on Mt. Then the trail would start from Crescent Meadows and finish on Whitney. Bring you entire party to the orientation. High Sierra Trail: Transportation and Acclimatization. It makes for a beautiful and scenic backpacking trip featuring stunning lakes, passes, forests, and the tallest summit in the lower 48 states. The HST is a strenuous trail with constantly changing elevation, so most people will give themselves 5-7 days to complete it. Update June 1, 2020: Due to COVID-19, this season there will be no walk up permits. Backcountry Permits, Backpacking, California, Destinations and Trails, Eastern Sierra Mountains, Gear Reviews and Guides, High Sierra Trail, Hiking 14er's, Packing Lists, Sequoia National Park, Thru-Hiking, Tips and Guides. Whitney summit and down to Whitney Portal. Step 4: Provide information about your group and itinerary. It is 49 miles long and many people add on the extra 12.6 miles of the John Muir Trail to summit Mt Whitney. Pickup after 1 PM the day before or before 9 AM the day of. High Sierra Trail (Sept 2019) Tahoe Rim Trail (Sept 2018) Teton Crest Trail (July 2018) Havasupai Falls (May 2018) Phoenix Summit Challenge (Nov 2017) Yosemite Three Summits (Sept 2017) Continental Divide Trail, Rocky Mtn N.P. My initial planning began at backpacker.com , but the link I had to their specific HIgh Sierra Trail article is no longer active.. My first part of business for this hike is obtaining wilderness permits. : provide information about other changes and the availability of services in the event of cancellations or party size (. 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