High Trail – PCT (JMT) Gear Checklist
The High Trail leaves Agnew Meadows near Devils Postpile, climbs the east wall of the San Joaquin canyon, then contours across open slopes that face the Ritter Range, with junctions to Summit Lake, Agnew Pass, Clark Lakes and Badger Lakes. It is part of the Pacific Crest Trail and meets the John Muir Trail near Thousand Island Lake. The forest caps overnight starts here at 20 people a day and requires bear canisters. People who walked it describe a long exposed stretch with little shade, a string of small streams to filter from, afternoon thunderstorms, and mosquitoes that depend on the wind.
What shapes your gear on High Trail
- How many people start here
- The forest's trail page limits overnight visitors on the High Trail to 20 people a day from May 1 through November 1. The 2021 quota list splits those 20 into 12 reservable six months ahead and 8 reservable two weeks ahead, and the forest's current page describes the same pattern as 60 percent and 40 percent. Overnight permits are required all year.
From Inyo National Forest (USFS): High Trail, Inyo National Forest (USFS): Wilderness Trail Names and Quotas for Inyo National Forest (June 2021) and Inyo National Forest (USFS): Wilderness Permits
- Getting to the trailhead
- The trail starts at shuttle stop number 1 at Agnew Meadows. The forest says anyone entering the Reds Meadow valley pays a per-person charge that includes the required shuttle bus. A 2021 hiker avoided the shuttle by parking before 7 am and found bear boxes at the lot. Spearhead's group suggests the lot at Mammoth Adventure Center and a public bus.
From Inyo National Forest (USFS): High Trail, Sea Kayaking and Backpacking Adventures and Spearhead Adventure Co.
- Shape of the route
- One hiker did the High Trail to Thousand Island Lake first, 10.2 miles, and said most of the climbing was done after only 3 miles. Spearhead's guide returns on the High Trail for 8.5 miles, with the big climb near the trailhead and then a flat ridge that overlooks the Ritter Range and the Minarets.
From Sea Kayaking and Backpacking Adventures and Spearhead Adventure Co.
- Water on the way
- Spearhead's group crossed at least 8 to 10 streams that were still running late in the season. Tiff's party, hiking back along the High Trail, noted that streams on one stretch may be there to filter from, depending on the time of year, and met a wet, narrow section thick with bugs.
- Weather turns fast
- One solo hiker met several thunderstorms on the way from Summit Lake to Thousand Island Lake. Another party on the loop sat through hail and thunder in tents. Spearhead's group had a cold night in early September at 9,900 feet.
From Backpacking Light, Follow Tiff's Journey and Spearhead Adventure Co.
- Crowds at the lake
- The trail reaches Thousand Island Lake after about 10 miles. A July 2021 hiker found the first campsites taken and walked another 0.7 mile along the shore on a ranger's advice. Spearhead's group says the camping area runs about a mile and the best sites start half a mile in.
From Sea Kayaking and Backpacking Adventures and Spearhead Adventure Co.
What the agency requires on High Trail
A bear-resistant canister
The forest calls this an active bear area and says you must use bear canisters for food and refuse. Food, trash and scented items must go in bear-proof containers.
A stove instead of a campfire
Campfires are banned at Thousand Island and Garnet lakes, at Ruby, Emerald, Badger and Clark lakes, and above 10,000 feet. Gas, petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel stoves are allowed in the high country. Stoves that burn twigs or solid fuel are not.
From Inyo National Forest (USFS): High Trail and Inyo National Forest (USFS): Wilderness Regulations
A printed overnight permit
An overnight trip needs a wilderness permit all year. A reservation is canceled as a no-show unless you print the permit, pick it up or mark late arrival. The deadline for an overnight permit is 10 am on the entry date.
From Inyo National Forest (USFS): High Trail and Inyo National Forest (USFS): Wilderness Permits
A plan to treat water
Treat water from creeks, lakes and springs before you drink it, the forest advises.
What hikers carry on High Trail
A rented or owned bear canister
One hiker reports plenty of rangers in this area stopping people to check permits and food storage. Spearhead says canisters can be rented at the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center desk that handles permits.
Cris Lewis reports bear boxes at the Agnew Meadows lot for food you leave in the car.
From Sea Kayaking and Backpacking Adventures, Spearhead Adventure Co. and Inyo National Forest (USFS): High Trail
A filter or tablets for the creeks
Water is spread along the route, not carried from one source. A squeeze-style filter made the solo hiker's trip easier than tablets, Spearhead's group filtered at streams, and Tiff's party filtered at a waterfall and at the lakes.
From Backpacking Light, Spearhead Adventure Co. and Follow Tiff's Journey
Repellent and a long-sleeved shirt
Mosquito reports vary with wind and date. A June 2021 party met hikers who warned them, so they brought a strong repellent and a treated shirt, then found mosquitoes milder than feared in steady wind. Tiff's party met a wet, narrow stretch of the High Trail thick with bugs.
From Somewhere Sierra, Sea Kayaking and Backpacking Adventures and Follow Tiff's Journey
A hat with a real brim
Spearhead warns that the High Trail has very little shade. A solo hiker wore a wide felt hat through repeated thunderstorms and said head and shoulders stayed dry without overheating.
From Spearhead Adventure Co. and Backpacking Light
Warm layers and a sleeping bag for the lake
Spearhead says nights are cold and windy at the 9,900 foot shore even in midsummer, and its group had a cold night in early September. One party on the loop felt a damp chill inside the tent after hail.
Boots you trust over 5,000 feet of up and down
The solo hiker weighed trail runners against heavy boots for about 20 miles and close to 5,000 feet of gain and loss. He chose the boots and said his feet stayed comfortable the whole way.
From Backpacking Light
An offline map on your phone
Tiff's party used the downloaded area map to check when the Shadow Lake viewpoint was near on the High Trail return, since signal is spotty.
15 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on High Trail
A camera tripod and too much food
The solo hiker's pack weighed about 34 pounds with a camera and tripod and five days of food for himself and his dog. He finished in less than half that time and said his hips and shoulders paid for it.
From Backpacking Light
Firewood
The forest names Thousand Island, Garnet, Ruby, Emerald, Badger and Clark lakes as fire-free, and all ground above 10,000 feet. Wood has no use on this route.
From Inyo National Forest (USFS): High Trail and Inyo National Forest (USFS): Wilderness Regulations
A cotton boonie hat
The solo hiker swapped a cotton boonie for a wide felt hat. It stayed dry through repeated thunderstorms and he sweated less in it.
From Backpacking Light
Gear questions for High Trail
Do you need a bear canister on the High Trail?
Yes. The forest says this is an active bear area and requires bear canisters for food and refuse. Cris Lewis reports rangers in the area stopping people to check food storage.
From Inyo National Forest (USFS): High Trail and Sea Kayaking and Backpacking Adventures
Can you have a campfire on the High Trail?
No. The forest bans campfires at Thousand Island, Garnet, Ruby, Emerald, Badger and Clark lakes, and above 10,000 feet. Cook on a gas or liquid-fuel stove.
From Inyo National Forest (USFS): High Trail and Inyo National Forest (USFS): Wilderness Regulations
How many people can start on the High Trail each day?
The forest limits overnight starts on the High Trail to 20 people a day from May 1 through November 1. The 2021 list put 12 in the six-month release and 8 in the two-week release. Check the live calendar for the current split.
From Inyo National Forest (USFS): High Trail, Inyo National Forest (USFS): Wilderness Trail Names and Quotas for Inyo National Forest (June 2021) and Inyo National Forest (USFS): Wilderness Permits
Is there water on the High Trail?
Yes, from streams that cross the trail. Spearhead's group crossed at least 8 to 10 that were still flowing late in the season. Tiff notes that some streams may flow on the return stretch depending on the season. The forest says to treat all of it.
From Spearhead Adventure Co., Follow Tiff's Journey and Inyo National Forest (USFS): High Trail
Sources
- High Trail · Inyo National Forest (USFS) · Agency
- Wilderness Permits · Inyo National Forest (USFS) · Agency
- Wilderness Regulations · Inyo National Forest (USFS) · Agency
- Wilderness Trail Names and Quotas for Inyo National Forest (June 2021) · Inyo National Forest (USFS) · Agency
- Backpacking to Thousand Island Lake · Spearhead Adventure Co. · Blog
- 1000 Island Lake · Backpacking Light, Doug Smith · Forum thread
- Thousand Island Lakes Loop July 2021 · Sea Kayaking and Backpacking Adventures, Cris Lewis · Trip report
- Backpacking Thousand Island Lake Loop in Ansel Adams Wilderness · Follow Tiff's Journey, Tiffany · Trip report
- Backpacking The Thousand Island Lake Loop to Ediza and Iceberg Lakes · Somewhere Sierra · Blog