High Sierra Trail itinerary
Every published mile marker on the High Sierra Trail route, in order, with the distance and elevation change between each one — and which permit each stretch needs. To watch dates and set alerts, go to the High Sierra Trail permit page.
Which permit covers this route
The High Sierra Trail. One reservation is a trailhead or zone plus an entry date; you roam after that, issued by reservation.
The permit is issued for a named entry point. Crescent Meadow and Whitney Portal are the ones on this list.
- Stops mapped
- 14
- Across the markers
- 83.2 mi
- Published route length
- 72.2 mi
How long it takes: 6-8 days. That is the figure the permit publishes — this page does not divide the route into days, because no source records which stop you sleep at.
The stops below are the route's published mile markers, in order, with the elevations recorded against each one.
Distance and elevation change on each leg are the difference between the two published figures either side of it, so the legs are arithmetic on the markers and nothing more.
These two figures disagree. The mile markers run to 83.2 miles, past the 72.2 miles published for the route. Both are printed as recorded.
The High Sierra Trail route, stop by stop
Mile 0.0
6,729 ft
Crescent Meadow
Entry point — the permit is issued for this trailhead
Trailhead at 6,729 ft in Sequoia's Giant Forest. Near the General Sherman Tree.
4.0 miles to Eagle View
Mile 4.0
Eagle View
First major viewpoint overlooking the Middle Fork Kaweah River canyon.
7.4 miles to Bearpaw Meadow
Mile 11.4
7,737 ft
Bearpaw Meadow
High Sierra Camp with tent cabins and meals (reservation required). Pit toilets.
5.6 miles · 495 ft up to Hamilton Lake
Mile 17.0
8,232 ft
Hamilton Lake
Stunning cirque lake at 8,235 ft. Many hikers' favorite spot on the trail.
2.0 miles · 2,061 ft up to Precipice Lake
Mile 19.0
10,293 ft
Precipice Lake
High-alpine lake with dramatic granite walls. Featured on Ansel Adams photos.
1.5 miles · 407 ft up to Kaweah Gap
Mile 20.5
10,700 ft
Kaweah Gap
Crossing of the Great Western Divide at 10,700 ft. Views into Big Arroyo.
2.5 miles · 1,132 ft down to Big Arroyo
Mile 23.0
9,568 ft
Big Arroyo
Remote glacial valley with old patrol cabin. Transition to the Kern basin.
7.0 miles · 2,675 ft down to Kern Hot Springs
Mile 30.0
6,893 ft
Kern Hot Springs
Natural hot springs beside the Kern River with primitive soaking tub.
5.0 miles · 1,142 ft up to Junction Meadow
Mile 35.0
8,035 ft
Junction Meadow
Where the HST meets trails from Mineral King. Wide meadow camping.
11.0 miles · 2,353 ft up to Wallace Creek / JMT Junction
Mile 46.0
10,388 ft
Wallace Creek / JMT Junction
HST joins JMT and PCT. Final 18 miles shared with America's most famous trails.
15.0 miles · 1,084 ft up to Guitar Lake
Mile 61.0
11,472 ft
Guitar Lake
Final camp at 11,500 ft. Treeless basin beneath Whitney's west face.
8.5 miles · 2,128 ft up to Trail Crest
Mile 69.5
13,600 ft
Trail Crest
Highest trail pass in USA at 13,645 ft. Junction with main Whitney Trail.
2.7 miles · 905 ft up to Mount Whitney Summit
Mile 72.2
14,505 ft
Mount Whitney Summit
14,505 ft—the highest point in the contiguous United States.
11.0 miles · 6,145 ft down to Whitney Portal
Mile 83.2
8,360 ft
Whitney Portal
Entry point — the permit is issued for this trailhead
Eastern terminus. 11 miles and 6,000 ft descent from summit.
Getting a High Sierra Trail for the dates you want
Planning the route is the easy half. High Sierra Trail dates go fast, and the ones that come back are cancellations — they return to the booking system without warning and are gone again quickly. PermitSnag watches High Sierra Trail around the clock and alerts you the moment a date opens.