It starts at Crescent Meadow on the western Sierra, and ends on top of Mt Whitney after meeting up with the John Muir Trail. Map from High Sierra Kiwi. picked us up from the Onion Valley road end parking lot at 12:30… This trail goes by G Sites, F Sites, E Sites, D Sites, Yosemite Toulumne Meadows Visitor Center, and Cathedral Pass. Lesser known than the famous John Muir Trail, the High Sierra Trail (HST) is in many ways just as historically significant as it’s longer and more famous brother. This can be traveled earlier in the season than the John Muir Trail, but not by more than a month or so. The Theodore Solomon Trail is a long, infrequently traveled point to point route that parallels the John Muir Trail but on the western flank of the Sierra. “Life is a journey not a destination” “Strider” and Mary from the Mt. The John Muir Trail is a long-distance hiking trail in the High Sierra backcountry, named after famed naturalist, author and Sierra Club founder John Muir. Construction on the trail began in 1915 – a year after Muir’s death – and took 46 years to complete. It was quite the experience as the weather did not fully cooperate. Even if you only get to hike one trail other than the John Muir Trail in your life, make it this one. The JMT offers spectacular sceneries of canyons, cliffs, forests, lakes, rivers, peaks and passes of over 14,000ft. Download these BACKPACKER destination photos–Switzerland, Grand Canyon, & John Muir Wilderness–and get lost. John Muir, the first president of the Sierra Club liked the idea of a long distance hiking trail through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It runs for 216 miles through the high Sierra Nevada mountains of California, from Yosemite Valley (El Capitan and Half-Dome) to the summit of Mount Whitney (14,496ft), the highest peak in the US outside Alaska. Whitney, the highest point of the contiguous US. Trail Summary. Nearly as famous as the John Muir Trail but not nearly as long, the High Sierra Trail passes through some of the most intense mountain scenery of the entire Sierra Nevada. A first hand hike of the John Muir Trail. I became intimately familiar with Thunderstorms. The John Muir Trail (JMT) is a long-distance trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, passing through Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Need instant inspiration? The John Muir Trail is a long-distance hiking trail in the High Sierra backcountry, named after famed naturalist, author and Sierra Club founder John Muir. In 1928, Sequoia National Park was expanded from the western section famous for the giant Sequoia Grove all the way to the Eastern Sierra and Mt. Check out this guide for more information. When the Sierra Club was formed in 1892, Solomons began advocating for the trail he had dreamed of. The John Muir Trail passes through Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park, as well as numerous national forests and designated wilderness areas. The Winnette Route is a fantastic alternative to the Theodore Salomon Trail for those who are feeling brave but not that brave. Most thru-hikers on the John Muir Trail attempt the hike from north to south, because the southern half of the trail is more remote and at higher elevation. This poster clearly identifies peaks, passes, lakes, and canyons. The Sierra Nevada is the largest contiguous mountain range in the United States, and the backpacking opportunities here are truly endless. Length                            78 Miles, Duration                         5-7 days (average), Difficulty                        Moderate-Difficult, Elevation                        6,500 to 13,100 feet, Foot Traffic                       Light-Moderate. It’s like the best of the JMT in under a week. The High Sierra Trail is a must-see for any serious backpacker. As the name would suggest, sections of this loop are infrequently traveled and will give you time to reflect in solitude. It’s like the best of the JMT in under a week. Whitney and ends in Sequoia National Park 60 plus miles to the West. We will camp in the Dusy Basin and have an option to visit 60 Lakes Basin. So far I've narrowed it down the the Colorado Trail in Colorado (surprise), the Long Trail in Vermont, and the John Muir Trail in California. -Shelton Johnson The trail crosses several roads and intersects over 10 trailheads, making it highly accessible while providing several opportunities to resupply or bail if an injury happens. It descends into Big Arroyo, then climbs up to the Chagoopa Plateau, and drops down again into the Kern River Canyon. History of the John Muir Trail Theodore Solomons had dreamed of a High Sierra Hiking Trail dating back to 1884. But … Thinking about thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, or other long-haul route? There is never a dull moment on the High Sierra Trail and the terrain changes constantly. © 2020 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Location                         Lake Tahoe, CA, Trailheads                      Several, Tahoe City most common, Length                            165 Miles, Duration                         10-15 days (average), Difficulty                        Moderate, Elevation                        6,224 to 10,338 feet, Foot Traffic                       Moderate. The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail technically has two routes, the less-traveled Winnette Route, and the PCT Route. The John Muir Trail (JMT) is one of the world's most spectacular treks and is North America's best known mid-distance walking trail. This trip is designed for those who enjoy a lot of riding. If you want something shorter and simpler than the John Muir Trail but just as pretty, then hike the Circle of Solitude this summer. Location                         Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park, Trailheads                      Road’s End or Onion Valley, Length                            131-155 Miles, Duration                         9-13 days (average), Difficulty                        Difficult, Season                           July through September (average), conditions permitting, Elevation                        5,050 to 13,180 feet, Recommended Maps       Sequoia & Kings Canyon. The High Sierra Trail is a must-see for any serious backpacker. I backpacked the High Sierra Trail and the John Muir Trail from August 3rd to August 21st. Take this quick quiz to find out which trek is really right for you. It avoids the JMT crowds, the landscape is more spectacular, and the travel more challenging. Layover days at Bear Creek, Evolution Valley and LeConte Canyon provide acess to some of the finest Golden Trout fishing in the High Sierra. We will visit the Rae Lakes, Bench Lake, Twin Lakes and many more. Plus, about half of this trail actually overlaps the John Muir Trail, arguably making it a section hike. You could spend a lifetime exploring the Sierra and still never see all of it. I’m Gary. The Tahoe Rim Trail circles Lake Tahoe and provides incredible views while weaving in and out of the impressive granite alpine peaks of the Northern Sierra. The trail leads from one spectacular region of the Sierra Nevada to another, passing through scenic alpine meadows, traversing high granite passes, and descending along tumbling mountain streams. 'Just a place where the divine has manifested on earth.' Long distance hiking is awesome, but becoming a thru-hiker can have some…side effects. Location:                         Lake Tahoe to Yosemite, CA, Trailheads:                      Meeks Bay to Tuolumne Meadows, Length:                            185 Miles, Duration:                         12-16 days (average), Difficulty:                        Moderate-Difficult, Elevation:                        6,225 to 11,570 feet. For many backpackers the rewards of hiking the John Muir Trail draw them back season after season. It traverses Desolation Wilderness on the western flank, arguably one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the entire Sierra, and completes its loop over Echo Pass and Relay Peak. Your life will be forever changed. *Some links here are part of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which helps fund this site. Considerando esto, ¿por qué apresurarse? The Winnette Route overlaps 90 miles of the PCT Route, but otherwise stays further west and lower in elevation. The Sierra High Route runs parallel to most of the John Muir Trail, but isn’t actually a trail. The John Muir Trail (JMT) is a 211-mile trail through California’s High Sierra Mountains from Yosemite Valley to Mt. If you want to hike a tried and true classic that overlaps the JMT and goes over the famous Muir Pass, then hike the North Lake to South Lake Loop. The Sierra High Route runs parallel to most of the John Muir Trail, but isn’t actually a trail. If you want a big loop with incredible scenery but isn’t quite as intense or committing as the John Muir Trail, then the Tahoe Rim Trail is for you. At 55 miles, it’s feasible for most people to complete the trail in under a week without needing a resupply. Here are 11 cheap accessories thru-hikers swear by. You can read more about it here (coming soon). For 211 miles, the trail follows the Sierra Nevada mountain range from its southern terminus at Mount Whitney to its northern terminus at Happy Isles trailhead in Yosemite Valley. Those who are unfamiliar with the Sierra Nevada often are under the impression that they are lurking behind every tree and boulder, and that a substantial part of their diet is backpackers. The PCT Route is a wonderful hike for those who don’t have route-finding skills but still want to experience solitude and adventure through a lesser-traveled section of the Northern Sierra. Didn’t get a permit, or maybe you just want to try something different? According to the Yosemite Decimal System, the HST is a Class 1/Class 2 trail, which means simple scrambling, with the possibility of occasional use of the hands for balance. La filosofía de un buen montañero debe consistir en disfrutar de cada kilometro, de cada comida, y sobre todo, de cada vista. Whitney and Sonora Pass. The famous John Muir Trail takes a line down through the heart of the beautiful High Sierra Nevada taking in the some of best sights the mountains of California has to offer. Check out this guide to learn more. The trail is usually hiked in July, August or September after most of the snowpack has melted. The Southern Sierra High Route (SoSHR) is a superb alternative to the JMT for the adventurous traveler. The High Sierra Trail is the little brother to the John Muir Trail. From the northern terminus at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley) and the southern terminus located on the summit of Mount Whitney), the Trail's length is 213.7 miles (343.9 km), with an elevation change of approximately 47,000 feet Many feel this is the most complete representation of all zones of the High Sierra. Whitney. Si puedes realizar el John Muir du… It doesn’t go over as many passes, but the terrain it does go through is absolutely stunning—and it lets you summit Mt. , with clockwise being the most complete representation of all zones of the High Sierra, de! Take this quick quiz to find out which trek is really right you! 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