The Mt. Free self-issue permits are required for day use at the trailhead. 1) Take the High Sierra Trail 10.6 miles east, threading together lodgepole pine forest, alpine meadows, and big views of the Great Western Divide high above the Middle Fork Kaweah River gorge, to Bearpaw Meadow High Sierra Camp. Featured Routes. When filling out your permit application, select ‘High Sierra’ (Crescent Meadow) as your entry trail, and ‘Whitney Portal’ as your exit trail. Permit Info: Wilderness permits are required at this trailhead. For those who have a limited amount of time to hike on the trail (or those who couldn’t get a permit to hike SOBO from Yosemite), section hiking the trail is a great option. Crescent Meadow is a collection of loops in the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. There is a small ford over the North Fork of Specimen Creek when you come to a large meadow. There are a number of trailheads south of Donohue Pass that connect to the JMT and are easily accessible through public transportation. An entrance fee is required to visit the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park, but no permit is needed to hike up Moro Rock, so get out and enjoy! It is looped by an unnamed trail which starts just beyond the picnic area itself. Crescent Meadow in Autumn. To get to the trailhead: Take Generals Highway to Crescent Meadow Road, which is just south of the Giant Forest Museum. This trailhead is an optional starting point for the High Sierra Trail. Pickup our permits at the Lodgepole Visitor Center (open 7am to 3:30pm daily) and stay the night in Lodgepole Campground. Drive east past the turnoff for Moro Rock (A short and amazing hike). The hike starts at the Crescent Meadow parking lot. Permits need to be picked up in person at the Lodgepole Visitor Center. Description: This scenic loop trail takes you around the picturesque Crescent Meadow. The trail starts from the northern side of the large parking lot. High Sierra Trailhead Shuttle If you’re staying in Visalia, the Sequoia Shuttle has numerous stops that will take you into the park in the morning. After passing the backcountry site WE4, the trail soon begins to climb. Otherwise good job! 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. From here on, the trail is unpaved but mostly smooth and well graded. The High Sierra Trail, which begins at Crescent Meadow (in Sequoia National Park) and ends at Whitney Portal, is a great option for those who have a limited amount of time and want to hike to the top of Mt. Elevation Gain: 200 feet. Once you arrive at the park, you can take the free Sequoia National Park shuttle to pick up your permit in Lodgepole and then get back on the shuttle to go to the trailhead at Crescent Meadow. The Crescent Meadow Trailhead is 2.6 miles from the Giant Forest Museum via Crescent Meadow Road. Whitney). I try to add some images tommow as well. Begin the High Sierra Trail at Crescent Meadow in Sequoia National Park. La Crescent: La Crescent Joint Public Works Facility: 450 S. Chestnut St. La Crescent, MN 55947: LeRoy: Lake Louise State Park: 12385 766th Ave. Since the BSL is a loop, there is a lot of flexibility regarding where you start, and there are several places where you could exit early if necessary. Permits can be picked up at Lodgepole Visitor Center (open 7am-3:30pm, closed 11am-12pm for lunch) the day of your trip, or from 1pm or later the day before. It can be hiked within an hour as a pleasure walk for anyone who wants to enjoy the outdoors but is on a limited schedule. Frypan Meadow is a delightful and handy spot to camp for trips incudling the climbs of both Kennedy and Harrington. The permit application is on-line and can be mailed or FAXed to Kernville or Springville. At Crescent Meadow there is long-term parking and restrooms, but no fresh water. Crescent Meadow is about 7 miles from Lodgepole Village where you pick up your wilderness permit. Take the free in-park shuttle the next morning from Lodgepole to the trailhead at Crescent Meadow (the first shuttle leaves at 8 a.m.). The blowout occurs after the switchbac… Getting a permit is easy, and there are no crowds to contend with. The High Sierra Trail to Mt Whitney is a challenging 75-mile trek whose scenery ranges from the giant forest of Sequoia National park, gorgeous mountain lakes, the Kern River Valley and of course the rocky jagged terrain of Mt Whitney. You can also camp at the Lodgepole or Buckeye campground in Sequoia National Park and take the free park shuttle to Crescent Meadow after you’ve picked up your permits and ready to start the hike. At the trailhead find restrooms, picnic tables, bear boxes, and informational signs. November 10th at 7:30am until further notice. 2) Next day, stay on the trail 1.6 miles. Day One on the High Sierra Trail we hiked 11.5 miles east-bound, from Crescent Meadow to Bearpaw. Crescent Meadow Loop Trail. Outside of our quota season you still need a … Permit Info: The trail enters the Three Sisters Wilderness shortly after leaving the trailhead. Because of its popularity, this is the only trail in Sequoia and Kings Canyon that does not have reservable overnight permits. To get to the trailhead: Take Generals Highway (SR 198) east to Crescent Meadow Road, just south of the Giant Forest Museum. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Permits can be picked up at Lodgepole Visitor Center (open 7am-3:30pm, closed 11am-12pm for lunch) the day of your trip, or from 1pm or later the day before. (4), Additions & Corrections The creator of the BSL suggests starting (and finishing) your hike at Roads End. There are free shuttles which connect Lodgepole Village with Crescent Meadow. Stay to your right and follow the trail around Crescent Meadow to return on the along the opposite side of the meadow. Take the High Sierra Trail out of Crescent Meadow and follow its well-graded ups and downs for 11.1 miles to Bearpaw Meadow. --Benjamin Franklin. Parking: a valid recreation pass may be used as a form of fee payment or Central Cascades Wilderness Permit holders must leave a permit trailhead vehicle pass in vehicle. It is in a state of regenerating growth after being trampled by unwary visitors. Interconnects with Boulder County Parks and Open Space’s Walker Ranch Loop Trail … Since the High Sierra Trail is a one way hike crossing over two mountain ranges, planning out the logistics of transportation and shuttles can be a little tricky. The road offers the option of taking a passageway through a fallen Sequoia log or driving around on a short bypass. This loop passes through some of the best scenery of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and was created as an alternative to the JMT. No camping is allowed until you get at least 2 miles beyond the trailhead, but finding a campsite sooner than the 9 … Continue three miles, to the Crescent Meadow Parking Area. Permits. The elevation gain/loss is +15,531/-13,866 feet according to Paul Richins, Jr., author of Mount Whitney (2ndEd., The Mountaineers Books). This is the official Starting Point of the High Sierra Trail! After that bit of business is … Crescent Meadow, is a large, crescent shaped meadow located at the edge of the picnic area. Time: 2 hours, round-trip. Whitney. Image by David Hickey. You should assume it is a six to eight day hike, from start to finish, not including any transportation time, for most average hikers. Incidentally Ron Karpel was able to get a permit in 1998 for Deer Cove Trail camping at Frypan Meadow from the park service at Road's End. The start and end of the hike is lot more enjoyable when you can actually park at Crescent Meadow, but unfortunately, visitors aren’t allowed to drive there on summer weekends and holidays between 9 am and 4 pm. High Sierra Trail: Introduction. The Crescent Meadow Parking area is beyond the Moro Rock trail and also features a picnic area (and the accompanying crowds). (2 ). (John Muir Trail North of Devils Postpile AA10), (get off at Devils Postpile or Red’s Meadow), (John Muir Trail South of Devils Postpile AA15). The following trails are all within Inyo National Forest, and allow hikers to head north or south on the JMT. | All Rights Reserved, John Muir Trail North of Devils Postpile AA10, John Muir Trail South of Devils Postpile AA15, High Sierra Trail 6 day itinerary (day-by-day descriptions), Big SEKI Loop – Complete guide to the trail, National Geographic Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Map. Fewer people at this trailhead means better permit availability. Trailhead: Crescent Meadow parking lot. © Hiking the JMT, 2018. The path will wind through the valley and along Crescent Meadow before reaching Tharp's Log. Location: Southern Sierra NevadaDistance: 73 milesDays required: 6–9Route type: Point-to-pointType of route: On maintained trailVertical ascent: 19,094 feetMax altitude: 14,505 feetDifficulty: StrenuousWhen to go: July through SeptemberPermits: RequiredFees: $10 per permit + $5 per personDogs: No***UPDATE for 2019***As of 2019 there is a section of trail that is blown out just past Hamilton Lake. The trailhead is located just past the tunnel log east of General's Highway 198. The hike starts at the Crescent Meadow parking lot. A wilderness permit is required and can be obtained at the Lodgepole Visitor Center between 7 am and 3:30 pm. This High Sierra Trail Permit can be obtained at the Lodgepole Visitor Center or you can call them at 559-565-443 and get one set up in advance. Crescent Meadow from Tharp's Log Trail before the High Sierra Trail splits off. Another trail named Tharp… To begin, you will need a permit and it will be much easier to get than a Mt Whitney Trail Permit. This hike was created by the National Park Service and was completed in 1930. All Rights Reserved. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. 3) Cross the wooden bridge over Lone Pine Creek and veer east to … Turn-by-turn from the Crescent Meadow trailhead. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. From here, hikers can see back to Moro Rock to the west, down to the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River, and ahead to the glaciated peaks of the Great Western Divide. Please do not hike intothe meadow itself. © 2006-2020 SummitPost.org. Water is plentiful for the entirety of the trail, and there are bear boxes at both Bearpaw and Hamilton if you’re looking to cut a few pounds off of your pack weight. Permits are only first come first serve, and they are available beginning at 1pm the day before your hike at the Lodgepole Visitor Center (I suggest arriving a little earlier to get in line!). 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). It emerges onto a warm, south-facing slope near Eagle View. The main loop is 1.6mi total. Make sure to bring your itinerary with you because you must state where you plan to camp each night before the rangers will issue your permit (you are not required to follow this plan, they just want to have a general idea of where you plan to go). The High Sierra Trail begins at Crescent Meadow in Sequoia National Park, on the West side of the Sierra Nevada range, and ends at Whitney Portal on the East, traversing the highest and most beautiful part of the Sierras. Here’s the trailhead location in Google Maps and Google Street View.. The trail (from Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal) is 72 miles long and takes about a week to complete. To get to the trailhead: Just south of the Giant Forest Museum, turn off the Generals Highway and head east on Crescent Meadow Road. Getting to the trailhead is easy if you use the Sequoia Shuttle, which goes from Visalia to Sequoia National Park ($20 round-trip). "A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one." Return on the same trail or create a loop and continue on as the path turns to dirt. Yes, it is Crescent Meadow. Here’s the trailhead location in Google Maps and Google Street View. View 7 Day Forecast on weather.gov. Crescent Meadow Trailhead. 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). Whitney High Country Trail Map shows the whole trail. The hike starts at the quiet Crescent Meadow parking lot. The permit is free for Bearpaw guests. Also I think it would be nice to have a primary image on the page. Distance: 11.5 miles each way Time: 5 to 10 hours, each way (average 7 hours) Trailhead: Crescent Meadow, approximately 10 miles south of Wuksachi Lodge® Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet. Great view of mountains to the west, open mountain meadow dropping down to South Boulder Creek. Distance: 1.8 miles. I think it's spelled Crescent Please note that if you go south on the JMT from one of these trailheads, you will likely need to exit at Horseshoe Meadow via either Cottonwood Pass trail or Cottonwood Lakes trail (because it is very difficult to get a permit for exiting Mt. A wilderness permit is required and can be obtained at the Lodgepole Visitor Center between 7 am and 3:30 pm. Permits can be reserved at www.recreation.gov. Weather. I'll fix that as soon as possible. However you can take any of the loops to the General Sherman tree 3mi, Tharp's Log trail 0.5mi, or the High Sierra Trail 1mi to Eagles View. Crescent Meadows – Walker Ranch Loop Featured Route 7.4mi Eldorado Canyon SP. Hikers may apply for a permit starting March 1st, and it can take up to two weeks to hear back from the wilderness permit office after sending your application. Take a right at the next junction and immediately cross a creek to head to Crescent Lake. Before starting your hike, be sure to give yourself some time to check out the sequoia trees! No water is available at the Crescent Meadow trailhead. Thanks. There is a restroom with running water and a large parking area here but very little else so the crowds are sparse. Reservations are recommended and campsites run $22 per night. Most impressive in the spring when wildflowers are in bloom, wildlife sightings are common in this area. The 2020 permit quota season ended on 9/19. 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