Layover days at Bear Creek, Evolution Valley and LeConte Canyon provide acess to some of the finest Golden Trout fishing in the High Sierra. 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. I once hiked through the High Sierra in mid-May, and in the morning the snow was sometimes so firm that you could literally run atop it, as if it was pavement. Whitney â the tallest peak in the lower 48 states. Even if you only get to hike one trail other than the John Muir Trail in your life, make it this one. 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. Location: Yosemite to Golden Trout Wilderness, CA, Trailheads: Glacier Point to Cottonwood Pass, Length: 270 Miles, Duration: 18-23 days (average), Difficulty: Difficult, hard to follow at times, Season: July through September (average), conditions permitting, Elevation: 4,200 to 12,126 feet, Total Passes: Variable, Foot Traffic: Very Light, Recommended Maps: Several Needed, electronic version. It passes through two National ParksâSequoia-Kings Canyon and Yosemiteâand two wilderness areasâJohn Muir and Ansel Adams. Every hiker's life list should include the 270 miles between Mt. It is a much-less traveled route and is for the die-hard explorer, much like the Theodore Solomon Trail. 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 Big SEKI Loop can be accessed from either side of the Sierra and is among the biggest loops in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Take this quick quiz to find out which trek is really right for you. 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. Get this on your life list: It's the #1 trail our readers think every hiker should do. 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. Didn’t get a permit, or maybe you just want to try something different? Facilities, parking, camping, lodging, stores, and cafe. Don't miss these tips for lady backpackers from a Colorado Trail thru-hiker. I looked the Oregon Coast Trail as well, but I'm more interested in the 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. As with other long-distance hiking trails, the John Muir Trail is popular with thru-hikers, who attempt to complete the entire trail in one trip. The bears are often the first concern. If this trail wasn’t already on your bucket list, we guarantee it will be now. The trail coincides with the 2,663-mile Pacific Crest Trail for about 160 miles, and rarely dips below 8,000 feet elevation. Your life will be forever changed. At 55 miles, it’s feasible for most people to complete the trail in under a week without needing a resupply. Both are stunning hikes which are similar in length and travel in a North/South direction through the Sierra. 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. This places it at lower elevations in areas that are subject to higher temperatures while also being more heavily forested. The North Lake-South Lake Loop is a High Sierra Classic that is easily accessed from the eastern side with either 1 or 2 cars. 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. Itâs a route, covering over 100 miles completely off-trail. Si puedes realizar el John Muir du⦠The JMT offers spectacular sceneries of canyons, cliffs, forests, lakes, rivers, peaks and passes of over 14,000ft. It may take a month, but it's a trivial sacrifice to make for the most unrelenting wilderness eye-candy you'll ever feast on. picked us up from the Onion Valley road end parking lot at 12:30⦠You won’t be disappointed. See below for a John Muir Trail map featuring some classic routes along the trail. The High Sierra Trail is the little brother to the John Muir Trail. The John Muir Trail is the premier hiking trail in the United States.The trail starts in America's treasure, Yosemite National Park, and continues 215 miles through the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sequoia National Park, King's Canyon National Park, and ends at the highest peak in continental United States, Mount Whitney at 14,496 ft. Construction on the trail began in 1915 â a year after Muirâs death â and took 46 years to complete. This is arguably the holy grail of backpacking, and it’s mind-blowing to experience just how massive and wide-open the High Sierra really is. You could spend a lifetime exploring the Sierra and still never see all of it. I backpacked the High Sierra Trail and the John Muir Trail from August 3rd to August 21st. The Winnette Route is a fantastic alternative to the Theodore Salomon Trail for those who are feeling brave but not that brave. If you had your heart set on hiking the John Muir Trail but it’s not going to happen, or you already hiked it and want to explore somewhere new, then then Big SEKI Loop is for you. It is a rugged alternate to the John Muir Trail (JMT), boasting about⦠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 isnât actually a trail. 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. Get real sustenance with a two-week trek through the best of the Sierras on California's John Muir Trail. The John Muir Trail (JMT) Location: Central California Length: 215 Miles (346 km) Ave. Time to Thruhike: 3-4 weeks High Point: Mount Whitney â 14,496 ft (4418 m) Low Point: Happy Isles, Yosemite Valley â 4000 ft (1200 m). It’s a route, covering over 100 miles completely off-trail. It doesn’t go over as many passes, but the terrain it does go through is absolutely stunning—and it lets you summit Mt. It starts at Crescent Meadow on the western Sierra, and ends on top of Mt Whitney after meeting up with the John Muir Trail. But ⦠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. The PCT Route is essentially a section hike of the Pacific Crest Trail from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite and stays high in elevation, straddling the main Sierra Crest and frequently landing on both the eastern western sides. Our resident trip planning expert shares where to camp, how to plan, and other tips for the John Muir Trail. Hi! There is never a dull moment on the High Sierra Trail and the terrain changes constantly. The loop itself can be hiked either clockwise or counter-clockwise, with clockwise being the most common. Several intersecting trails are taken and most junctions are clearly marked, but carrying a good map and knowing how to use it is vital. Hike cross-country through Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to a pocket of dreamy lakeside camps on the John Muir Trail. Step for scenery-packed step, nothing else compares to the John Muir Trail. 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. Hike cross-country to a pocket of dreamy lakeside camps on 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 This poster clearly identifies peaks, passes, lakes, and canyons. Muir. The John Muir Trail is an epic 211 mile trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains that extends from Yosemite to Mt. Score some of the John Muir Trail's most classic views on this 31-mile section hike in Yosemite National Park that starts less than two hours from Bishop. At the very least, you should take a gander at these 8 incredible hikes, some of which give the JMT a run for its money. It’s like the best of the JMT in under a week. 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. 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. The Southern Sierra High Route (SoSHR) is a superb alternative to the JMT for the adventurous traveler. The High Sierra Trail is a must-see for any serious backpacker. Mist Trail vs. John Muir Trail. Location John Muir Wilderness, CA, Trailheads North Lake to South Lake, Length 55 Miles, Duration 5-6 days (average), Elevation 8,104 to 12,130 feet, Recommended Maps Bishop Pass Trail Map. We cross five scenic High Sierra passes, all about 12,000 feet high. See below for a John Muir Trail map featuring some classic routes along the trail. The John Muir Trail is an increasingly popular trail and perhaps some of the most beautiful 200 miles in the world. 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. It descends into Big Arroyo, then climbs up to the Chagoopa Plateau, and drops down again into the Kern River Canyon. Logistics can be a bit of an issue as the trail traverses from west to east, requiring a shuttle or two cars, but is short enough to backtrack should you want to extend the hike simplifying transport. Along its lower edge there is an elevation and mileage profile of the trail. My goal is to provide the inspiration and information you need to go outside and explore. Its scenery is impressive, the terrain steep and variable, and the logistics simple. This loop traverses nothing but the best the High Sierra has to offer—even the starting trailheads are well-deserved camping destinations in their own right. It was quite the experience as the weather did not fully cooperate. The John Muir Trail passes through Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park, as well as numerous national forests and designated wilderness areas. Trans Sierra Trip: Colby Pass Trail, High Sierra Trail, John Muir Trail, Mount Whitney, PCT is a 74.9 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Hume, California that features a lake and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. 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. The Sierra High Route runs parallel to most of the John Muir Trail, but isn’t actually a trail. The logistics of entering on the West in Yosemite and getting out on the East through Whitney Portal are not the easiest to work out. Two novice backpackers find out. Long distance hiking is awesome, but becoming a thru-hiker can have some…side effects. The Tahoe to Yosemite Trail technically has two routes, the less-traveled Winnette Route, and the PCT Route. It is a route for the true explorer who wants to get off the beaten path and possibly even get lost a few times along the way. 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. Hiking earlier in the season often requires carrying an ice axe and fording streams bloated by snowmelt. It’s like the best of the JMT in under a week. The Sierra High Route is for advanced backpackers only with extensive off-trail experience, but is absolutely worth checking out if you have the skills. But I need help narrowing it down from 3 trails to 1, ⦠I’m Gary. âLife is a journey not a destinationâ âStriderâ and Mary from the Mt. Sierra Nevada & the John Muir Trail THE HIGH SIERRA, WHICH I HAVE DEFINED AS the region between the southern boundary of Sequoia National Park and the northern boundary of Yosemite National Park, is the best place in the world for the practice of mountains. La filosofía de un buen montañero debe consistir en disfrutar de cada kilometro, de cada comida, y sobre todo, de cada vista. It’s the most comparable alternative to the John Muir Trail due to its similar length and impressive scenery, which rivals much of the JMT. Williamson Motel in Independence, CA. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. Whitney and exit at Whitney Portal without needing to apply for a Whitney permit. The trail is 211 miles long and runs (mostly in conjunction with the PCT) from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, in California. Plus, about half of this trail actually overlaps the John Muir Trail, arguably making it a section hike. Once a well-kept secret of the rangers at Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, the Circle of Solitude is a short but heavy-hitting loop of high alpine scenery, meadows, crystal clear lakes, and roaring rivers. This trip is designed for those who enjoy a lot of riding. Unique and extremely detailed poster of the High Sierra and John Muir Trail. The TripOur trip explores the most magnificent scenery that Kings Canyon National Park and the John Muir Trail (JMT) have to offer. Compared to the John Muir Trail (JMT), the SoSHR is higher and more remote. It avoids the JMT crowds, the landscape is more spectacular, and the travel more challenging. Section hikes are also highly feasible, as are rest days at many of the nearby resorts. -Shelton Johnson Considerando esto, ¿por qué apresurarse? As the name would suggest, sections of this loop are infrequently traveled and will give you time to reflect in solitude. Length 195 Miles, Duration 15-25 days (skill dependent), Difficulty Very Difficult, technical, Elevation 5,050 to 12,130 feet, Recommended Maps Sierra High Route, several needed. 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. 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. On this burly, 200-plus-mile traverse, which crosses 33 passes and barely touches established trails, you can find Alaska-size scenery, complete solitude, and just enough risk to keep things interesting. When the Sierra Club was formed in 1892, Solomons began advocating for the trail he had dreamed of. Jmt ), Difficulty Moderate-Difficult, elevation 6,500 to 13,100 feet, Foot Traffic Moderate-Heavy designed for who... 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