Here is an official ove… Yes, it is Crescent Meadow. Permit Info: Wilderness permits are required at this trailhead. The trail (from Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal) is 72 miles long and takes about a week to complete. 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. A park entrance fee is taken to reach the trailhead, but no permit is required to hike around Crescent Meadow, so get out and enjoy! Stay to your right and follow the trail around Crescent Meadow to return on the along the opposite side of the meadow. 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. Permits. Crescent Meadow Trailhead. Continue three miles, to the Crescent Meadow Parking Area. (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). View 7 Day Forecast on weather.gov. 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. Crescent Meadow is about 7 miles from Lodgepole Village where you pick up your wilderness permit. Description: This scenic loop trail takes you around the picturesque Crescent Meadow. Frypan Meadow is a delightful and handy spot to camp for trips incudling the climbs of both Kennedy and Harrington. Outside of our quota season you still need a … The permit is free for Bearpaw guests. A wilderness permit is required and can be obtained at the Lodgepole Visitor Center between 7 am and 3:30 pm. There are a number of trailheads south of Donohue Pass that connect to the JMT and are easily accessible through public transportation. 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). 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 Meadow in Autumn. The road offers the option of taking a passageway through a fallen Sequoia log or driving around on a short bypass. Crescent Meadow from Tharp's Log Trail before the High Sierra Trail splits off. Pickup our permits at the Lodgepole Visitor Center (open 7am to 3:30pm daily) and stay the night in Lodgepole Campground. Before starting your hike, be sure to give yourself some time to check out the sequoia trees! Crescent Meadows – Walker Ranch Loop Featured Route 7.4mi Eldorado Canyon SP. 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. 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). 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. I'll fix that as soon as possible. Distance: 1.8 miles. 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!). "A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one." The hike starts at the Crescent Meadow parking lot. 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). To get to the trailhead: Take Generals Highway (SR 198) east to Crescent Meadow Road, just south of the Giant Forest Museum. 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. Take a right at the next junction and immediately cross a creek to head to Crescent Lake. The hike starts at the Crescent Meadow parking lot. When filling out your permit application, select ‘High Sierra’ (Crescent Meadow) as your entry trail, and ‘Whitney Portal’ as your exit trail. To get to the trailhead: Take Generals Highway to Crescent Meadow Road, which is just south of the Giant Forest Museum. Whitney. All Rights Reserved. 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. | 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. Drive east past the turnoff for Moro Rock (A short and amazing hike). 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. It is in a state of regenerating growth after being trampled by unwary visitors. There are free shuttles which connect Lodgepole Village with Crescent Meadow. Trailhead: Crescent Meadow parking lot. There is a restroom with running water and a large parking area here but very little else so the crowds are sparse. 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. There is a small ford over the North Fork of Specimen Creek when you come to a large meadow. Elevation Gain: 200 feet. 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. 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. Day One on the High Sierra Trail we hiked 11.5 miles east-bound, from Crescent Meadow to Bearpaw. Most impressive in the spring when wildflowers are in bloom, wildlife sightings are common in this area. Getting a permit is easy, and there are no crowds to contend with. Crescent Meadow is a collection of loops in the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. However, if you need to use public transportation, you should start the hike at Crescent Meadow or Alta trailhead (take Sequoia Shuttle to Sequoia National Park) and connect to the BSL at Bearpaw Meadow (this will add around 12-13 miles to your trip). You should assume it is a six to eight day hike, from start to finish, not including any transportation time, for most average hikers. 2) Next day, stay on the trail 1.6 miles. 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. At Crescent Meadow there is long-term parking and restrooms, but no fresh water. 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. 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