Can you die without walking? Trip to American National Parks (27) A stunning trail with views of giant trees and the beautiful mountain ranges of Sierra Nevada Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park
Written by Sayaka Kato
Following on from the previous hiking route at Kings Canyon National Park, this time we'll be introducing some beautiful hiking trails in Sequoia National Park, which is located in the same area.
Sequoia National Park is located adjacent to Kings Canyon National Park, which I introduced last time, and this area has just as great hiking trails.
Last time we walked along the beautiful river and valley to see the waterfalls, but this time we walked along the course while looking at the beautiful mountain ranges of Sierra Nevada.
Just before heading to the trailhead, there are also famous giant trees and spots where giant sequoia live a lot, so if you have plenty of time, you should check them out as well. General Sherman Tree (General Sherman Tree, diameter 31 meters, height 84 meters, etc.)
This course is a day hike, but the distance is long and there is a difference in elevation, so it is suitable for those with good legs and is an intermediate level or above.
This course is also full of highlights!
It starts with the forest, then it becomes an area overlooking the beautiful mountains of Sierra Nevada, and eventually you will reach the peak of High Sierra Nevada. As you are lucky, you will also be able to encounter wildlife such as deer and marmots along the way.
table of contents
Hiking information for Alta Peak Trail, Sequoia National Park
How to get to the park
Approximately 5 hours (approximately 380km) from San Francisco and Los Angeles
If you head from San Francisco, the road is almost the same as the entrance to Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park.
After the gate at the entrance to the National Park, there is a path that divides into two parts, so if you go left you will head towards King's Canyon, and if you go right you will head towards Sequoia.
There are no radio waves in the park, so it's smoother to download the places you want to go to in advance to GPS.
Good things to carry on hiking
As with all your belongings, just like before, prepare the same equipment as a typical American hike.
- Drinks (more than 4 liters are recommended in the summer)
- Cold weather wear that can adjust the temperature
- hat
- sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Snacks and more for eating while hiking
- If you have a regular medicine, first aid such as medicine or band-aid
- Other things you prefer with your regular hiking equipment
Trail data
- For intermediate and above
- Season: March to September
- Trailhead elevation: Approx. 2,220m
- Round trip: Approx. 24km (15 miles)
- Height difference: Approx. 1,240m (4,064 ft)
- Course time: 8 to 10 hours round trip (including breaks)
Access (car to the trailhead)
ALTA PEAK TRAILHEAD or WOLVERTON PICNIC AREA (large parking available)
Put this in your GPS and you'll reach the trailhead.
The trailhead has plenty of room and a bathroom. There are some people who use the parking lot here as their backpackers, so you can see people eating breakfast at tables in the parking lot and hikers preparing for a long trip.
The photo below is from 8:30am on a weekday in the second half of May. There was plenty of room in the parking lot.
Hiking departure from the trailhead (trailhead)
The trail begins right next to the parking lot. After finishing preparations, we set off.
The fresh greenery is also lively and it's a really pleasant trail.
A fast-paced, powerful hiker is overtaking me from behind! lol
I'm always impressed by the fast pace. However, today's trail is long and there is a steep slope in the second half, so I enjoy hiking at my own pace without disrupting my own pace.
In the first half, we walk through a forest with lots of trees.
Along the way, we also met a family of deer. It's a very peaceful space.
About 40 minutes after the start, a fork will also appear. We'll continue towards ALTA PEAK.
An hour after the start, the second branch will appear, but also for ALTA PEAK.
From this point, your views open and you'll be transformed from the forest scenery to the views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The fresh air will soothe your emotions. The beautiful scenery makes your mind refreshed.
You will continue further, looking at the beautiful, snowy Sierra Nevada Mountains, and another fork will appear about two hours after the start. Go left of ALTA PEAK.
There are 2.1 miles left (3.36km) from here.
The scenery gradually changes to a rocky landscape, and the summit is visible nearby.
This is where the crucial moment begins. The slope continues.
From the beautiful view of the mountains, a rocky cliff stands in front of you.
We also saw marmots that live at high altitudes here. I was basking in the sun in front of the spectacular view.
The melted snowfall flows from the mountains everywhere, and the highly transparent, sparkling water is truly a bounty of nature.
We continue further, soothed by the crystal clear waters of the river, the squeals of water, and the sounds of the birds.
You rarely encounter other hikers and it feels like you're surrounded by nature.
As you increase the altitude further, you will approach the forest limit line and almost disappear, and you will see snow remaining.
Surrounded by the spectacular scenery, the air is thin, so you can enjoy the scenery while also taking your breath away.
The last mile is the real point of working hard.
It's a steeper slope than ever before. The air is also thin! We will take a break and climb.
After climbing the last crazy slope, we arrived at Alta Peak about four hours after the start.
Approximately 3,420m above
There's no one on the summit, it's private! ! It's a spectacular 360-degree view.
But first, take a break. After arriving, I immediately went through a nap for about 20 minutes to regain the physical strength I had used in the crazy slope slope, my final sprint. lol
Quite refreshing. It's the best.
Twenty minutes later, two veteran hikers, Kevin and Kurt, climb up and talk to me with the usual American friendliness, like "Hello Friend! Did you come alone? I'll do it!"
Not just this trail, but the hikers I meet while hiking in America are many very friendly people and are easy to talk to. They both share the same nature of being outdoors, so they feel a sense of affinity, and sometimes they share each other's experiences and situations and have a lively conversation. I feel that such a moment is a fun time during the hike.
When you arrive at the summit of Alta Peak, there is a large rock, and when you climb it, you will be "finished." That's what happened, and Kevin and Kurt told us about it. So I immediately climbed up to the rock and found a small green box, inside which there was a notepad. Leave your signature or favorite message there. Do that and you're done climbing the peak.
This time, we had a conversation with the two we met on the summit, and we took an hour and a half to rest at the summit, then said goodbye and headed down the path we had. It is a one-day course that lasts over 8 hours, including breaks, but it is a genuine hiking course perfect for summer. The return trip took almost three hours. It's a great trail with a very fulfilling sense of accomplishment.
It is less well known than Yosemite National Park, but that's what makes it so attractive. There are few people and there are many hiking trails where you can enjoy the spectacular scenery. It is the perfect place for outdoor and hiking lovers. It's the perfect location even if you spend 2-3 days in nature while camping or backpacking.
Notes regarding the spread of COVID-19
As of November 2021, various countries are likely to experience a variety of situations, including entry restrictions due to the strengthening of quarantine systems, restrictions on admission to national parks, and restrictions on travel within the country. These conditions may change without notice, so when traveling, be sure to obtain local information such as embassies and consulates of each country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' overseas safety website (infectious disease risk information) and national park websites, and check the information about the transfer location, the countries where you plan to travel, and the area around the destinations you plan to visit before making any effort to plan and take reasonable steps.
Kato Sayaka
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