Sequoia National Park Backpacking
4 days
From $ 1199
Duration4 days

Experience the remote backcountry of California's Sequoia National Park firsthand on this 4-day backpacking adventure. Jagged peaks, giant sequoia trees and pristine backcountry can be found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, an iconic range encompassing magnificent Sequoia National Park. Our journey will take us along the High Sierra Trail to the meadows below Alta Peak. Removed from the crowds, we follow our expert guides on a grand, scenic and challenging journey through Sequoia. Star-filled skies and soaring granite peaks invite us to relax and reflect on our adventure. As we hike along our trail, we marvel at the vastness of nature, peer out toward the Great Western Divide and pass by cascading creeks, until we arrive at our camp at Mehrten Meadow. The next day calls for a challenging ascent of Alta Peak. At 11,204 feet, the views from Alta’s summit are absolutely incredible. Our route also takes us through an ancient forest of giant sequoia trees as we make our way to the largest tree in the world, General Sherman.

This tour is operated by

  • Duration: 4 days
    Service level: Standard
  • Physical Grading: Average
  • Ages: 18+
Sequoia National Park Backpacking - Tour Map

Itinerary

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Day 1: Transfer to Sequoia with a trip orientation and dinner in camp.
Our adventure begins in Fresno where we meet our guides and fellow travelers at our host hotel at 1pm. After brief introductions, we set out on the two hour transfer to Sequoia National Park. Upon arrival, we settle into our group campsite and relax under the towering trees. Our guides will conduct an orientation and gear check this evening. Enjoy a guide-prepared, hearty front country meal. Dinner included.
Meals: D
Day 2: Head out on the Alta Trail into Sequoia’s backcountry.
Today we wake and enjoy breakfast before packing up and heading out to our first backcountry campsite. We'll distribute group gear and food, review techniques for correctly packing a backpack, and transfer to the trailhead. Our journey begins as we emerge from the dense cover of the magnificent trees onto massive granite cliffs overlooking the Kaweah River Valley. Along the trail we marvel at the vastness of the view as we peer out towards the Great Western Divide, pass by cascading creeks and arrive at our camp at Mehrten Meadow. At dusk, we look forward to camaraderie around the campfire as we watch for shooting stars overhead. All meals and snacks provided.
Backpacking: 4.3 miles; elevation gain: 2,037'.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Summit Alta Peak and visit Alta Meadows.
Summit day! We finish our breakfast, pack only our daypacks and witness a glorious sunrise over the crest on the trail to the summit of Alta Peak. Rising 11,204', Alta Peak is one of the most iconic and formidable mountains on this side of the park. After a challenging ascent, we are rewarded with unimpeded views in all directions, including the far off summit of Mount Whitney. Our descent will be to the tune of whistling marmots and winds rushing through the Kaweah River Valley far below. Depending on our group, we may visit the verdant meadows below Alta before returning to our camp and a well-deserved dinner. We enjoy our last dinner in the backcountry, waiting in eager anticipation for the sunset to illuminate our camp in majestic alpenglow, signaling the impending arrival of the soul soothing Sierra stars. All meals and snacks provided.
Hiking 5.5 to 9 miles; elevation gain/loss 2,000 to 2,200'.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Traverse the Alta Trail and return through the Giant Forest.
We awake one last time in the solitude of the High Sierra. After breakfast we break camp and hike up and over Panther Gap before descending into a lush, aromatic forest of ponderosa pine and reentering the land of gentle giants. The sheer size of the rare giant sequoia trees is indescribable. John Muir referred to them as, "Nature’s forest masterpiece." Our journey ends at the largest tree of them all, General Sherman—deemed the largest living tree on Earth. Standing beneath this magnificent tree is humbling and will forever remind us of the majesty of this national park and the experience we’ve enjoyed. We begin our transfer back to Fresno this afternoon, anticipating an arrival between 6:30 and 7:30pm. Because our arrival time is an estimate, we recommend booking flights departing after 9pm if you are flying out of Fresno this evening. Breakfast and lunch included.
Driving: 2 hours; Backpacking: 6.0 miles; elevation gain: 200’; elevation loss: 2,000’.
Meals: B, L

Inclusions

Included

  • Lodging and meals as indicated on the daily itinerary
  • Accommodation

    Group Campground, 1 night, Backcountry camping 2 nights

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