Alta Peak Trail

Alta Peak at 11,204 feet is the highest easily accessible summit in Sequoia National Park and commands one of the most sweeping panoramas in all of the Sierra Nevada. The trail begins at Wolverton Meadow near the Lodgepole area and immediately enters old-growth forest, passing through meadows frequented by black bears and mule deer before climbing into the subalpine zone above 9,000 feet. The upper trail traverses granite slabs and alpine tundra studded with sky pilot, phlox, and Sierra primrose. From the summit, on a clear day, hikers can identify approximately 40 named peaks stretching from Mount Whitney and the Great Western Divide in the south to the distant peaks of Kings Canyon in the north, plus the hazy Central Valley spread across the western horizon. The nearly 4,000-foot elevation gain is relentless but well-graded, making it a demanding but non-technical objective. Afternoon thunderstorms develop rapidly on exposed ridges; an early start is essential. A backcountry wilderness permit is not required for a day hike, but quotas apply for overnight camping at Alta Meadow just below the summit.