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High Sierra multi-camp backpacking trip ideas Posted on January 30, 2026 09:22:46.

High Sierra Multi-Camp Backpacking Trip Ideas
Updated 1/25/2025
Sorted by side then north to south

East Side

1.) Matterhorn Peak from Twin Lakes (class 2 12,279')

2.) Mount Ritter (class 3 13,157') and the easier Minarets Adams (class 3 12,000'), Starr (class 2 11,512') and Pridham (class 2 10,960') from Angew Meadows

3.) North of Piute Pass from North Lake

4.) Mount Darwin from Lake Sabrina (class 3 13,830')

5.) Middle Palisade from Glacier Lodge (class 3 14,040')

6.) Upper Kern Basin Shuttle and Mount Tyndall or Williamson (class 2 up to 14,375')

8 days, 7 nights, 2 layovers. Longest and most climb. Shuttle cars 48 miles or get taxi. Golden Trout Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness and Sequoia NP.
Start at Cottonwood Creek trailhead 9,700'
Night 1 Cottonwood Lake 4 11,066' 5.0 mi +1,366'
Night 2 over New Army Pass to lake SW of The Major General 10,814' 6.2 mi +1,245' -1,497'
Nights 3,4 Crabtree Meadow 10,363' 9.2 mi +1,321' -1764'
Day hike to Crabtree Lakes 6.8 mi round trip +974'
a.) Nights 5,6 lake east of Tawny Point in Wright Lakes Basin 11,138' 6.6 mi +1,707' -935'; includes 2 mi +741' off trail
Day hike up Mount Tyndall 14,018' up southwest slopes class 2 5.4 mi round trip +2,880'
Night 7 over 11,884' Shepherd Pass to Mahogany Flat 9,188' 10.1 mi +1,348 -3,297
Exit to Shepherd Pass trailhead 5.4 mi +643' -4,085'
Total pack 42.5 mi +7,630' -11,578'
b.) Instead of climbing Mount Tyndall, hike to lake just north where Milestone Creek joins the Kern River and day hike 13,666' Midway Mountain class 2 east ridge
c.) Do both in a 10 day trip

7.) Olancha Peak from TBD (class 2-3 12,132')

West Side

Lake Italy and Mount Abbot (class 3 emblem peak 13,704')

8a.) Shuttle from Lake Edison to Florence Lake

7 days, 6 nights, 3 layover days at Lake Italy. John Muir Wilderness.
Start from Bear Ridge Trailhead 7,597'.
Night 1 Bear Creek along PCT at junction with Lake Italy trail 9,361' 8.0 mi +2,593' -929'
Nights 2-5 Lake Italy 11,204' 5.0 mi +1,048' -233'
Day hikes:
Several lakes to the south
Italy Pass to 13,200' class 2 Mt. Julius Caesar
Gabbot pass to 13,741' class 3 Mt. Gabb, 13,457' class 3 Mt. Mills, emblem peak 13,704' class 3 Mt. Abbot and 13,600' class 2 Mt. Dade
Night 6 over Seldon Pass to Sallie Keyes Lakes 10.7 mi +1,792' -2,755'
Exit Florence Lake ferry 7,336' 7.9 mi +485' -3,114'; add 3.7 miles if no ferry
Total pack 31.6 mi +6,654' -7,229'
Shuttle 2 cars 12.4 miles between trailheads, road from Mono Hot Springs to Lake Edison is rough.

8b.) From Edison Lake

13.1 miles and 4,437', 2 days in and probably 2 days out too. The only place to stop to camp along the way is along Bear Creek.

8c.) From Florence Lake

Start at the trailhead or take the ferry before the service stops. 15 to 18 miles and up to 5,899' climb over 10,883' Seldon Pass. Longer and harder than from Edison, but there are several lakes near the pass that could be a good second night stop. The idea for the shuttle is to go down this way, only a little more climb, then more drop.

8d.) From Pine Creek

Only 9.3 miles but is 4,977' and goes over trail-less 12,414' Italy Pass. The pass sounds pleasant but could be hard. If we got stuck in Granite Park and only day hiked to Italy Pass and climbed Mount Julius Caesar that could be nice too.

9.) Mount Brewer from end of Highway 180 (class 2 13,570')

Nine Lake Basin and the Kaweahs (class 3 up to 13,802')

10a.) From Cresent Meadow

8 days, 7 nights, 3 layovers. Moderate. Sequoia NP.
Spend the night before camping or in a lodge in the main section of Sequoia NP
Start at Crescent Meadow 6,754'
Night 1 Bearpaw Meadow 7,863' 9.6 mi +1,100'
Night 2 Hamilton Lakes 8,242' 3.0 mi +800'
Nights 3-6 at heart-shaped lake in Nine Lake Basin 10,459' 3.0 mi +2,411' -225'
See Nine Lake Basin from Mineral King above for day hike ideas.
if Red Kaweah or Mount Kaweah are desired, camp down at Old Big Arroyo Patriot Cabin instead of Nine Lakes Basin.
Night 7 Bearpaw Meadow 7,863' 6.0 mi +525' -3,211'
Exit 9.4 mi -1,100'
Total pack 31.2 mi +/-4,311'
Spend the night after in the park either camping with showers or in a lodge, or at a hotel in Fresno

10b.) From Mineral King

Spend the night before camping at Mineral King
8 days, 7 nights, 3 layovers. Lots of climbing. Sequoia NP.
Start at Mineral King 7,827'
Night 1 Monarch Lakes 10,389' 2.8 mi +2,411'
Night 2 Big Five Lakes 9,839' 6.9 mi +2,179' -2,956'
Nights 3-6 at heart-shaped lake in Nine Lake Basin 10,459' 7.0 mi +1,082' -1,148'
Day hike ideas (pick 3):
around Nine Lake Basin
Triple Divide Peak 12,634' south ridge class 3 5 mi round trip +2,175' (or over to Lion Lake)
Kaweah Queen 13,382' northwest ridge class 3 4.8 mi round trip +2,923'
Black Kaweah 13,765' via west ridge class 3 5 mi round trip +3,037'
Note: if Red Kaweah or Mount Kaweah are desired, stop at Old Big Arroyo Patriot Cabin instead of Nine Lakes Basin, or on the way.
Red Kaweah 13,720' west face class 3 from Old Big Arroyo Patriot Cabin 5.0 mi +3,970", a lot of climb
Mount Kaweah 13,802' south slopes class 1 from Old Big Arroyo Patriot Cabin is 9.0 mi +4,070', a lot of climb and distance
Night 7 bottom of Lost Canyon 9,573' 8.9 mi +1,048' -2,446'
Exit 7.8 mi +2,096' -3,790'
Total Pack 33.4 mi +/-5,672'
Spend the night after at a hotel in Visalia