The High Sierra Trail is a long-distance route across Sequoia National Park, running west to east through the Sierra Nevada from Crescent Meadow to its junction with the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. Built beginning in 1928 as the first Sierra trail created solely for recreation, it was designed as a scenic trans-Sierra journey rather than a stock or utility path. The trail passes Bearpaw Meadow, Hamilton Lakes Basin, Kaweah Gap, Big Arroyo, the Chagoopa Plateau, and the Kern River Canyon. Many hikers continue toward Mount Whitney, making the full crossing 72.2 miles and usually requiring six days or more.