Explore Giant Sequoias, America’s Highest Peaks & Legendary Backpacking Trails
The Southern Sierra is where the Sierra Nevada reaches its grand finale. From giant sequoia groves and rushing rivers to the highest peak in the contiguous United States, this region is home to some of California’s most iconic hiking and backpacking adventures.
Whether you’re exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, climbing toward Mt. Whitney, discovering the alpine lakes of Kaiser Wilderness or backpacking the legendary Rae Lakes Loop, the Southern Sierra rewards hikers with bigger landscapes, longer trails and unforgettable wilderness experiences.
Quick Facts
Best Season: May–October (higher elevations typically July–September)
Best For: Giant sequoias, backpacking, high peaks, family hiking, wilderness adventures
Primary Gateways: Highway 168, Highway 180, Highway 198, Highway 395, Western Divide Highway
Top Wilderness Areas: Golden Trout, Kaiser, Dinkey Lakes, Domeland, South Sierra Wilderness
Signature Routes: John Muir Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, High Sierra Trail, Rae Lakes Loop
Why Hike the Southern Sierra?
The Southern Sierra is home to many of California’s most iconic hiking trails.
This is where hikers come to walk beneath the world’s largest trees, cross high mountain passes on legendary backpacking routes and stand on the highest peak in the contiguous United States. Whether you’re looking for an easy walk through a giant sequoia grove or a week-long wilderness adventure across the John Muir Trail, the Southern Sierra offers hiking experiences found nowhere else in California.
From the family-friendly trails of Sequoia National Park to the rugged alpine passes leading toward Rae Lakes, Mt. Whitney and the High Sierra, this region rewards hikers with bigger landscapes, longer trails and unforgettable adventures.
Choose Your Sierra Gateway
Highway 41 & Highway 168 – Bass Lake, Shaver Lake & Kaiser Wilderness
The northern gateway to the Southern Sierra leads hikers into Dinkey Lakes Wilderness, Kaiser Wilderness, Huntington Lake and countless alpine lakes tucked beneath granite ridges.
Highlights
- Bass Lake
- Shaver Lake
- Huntington Lake
- Kaiser Wilderness
- Dinkey Lakes Wilderness
- Kaiser Pass Road
Highway 180 – Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon offers dramatic granite scenery, roaring rivers and access to many of California’s classic backpacking routes.
Highlights
- Hume Lake
- Cedar Grove
- Kings River
- Rae Lakes Loop
- Mist Falls
- Road’s End
Highway 198 – Sequoia National Park
Home to giant sequoias, granite domes and family-friendly hiking, Sequoia National Park combines iconic scenery with incredible access into the High Sierra.
Highlights
- Giant Forest
- Moro Rock
- Crescent Meadow
- Tokopah Falls
- Alta Trail
- Lodgepole
Highway 395 – Eastern Access
The eastern side of the Southern Sierra provides direct access to some of the Sierra’s most famous backpacking routes.
Highlights
- Whitney Portal
- Kearsarge Pass
- New Army Pass
- Cottonwood Lakes
- Golden Trout Wilderness
- Mt. Whitney
Western Divide Highway
One of California’s most underrated mountain roads connects giant sequoias, granite domes and quiet trailheads across the southern forests.
Highlights
- Trail of 100 Giants
- Dome Rock
- Sherman Pass Road
- Kern Plateau
Signature Hiking Destinations
- Sequoia National Park
- Kings Canyon National Park
- Mt. Whitney
- Rae Lakes Loop
- Kaiser Wilderness
- Dinkey Lakes Wilderness
- Golden Trout Wilderness
- Trail of 100 Giants
- Western Divide Highway
Favorite Day Hikes
| Trail | Area | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Moro Rock | Sequoia NP | Easy |
| Tokopah Falls | Sequoia NP | Moderate |
| Alta Trail | Sequoia NP | Challenging |
| Crescent Meadow to Tharp’s Log | Sequoia NP | Easy |
| Trail of 100 Giants | Western Divide | Easy |
| Dome Rock | Western Divide | Moderate |
| Mist Falls | Kings Canyon | Moderate |
| General Grant Tree Loop | Kings Canyon | Easy |
| Big Baldy Ridge | Kings Canyon | Moderate |
| Sherman Tree Trail | Sequoia NP | Easy |
Favorite Backpacking Adventures
- Rae Lakes Loop
- Kearsarge Pass
- Silliman Pass
- Twin Lakes
- Lost Lake
- Mt. Whitney Trail
- New Army Pass
- High Sierra Trail
- John Muir Trail
- Golden Trout Wilderness
- Dinkey Lakes Wilderness
- Kaiser Wilderness
Why We Love the Southern Sierra
The Southern Sierra feels bigger.
The forests are larger. The trees are taller. The rivers run deeper. The mountains rise higher than anywhere else in the Sierra Nevada. This is where many hikers come to challenge themselves on legendary trails, stand beneath ancient giant sequoias or spend days exploring some of the largest wilderness areas in California.
Whether you’re climbing toward Mt. Whitney, hiking through the Giant Forest, backpacking the Rae Lakes Loop or discovering quiet alpine lakes beyond Kaiser Pass, the Southern Sierra reminds us that some adventures deserve more than a single weekend.
