Alta Peak

Alta Peak is a high Sierra summit in Sequoia National Park, reached on foot from Wolverton. This is a full backcountry hike, not a roadside stop. The park lists the Alta Trail at 12.8 miles with more than 4,000 feet of climbing; some hikers report outings closer to 15 miles. Check the route you plan to follow and leave time for the steep, rocky finish. The summit effort opens onto broad views of the Great Western Divide and the Middle Fork valley.

The trail starts at Wolverton at the end of Wolverton Road. Parking, picnic tables and public flush toilets are at the trailhead. The summit is remote, so carry all the food and water you need for the hike. Snow can linger into late summer; check the current trail report before setting out.

The Alta Trail climbs through forest and meadows before opening into alpine terrain. The last three-quarters of a mile steepens over exposed rock and scree, with grades reported to reach about 23 percent. If the final scramble to the top feels like too much, a nearby viewpoint to the left of the summit rocks is easier to reach.

From the ridge, look toward the Great Western Divide, Castle Rock and the Middle Fork valley. Low granite outcrops just below the summit look down on Pear, Emerald and Aster Lakes. For a photo, keep some granite in the foreground and the lakes below it; this angle shows how high above the basin the route has climbed.

Near Tharp's Rock, look for foxtail pines, relatives of bristlecone pines that can live for as long as 2,000 years. Even the rocky, sandy upper slopes support alpine wildflowers such as western anemone.