Alta Peak Trail

Start on the Lakes Trail from the north side of Wolverton's parking area. The first miles climb through conifers on a steady, mostly moderate grade, with a small stream crossing. At about 1.8 miles, pass the branch for Heather, Emerald and Pear lakes and keep toward Panther Gap. Red fir forest and small meadows continue to the gap, roughly 2.8 to 3 miles from the start.

Panther Gap sits around 8,450 feet and opens a southeast view toward the Great Western Divide. Turn left, east, onto Alta Trail. The route climbs across steep slopes, with wider views toward Castle Rocks and the divide. It crosses several avalanche chutes, passes the High Sierra Trail junction, and looks down toward Mehrten Meadow.

At the Alta Peak junction, take the left branch for the summit; the right branch leads toward Alta Meadow. The summit route climbs steeply through an avalanche chute and past Tharp's Rock. Near the rock, the trees thin and the view opens over Alta Meadow, granite ridges and the Great Western Divide. A small gully crossing sits around 5.8 miles from Wolverton.

The last three-quarters of a mile is the hardest part: steep scree, a faint line marked by small cairns, then a direct rocky finish without switchbacks. The high summit block requires a hands-on scramble. If that is beyond your comfort level, an easier granite viewpoint sits just to the left below the high point.

The top gives a broad panorama of the Tablelands and Sierra Crest to the northeast, the Kaweah Peaks and Great Western Divide to the east, and the Middle Fork Kaweah valley to the south and west. For the lake-basin view, step to the lower granite outcrops below the peak: Pear, Emerald and Aster lakes show from there, while the summit itself blocks them. A twisted foxtail pine in the foreground gives the bare granite some scale.

The wind-shaped foxtail pines around Tharp's Rock are relatives of bristlecone pines and can live for as long as 2,000 years. Watch for low alpine flowers in the rocky summit ground, including western anemone. The High Sierra Trail junction also marks the start of a much longer route: in 1930, a trail crew spent nearly the whole summer blasting a one-mile section across steep bluffs south of Alta Meadow.

The upper route can be hard to follow when snow covers the scree, and snow may linger into late August. Check the park's trail conditions before setting out, especially early in the season. Water along the route is seasonal; don't count on springs or creeks being available. Wolverton has a picnic area, but no food stop is listed along the hike, so bring what you need for the day. Pets are prohibited on park trails.