Big Arroyo Trail

Big Arroyo Trail is an 8.8-mile, one-way point-to-point wilderness route from Kaweah Gap on the High Sierra Trail to Little Five Lakes. It links remote parts of Sequoia rather than starting at a road or day-use trailhead. If you approach from Crescent Meadow, Kaweah Gap is about 20 trail miles in. There is no official distance for this full connection: 8.8 miles follows the best continuous mapped line, while official mileposts imply about 2.5 miles for only the Kaweah Gap–Big Arroyo Junction leg. Treat the full distance as approximate.

Kaweah Gap sits at 10,700 feet and opens into the broad Big Arroyo valley. From the pass, the High Sierra Trail drops a few hundred vertical feet, then descends steadily to the campsites at Big Arroyo Junction. The open valley, river and walls of the Great Western Divide are the payoff here. A preserved patrol cabin stands near the riverside camp.

The mapped route continues east from Big Arroyo toward Little Five Lakes. Most of the line descends overall, but it crosses remote alpine slopes and its eastern sections are tagged as informal or hard to see. Expect stretches where the tread is faint or difficult to follow; a line on a screen does not replace route-finding skill and a current topographic map. Snowmelt can also make creek crossings hazardous. Leave time to assess water rather than relying on an old crossing description.

This is a strenuous backcountry connection for experienced hikers, not a standalone day hike. Both ends are reached on foot, so plan a through-route and exit before setting out; allow about eight hours for the mapped 8.8 miles, then add the approach and any overnight stops. The NPS requires a High Sierra Trail permit for the HST between Seven Mile Hill and Kaweah Gap; an Alta Trail permit does not cover that section. Overnight trips also require a wilderness permit. Pets are prohibited on park trails.