The high trail runs roughly 22 kilometres from Qiaotou village to Walnut Grove (Nuoyuan), traversing the north wall of the gorge at between 1,800 and 2,700 metres above sea level, with the Yangtze River roaring somewhere hundreds of metres below. Most trekkers split it over two days, stopping at the Halfway Guesthouse or one of the cluster of family guesthouses at the mid-point. The path is well-established and well-signed in Chinese and English, and the route-finding is straightforward for most of the distance.
The scenery throughout is extraordinary: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain rising across the gorge to the south, the sheer walls of Haba Mountain behind you to the north, the river appearing and disappearing far below, and a series of small waterfalls crossing the trail in the middle sections. The high trail is not technically difficult — there are no fixed ropes or exposed scrambles — but the cumulative elevation gain and the altitude (working in the range of 2,000–2,700m) mean that most people find it harder than expected. Good footwear, water, and an early start are all necessary. Spring and autumn are the best seasons; summer brings landslide risk.