Hiking the John Muir Trail is a complete stage-by-stage guide to one of the world's most celebrated long-distance hikes – a 340km (211-mile) traverse of California's High Sierra from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States.

The route is divided into 19 stages and can be hiked in either direction – southbound from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley, or northbound from Whitney Portal or Horseshoe Meadow. It crosses iconic high mountain passes including Donohue, Muir, Mather and Forester, passing through some of North America's most spectacular alpine terrain: granite peaks, glacier-scoured basins, pristine lakes and wildflower meadows. Total ascent on the southbound route is around 14,530m (47,673ft). Detailed waypoint descriptions, elevation profiles and stage timing are provided for every stage in both directions, with comprehensive resupply information for Tuolumne Meadows, Red's Meadow/Mammoth Lakes, Vermilion Valley Resort, Muir Trail Ranch and Parchers Resort near Bishop Pass.

The JMT passes through Yosemite National Park, Ansel Adams Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness, Devils Postpile National Monument, Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park. Permits are required and must be booked through Recreation.gov; the guide covers all entry options in detail. Southbound hikers can start from Happy Isles or Lyell Canyon in Yosemite, while northbound hikers have three alternatives – Whitney Portal, Cottonwood Pass or Cottonwood Lakes at Horseshoe Meadow – each with different quota systems, offering useful flexibility for securing a permit. The trail is best hiked July–September, with August the optimal month for snow-free passes and manageable river crossings. Reno-Tahoe International Airport offers the most direct access, with onward bus connections via Eastern Sierra Transit (ESTA) to trailheads at both ends of the route. Wild camping is the norm throughout.

• 19 stages, 340km (211 miles) total, with full southbound and northbound route descriptions, elevation profiles and waypoint timing data
• Traverses iconic passes including Muir Pass, Mather Pass and Forester Pass, culminating at or starting from Mount Whitney (4,421m/14,505ft), the highest summit in the contiguous US
• Step-by-step permit guidance for Recreation.gov covering Yosemite National Park and Inyo National Forest trailheads, including lottery timelines and quota details
• Full resupply planning for Tuolumne Meadows, Red's Meadow/Mammoth Lakes, Vermilion Valley Resort, Muir Trail Ranch and Parchers Resort (near Bishop Pass), with mailing addresses and fees
• GPX files available to download; guide includes 1:100,000 maps with seasonal water source indicators
• Extensive planning section covering when to hike, permit applications, resupply strategies, training, equipment, water treatment, bear canisters and leave-no-trace principles – everything needed before setting foot on trail

The John Muir Trail is an unforgettable journey through one of the world’s great mountain landscapes – a route that draws hikers from across the globe back to the Sierra again and again. Hiking the John Muir Trail gives you everything you need to plan and complete this iconic trail with confidence.

Hiking the John Muir Trail – Quick Facts

Trail name: John Muir Trail (JMT)
Location: Sierra Nevada, California, USA
Designation: Yosemite National Park, Ansel Adams Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness, Devils Postpile National Monument, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park
Distance: 340km (211 miles) main route
Typical duration: 19–22 days
Start: Happy Isles Trailhead, Yosemite Valley (southbound) or Whitney Portal / Horseshoe Meadow Trailhead (northbound)
End: Whitney Portal / Horseshoe Meadow Trailhead (southbound) or Happy Isles / Lyell Canyon Trailhead, Yosemite Valley (northbound)
Route format: Linear, point-to-point; can be hiked southbound or northbound
Stages: 19 main stages; alternative start/finish via Cottonwood Pass or Cottonwood Lakes Trailheads
Navigation: GPX files available to download; 1:100,000 maps in guide
Terrain: Alpine granite, high mountain passes, glacier-scoured valleys, alpine meadows and lakes; highest point Mount Whitney 4,421m (14,505ft)
Difficulty: Challenging; requires trail fitness, multi-day wilderness backpacking experience and careful permit and resupply planning
Best season: July–September; August typically optimal
Accommodation: Wilderness camping throughout; resupply stops at Tuolumne Meadows, Red's Meadow/Mammoth Lakes, Vermilion Valley Resort, Muir Trail Ranch and Parchers Resort (near Bishop Pass)

Author Highlight

“Whether or not you follow precisely the route described here, or choose to deviate in places for whatever reason, you still walk the ‘JMT’, experiencing a high mountain, crest-parallel, scenic route through the Sierra, from Yosemite to Mount Whitney, as was the intent of its founders. As you do so, slow down enough to observe, feel and absorb something of the magic of the place, let it get under your skin and you may also come away with some of the ethos of the founders, with the urge to protect and conserve, not just this, but all such wild and natural places.”

– David Jordan, author of Hiking the John Muir Trail

Mountain safety
Route summary tables
Overview profile
Introduction
Who was John Muir?
The John Muir Trail
Planning your hike
Planning resources
When to hike
Hiking southbound vs northbound
Permits and regulations
Stages and resupply
How to get there
Training and preparation
Using this guide
Essential information
Waymarking and navigation
Water supply and purification
Food and storage
Camping
Toileting
Equipment
Health and first aid
Hazards and safety
Leave No Trace principles
The mountains of The Sierra Nevada
Formation and geology
Plants and flowers
Wildlife
Human history

The John Muir Trail

Stage 1 Yosemite Valley (Happy Isles) to Merced Lake Trail junction
              Northbound: Merced Lake Trail junction to Yosemite Valley (Happy Isles)

Stage 2 Merced Lake Trail junction to Tioga Road (east crossing)
              Northbound: Tioga Road (east crossing) to Merced Lake Trail junction

Stage 3 Tioga Road (east crossing) to Lyell Fork Bridge
              Northbound: Lyell Fork Bridge to Tioga Road (east crossing) 

Stage 4 Lyell Fork Bridge to Ruby Lake outlet
              Northbound: Ruby Lake outlet to Lyell Fork Bridge

Stage 5 Ruby Lake outlet to JMT/PCT junction
              Northbound: JMT/PCT junction to Ruby Lake outlet

Stage 6 JMT/PCT junction to Duck Pass Trail junction
               Northbound: Duck Pass Trail junction to JMT/PCT junction

Stage 7 Duck Pass Trail junction to Goodale Pass Trail junction
               Northbound: Goodale Pass Trail junction to Duck Pass Trail junction

Stage 8 Goodale Pass Trail junction to Bear Ridge Trail junction
              Northbound: Bear Ridge Trail junction to Goodale Pass Trail junction

Stage 9 Bear Ridge Trail junction to Sallie Keys Lake outlet
              Northbound: Sallie Keys Lake outlet to Bear Ridge Trail junction

Stage 10 Sallie Keys Lake outlet to Goddard Canyon Trail junction
                Northbound: Goddard Canyon Trail to Sallie Keys Lakes outlet

Stage 11 Goddard Canyon Trail junction to Evolution Lake outlet
                Northbound: Evolution Lake outlet to Goddard Canyon Trail junction

Stage 12 Evolution Lake outlet to Bishop Pass Trail junction
                Northbound: Bishop Pass Trail junction to Evolution Lake outlet

Stage 13 Bishop Pass Trail junction to Lower Palisade Lake outlet
                Northbound: Lower Palisade Lake outlet to Bishop Pass Trail junction

Stage 14 Lower Palisade Lake outlet to Lake Marjorie
                Northbound: Lake Marjorie to Lower Palisade Lake outlet

Stage 15 Lake Marjorie to Woods Creek Bridge
                Northbound: Woods Creek Bridge to Lake Marjorie

Stage 16 Woods Creek Bridge to Lower Vidette Meadow
                 Northbound: Lower Vidette Meadow to Woods Creek Bridge

Stage 17 Lower Vidette Meadow to Shepherd Pass Trail junction
                Northbound: Shepherd Pass Trail junction to Lower Vidette Meadow

Stage 18 Shepherd Pass Trail junction to Crabtree Ranger Station
                Northbound: Crabtree Ranger Station to Shepherd Pass Trail junction

Stage 19 Crabtree Ranger Station to Mount Whitney
                 Northbound: Mount Whitney Summit to Crabtree Ranger Station

Access/Exit A  Mount Whitney to Whitney Portal Trailhead
Alternative Access/Exit B       Access/Exit via Cottonwood Pass Trailhead
Alternative Access/Exit C       Access/Exit via Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead
Appendix A     Mountain passes along the JMT
Appendix B     Ranger stations along the JMT
Appendix C     Access and resupply along the JMT
Appendix D     Local information and conversions
Appendix E     Useful addresses and websites
Appendix F     Further reading

Seasons

The trail is best hiked from July to September, with August being the optimal month for snow-free passes and manageable river crossings.

Centres

The route runs between Yosemite and Whitney Portal, passing Tuolumne, Vermilion Resort and the Muir Trail Ranch along the way. Access is via San Francisco or Los Angeles.

Difficulty

The route is spectacular and remote, with the risk of poor weather. Backpacking is required throughout, so you must carry all the food you need. The trekking is tough, but there are no route-finding difficulties. Beware of bears!

Must See

The trail passes through Yosemite National Park, with its iconic rock walls of El Capitan and Half Dome, as well as Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks, the Ansel Adams Wilderness and Mount Whitney.

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