John Muir Trail

Information

Distance

344.0 km

Duration

17–25 days

Max elevation

4,421 m

Country

United States (US)

Difficulty

Strenuous — crosses more than 11 high passes, six of them above 3,400 m, with a total elevation gain of 14,000 m

Best Season

Late July–early October

Permits & Fees

A Wilderness Permit is required from Yosemite National Park (to start at Happy Isles) or Inyo National Forest (for the southbound route from Whitney Portal); the quota is very tight — only 45 hikers per day; 60% of the allocation is via a lottery 24 weeks before departure, 40% online 7 days before

Description

The John Muir Trail (JMT) is the most celebrated long-distance backpacking route in the United States, stretching 344 km (213.7 miles) along the spine of California's Sierra Nevada from Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney (4,421 m / 14,505 ft)—the highest peak in the contiguous United States. Named for naturalist John Muir, the trail passes through three national parks (Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia) and several national forests, crossing more than 11 high mountain passes with six exceeding 3,400 m. Most thru-hikers take 17–25 days to complete the journey, which gains roughly 14,000 m in total elevation across thousands of glacially-carved granite basins and crystal-clear alpine lakes. Wilderness permits are highly competitive—only 45 hikers per day may enter at the Yosemite trailhead—and a 60% lottery allocation opens 24 weeks in advance, making early planning essential.

Trail Highlights

Yosemite Valley and Half Dome, Thousand Island Lake with Banner Peak as a backdrop, the majestic Evolution Valley, Forester Pass (4,009 m, the highest point on the PCT), the clear glacial lakes of the Sierra Nevada, and the summit of Mount Whitney (4,421 m) — the highest point in the contiguous United States