John Muir Trail
Iconic 211 miles trek along the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California.
The John Muir Trail (JMT) is one of the most iconic long distance trails in the United States. At 211 miles, it passes through Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. It is characterized by high granite ridges, numerous alpine lakes and high mountain passes, the highest being over 13,000'. It can be backpacked either north or southbound. A common itinerary is to start in Tuolumne Meadow in Yosemite National Park in the north and finish at Whitney Portal in the south.
Backpackers typical take about 20 days to complete the trek. Highly competitive permits are required for this trip. Instead of doing the entire trail, backpackers can do the JMT in sections. There are numerous entry points to the main trail from the east and west making week long itineraries possible on many stretches of the trail. Permit are available six months in advance from the Inyo National Forest via Recreation.gov.
Land Managers: Yosemite National Park, Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park, and Inyo National Forest
- Suitable Activities: Backpacking
- Seasons: June, July, August, September, October
- Weather: View weather forecast
- Difficulty: Strenuous/Very Strenuous
- Length: 211.0 mi
- 13,150 ft
- Land Manager: Yosemite National Park
- Parking Permit Required: National Park Entrance Fee
- Recommended Party Size: 12
- Maximum Party Size: 12
- Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12
There are no resources for this route/place. Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.