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John Muir TrailTrail guide
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Evolution Basin from the north shore, first light
Sierra Nevada, California

Yosemite Valley to the top of the lower 48

211 miles through the High Sierra, from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney.

Length211mi
Elevation gain47,000ft
Typical21days
High point14,505ft
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Four sections, seven passes above 11,000 feet

Most hikers walk the trail southbound over about three weeks, resupplying twice. The trail shares tread with the Pacific Crest Trail for 160 miles and crosses only one paved road after Tuolumne Meadows.

01YosemiteHappy Isles → Donohue Pass
Valley floor to the park boundary36.0 mi02Ansel AdamsDonohue Pass → Silver Pass
Thousand Island, Garnet, Reds Meadow45.9 mi03Kings CanyonSilver Pass → Forester Pass
The long high stretch — five passes, no roads108.4 mi04SequoiaForester Pass → Mount Whitney
Bighorn Plateau, Guitar Lake, the summit20.7 mi
Rules that always apply
PermitsRequired for every overnight trip; quotas are set at the trailhead
Bear cansRequired in Yosemite, Inyo National Forest and Sequoia & Kings Canyon
CampingGenerally at least 100 ft from water and trails
Group size15 people on trail in Yosemite wilderness, smaller in some areas

Checked . Agencies change their rules; confirm with them before you go.

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Hiker on the Golden Staircase, late afternoon
The Golden Staircase · Photo needed

The whole route

Open the interactive map
John Muir Trail · 211 mi
Resupply points, trailheads and the high passes.Trail centerline © Pacific Crest Trail Association, CC BY 4.0 · Basemap © Protomaps, OpenStreetMap

When to go

Season and snow
WalkableOften walkable, from early July to the start of October. Both dates are approximate.
ComfortableComfortable for most, from mid July to mid September. Both dates are approximate.
Snow and fordsSnow on the passes and high fords, from the start of the chart in January to late June. It continues beyond the chart at the January end. The end date is approximate.
MosquitoesMosquitoes, from the start of July to early August. Both dates are approximate.
StormsAfternoon thunderstorms, from mid July to late August. Both dates are approximate.
BusiestBusiest, from the start of August to the end of August. Both dates are approximate.
Autumn stormsFirst autumn storms, from the start of September to the end of the chart in December. It continues beyond the chart at the December end. The start date is approximate.
A normal year on the JMT, from the season guide. Not a forecast.

From the guide

All guides
When to hike the JMT — season, snow and weather
Conditions

When to hike the JMT — season, snow and weather

Snowpack opens the passes and the first autumn storm closes them. Why most JMT hikes happen between mid-July and mid-September, and how each month behaves.

Oct 2, 20265 min read
How John Muir Trail permits actually work
Planning

How John Muir Trail permits actually work

The JMT is quota-controlled at both ends. Here is how Yosemite starts, Donohue eligibility, Inyo entries and Trail Crest exits fit together.

Sep 8, 20269 min read
Which JMT permit lottery should you enter?
Planning

Which JMT permit lottery should you enter?

Apply for Lyell Canyon, not Happy Isles. Yosemite's own lottery statistics show twice the spaces for half the demand — plus the two other levers that actually move your odds.

Sep 15, 20268 min read