John Muir Trail

The John Muir Trail is America's most-loved long-distance trail — 344 km along the spine of California's Sierra Nevada from Yosemite Valley to the 4,421 m summit of Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous United States. Named for the naturalist who lobbied for the creation of Yosemite National Park, it was finished in 1938 and remains the gold-standard introduction to American backcountry: high granite peaks, glacier-carved valleys, alpine meadows of wildflowers in July, and remote camps beside cobalt-blue lakes.

Most hikers thru-hike the JMT southbound from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whitney, taking 18 to 21 days. The first half traverses Yosemite's high country and the Ansel Adams Wilderness, passing the resupply hubs at Tuolumne Meadows and Red's Meadow. The second half climbs into Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks — the Sierra's highest country, where the trail crosses 11 named passes between 3,000 and 4,200 m, most consecutively in the final week. The southern terminus on Mt. Whitney is a 9 km climb from Guitar Lake at 3,460 m to the summit at 4,421 m, traditionally walked pre-dawn for sunrise on the granite-block summit. From there, you descend 17 km off the eastern side to Whitney Portal — the only road end on the JMT.

Permits are the trickiest part of the JMT. Yosemite issues a small number of southbound JMT permits via lottery 24 weeks ahead; demand wildly exceeds supply, and most thru-hikers chase backup options (northbound from Whitney Portal, Tuolumne Meadows starts, or alternative trailheads). The walking season is mid-July to mid-September; outside it, the high passes are snowbound. Resupply is the second logistical challenge — the trail crosses no roads for ~225 km between Tuolumne and the southern end, so most hikers cache food drops at Red's Meadow, Vermilion Valley Resort (boat-in service), and Muir Trail Ranch (a horse-packing resupply point) along the way. Bear canisters are required throughout. The route is non-technical but the altitude, daily climbs, and weight of a multi-week food load make it physically demanding.