North America · United States
John Muir Trail
Sierra Nevada, California, USA
Hikes / North America / John Muir Trail
Effort at this pace: Hard · about 10 mi (16 km) and 2,224 ft (678 m) of climbing a day over 21 days, up to 14,505 ft (4,421 m). Our grade for the days given, worked out from distance, climbing and altitude a day; it isn't the trail's usual difficulty rating (under Basics) and doesn't rate exposure, terrain or weather.
Where these numbers come from
Public sources, official ones first, each numbered and listed under Sources, checked Nov 2026. Anything they don't give is left out.
Relief map
The route
A long-distance trail through the High Sierra from Yosemite Valley south to Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the lower 48 states. It shares much of its line with the Pacific Crest Trail and is mostly a camping trip after the last resupply at Muir Trail Ranch.1,4
Route drawn from OpenStreetMap (John Muir Trail, read Nov 2026). © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (USGS 3DEP, SRTM) on AWS. A sketch for planning, not for navigation.
Before you go
The basics
- Direction
- One way, usually walked north to south from Yosemite; the guide notes northbound walkers get the Whitney zone permit included, southbound ones apply for it separately1,4
- Distance
- 211 miles (NPS). The Cicerone guide counts the main trail as 216 miles, or 233 miles with Half Dome and the descent to Whitney Portal.1,4
- Days
- The Cicerone guide splits it into 21 daily stages, plus rest days at Tuolumne Meadows and Vermilion Valley Resort.4
- Elevation gain
- 46,700 ft (14,234 m) of ascent over the guide's 233-mile version including Half Dome and the Whitney Portal descent.4
- Usual difficulty
- No scrambling on the main trail and well-graded passes; the challenge is endurance, self-reliance and altitude. The guide suggests prior experience of a continuous route over 150 miles. The optional Half Dome cables need a head for heights4
- Best time
- August is the guide's pick (less snow, easier river crossings); early September works with colder nights; July means lingering snow, high rivers and mosquitoes. Facilities close by early October4
- Permits
- One Yosemite wilderness permit covers a continuous JMT hike; no separate Whitney stamp or other park permits. Apply on Recreation.gov (permit 445859): 60% of spaces go by weekly lottery 24 weeks before the start date ($10 per application, $5 per person if awarded), leftovers open first-come about 22 weeks out, and the other 40% open 7 days ahead at 7 am Pacific. Only Happy Isles (past Little Yosemite Valley) and Lyell Canyon trailheads can exit over Donohue Pass, capped at 45 people a day. Up to 90% of JMT requests are refused on busy days. Pick up in person the day before or the start day1,2
- Getting there
- Reach Yosemite Valley by bus and Amtrak via Merced; long-term parking in Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows is free. At the end, Whitney Portal is 13 miles from Lone Pine; Eastern Sierra Transit runs Lone Pine to Mammoth Lakes and YARTS runs Mammoth Lakes back to Yosemite Valley. No public transport links Whitney Portal and Yosemite directly1,3,4
Bookings and permits
When bookings open, from the sources named under each. Dates move: confirm on the official site.
Yosemite wilderness permit for the JMT (weekly lottery)
60% of spaces go by weekly lottery 24 weeks before the start date; leftovers open first come about 22 weeks out; the other 40% open 7 days ahead at 7 a.m. Pacific.
Opens a set time before your start date: make a plan with your dates to see yours.
Book on recreation.gov, permit 445859.
Source: US National Park Service, Yosemite: John Muir Trail (official). Checked November 2026.
Alert me when bookings open
From the sources
Safety
Rescue numbers
- Emergency: call or text 911 (Yosemite National Park; ambulance service 24 hours)
Source 5
Phone signal
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, which the trail crosses, say there is no cell service in the parks outside a few areas near visitor centers, and not every provider works even there
Source 7
Insurance
- The UK government says medical treatment in the US is expensive and to have travel insurance that covers treatment, unexpected medical evacuation and repatriation
Source 6
Bail-out points
- Resupply stops at Tuolumne Meadows, Reds Meadow, Vermilion Valley Resort (ferry across Edison Lake) and Muir Trail Ranch; from Muir Trail Ranch you carry about ten days of food to the finish
Source 4
From the sources below, checked Nov 2026. For planning, not navigation: check before you go.
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Typical: 21 days (the hike's facts).
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Planning questions about John Muir Trail, answered only from this page's facts, the creators' versions and hikers' public tracks, with where each answer comes from. When the data doesn't say, the answer says "not given".
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Answered from the data
Questions people ask
How many days do you need for John Muir Trail?
21 days. The Cicerone guide splits it into 21 daily stages, plus rest days at Tuolumne Meadows and Vermilion Valley Resort.
From Cicerone: The John Muir Trail planning guide (guide), checked Nov 2026. [4]
How long is John Muir Trail?
211 mi (340 km). 211 miles (NPS). The Cicerone guide counts the main trail as 216 miles, or 233 miles with Half Dome and the descent to Whitney Portal.
From US National Park Service, Yosemite: John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails (official); Cicerone: The John Muir Trail planning guide (guide), checked Nov 2026. [1] [4]
When is the best time to hike John Muir Trail?
Jul–Sep. August is the guide's pick (less snow, easier river crossings); early September works with colder nights; July means lingering snow, high rivers and mosquitoes. Facilities close by early October.
From Cicerone: The John Muir Trail planning guide (guide), checked Nov 2026. [4]
Do you need a permit for John Muir Trail?
One Yosemite wilderness permit covers a continuous JMT hike; no separate Whitney stamp or other park permits. Apply on Recreation.gov (permit 445859): 60% of spaces go by weekly lottery 24 weeks before the start date ($10 per application, $5 per person if awarded), leftovers open first-come about 22 weeks out, and the other 40% open 7 days ahead at 7 am Pacific. Only Happy Isles (past Little Yosemite Valley) and Lyell Canyon trailheads can exit over Donohue Pass, capped at 45 people a day. Up to 90% of JMT requests are refused on busy days. Pick up in person the day before or the start day.
From US National Park Service, Yosemite: John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails (official); US National Park Service, Yosemite: Wilderness Permits FAQ (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [2]
How do you get to John Muir Trail?
Reach Yosemite Valley by bus and Amtrak via Merced; long-term parking in Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows is free. At the end, Whitney Portal is 13 miles from Lone Pine; Eastern Sierra Transit runs Lone Pine to Mammoth Lakes and YARTS runs Mammoth Lakes back to Yosemite Valley. No public transport links Whitney Portal and Yosemite directly.
From US National Park Service, Yosemite: John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails (official); US National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Mt. Whitney (official); Cicerone: The John Muir Trail planning guide (guide), checked Nov 2026. [1] [3] [4]
Where do you sleep on John Muir Trail?
Tent. Wilderness camping throughout; permit holders may spend one night at the Tuolumne Meadows backpackers' campground. Resupply stops at Tuolumne Meadows, Reds Meadow, Vermilion Valley Resort and Muir Trail Ranch; after that there are no facilities. Approved bear canisters are required.
From US National Park Service, Yosemite: John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails (official); Cicerone: The John Muir Trail planning guide (guide), checked Nov 2026. [1] [4]
How high does John Muir Trail go?
What's the emergency number on John Muir Trail?
Emergency: call or text 911 (Yosemite National Park; ambulance service 24 hours).
From US National Park Service, Yosemite: Safety (official), checked Nov 2026. [5]
Sources
- US National Park Service, Yosemite: John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- US National Park Service, Yosemite: Wilderness Permits FAQ (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- US National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Mt. Whitney (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- Cicerone: The John Muir Trail planning guide (guide) · guide · checked Nov 2026
- US National Park Service, Yosemite: Safety (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- www.gov.uk · official · checked Nov 2026
- www.nps.gov · official · checked Nov 2026
Facts are written in our own words from these pages; nothing is copied. Rules, fees and closures change: check the official page before you go.