How long is the John Muir Trail? The official trail is 211 miles [340 km] from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney. If you finish by descending to Whitney Portal, plan on 221.7 miles [356.8 km] of walking, before side trips, resupply detours, or campground wandering.
How long is the John Muir Trail?
The John Muir Trail is 211 miles [340 km] from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney.
That’s the clean answer, and it matches the National Park Service description of the JMT as a 211-mile trail from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States. The northern end is Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. The southern end is the summit of Mount Whitney, not Whitney Portal. That detail matters when you’re planning food, a shuttle, and your final day.
Most southbound hikers still have to descend from the summit to Whitney Portal to get back to a road. That adds 10.7 miles [17.2 km] on the Mount Whitney Trail. So your on-foot number is usually 221.7 miles [356.8 km] from Happy Isles to Whitney Portal.
Use 211 miles [340 km] when talking about the official JMT. Use 221.7 miles [356.8 km] when building your real itinerary.
For current agency language on the route, see the National Park Service page for the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails in Yosemite.
| Route | Distance | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Happy Isles to Mount Whitney summit | 211 miles [340 km] | Official John Muir Trail distance |
| Happy Isles to Whitney Portal | 221.7 miles [356.8 km] | Practical southbound hiking distance |
| Lyell Canyon to Mount Whitney summit | Shorter by the Yosemite Valley approach | Alternate JMT permit start |
How long does it take to hike the John Muir Trail?
Most strong backpackers should plan 17 to 24 days.
You can hike it faster. You can take longer. But 17 to 24 days gives you space for high passes, afternoon storms, smoke days, swollen creek crossings, altitude problems, and the plain fact that the Sierra is not a treadmill.
A 21-day plan averages 10.6 miles [17.1 km] per day if you count the walk to Whitney Portal. A 17-day plan averages 13 miles [20.9 km] per day. A 24-day plan averages 9.2 miles [14.8 km] per day. Those averages look gentle on paper. Then you add a 12,000-foot [3,658 m] pass, six days of food, and a thunderhead stacking up over granite.
Here’s a simple way to choose your trip length:
- 14 to 16 days: Fast, light, and demanding. Better for experienced thru-hikers with a proven Sierra pace.
- 17 to 21 days: The sweet spot for fit backpackers who want big days without turning the trail into a race.
- 22 to 28 days: Better for first-time long-distance backpackers, photographers, anglers, and hikers who want shorter days.
Which direction should you hike the John Muir Trail?
Southbound is the classic direction.
Starting in Yosemite gives you a gentler build into the highest terrain. You begin in Yosemite Valley, climb into the high country, cross Donohue Pass, move through the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness areas, then hit the biggest southern passes after your legs and lungs have had time to sharpen.
Northbound has one huge perk: permits can be easier to piece together from Inyo National Forest trailheads. But it starts brutally. You climb from Whitney Portal to 14,505 feet [4,421 m] early, then keep moving through high country before your body has settled into altitude.
Pick southbound if this is your first JMT. Pick northbound if you have Sierra experience, you acclimatize well, and you have a permit strategy that works.
What permits do you need for the John Muir Trail?
You need one wilderness permit from the agency that manages your starting trailhead.
If you start in Yosemite and hike the full JMT southbound, Yosemite says one wilderness permit covers the continuous trip; you do not need a separate “Whitney stamp” or additional permits from other parks or forests. As of November 2026, Yosemite lists only two direct trailheads for a full JMT trip beyond Yosemite: Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) and Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass eligible).
The Donohue Pass exit is the bottleneck. As of November 2026, Yosemite limits JMT exits over Donohue Pass to 45 people per day: 15 from Happy Isles to Past LYV and 30 from Lyell Canyon. See Yosemite’s wilderness permit FAQ for current lottery timing, fees, and Donohue Pass rules before you apply.
As of November 2026, Yosemite wilderness permit reservation fees are $10 per application plus $5 per person if you receive a permit. Yosemite releases 60 percent of reservations by lottery 24 weeks in advance, then releases 40 percent seven days in advance at 7 a.m. Pacific time.
If you start outside Yosemite, get your permit from the agency that manages that starting trailhead. If you start from an Inyo National Forest trailhead, use Inyo National Forest wilderness permits on Recreation.gov; as of November 2026, Inyo releases 60 percent of quota six months in advance and 40 percent two weeks in advance.
How do you get a John Muir Trail permit?
Apply early, stay flexible, and build backups before you fall in love with one date.
Here’s the clean permit workflow:
- Choose your direction. Southbound means Yosemite permit rules. Northbound usually means Inyo National Forest or another eastern Sierra entry.
- Pick your starting trailhead. For a full southbound JMT, target Happy Isles to Past LYV or Lyell Canyon, both Donohue Pass eligible.
- Build a date range. Midweek starts help. Late July through early September usually gives the best mix of melted passes and pre-winter daylight, but snow, fire, and smoke can shift the whole season.
- Apply through the correct system. Yosemite and Inyo both use Recreation.gov, but their release timing and quota rules differ.
- List alternates. Add alternate trip leaders where allowed. If the trip leader cannot show, a permit can fall apart fast.
- Check current trail conditions. Before you lock flights or shuttles, read the latest agency updates for bridges, trailheads, roads, and fire closures.
What is a good John Muir Trail itinerary?
A 21-day southbound itinerary is the best starting template for many hikers.
Treat this as a planning frame, not a commandment. Your camps must match your permit, your pace, legal camping zones, food carries, water, snow, and weather. Mileages vary by map source and campsite choice.
| Days | Section | Planning notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows | Big climb, busy trails, early altitude adjustment |
| 4-6 | Tuolumne Meadows to Reds Meadow area | Donohue Pass, Thousand Island Lake area, first major resupply option |
| 7-10 | Reds Meadow to Muir Trail Ranch area | Long food carry begins to matter; build conservative days |
| 11-14 | Muir Trail Ranch to Bishop Pass/Kearsarge access zone | Evolution Basin, Muir Pass, big scenery and slower miles |
| 15-18 | Central Kings Canyon to Forester Pass | High passes stack up; weather windows matter |
| 19-21 | Forester Pass to Mount Whitney and Whitney Portal | Highest terrain, early summit start, long descent |
Where can you resupply on the John Muir Trail?
Most hikers use two to four resupplies.
The common strategy is simple: don’t carry three weeks of food from Yosemite. Your back will hate you by day two. Instead, plan around known access points and confirm each service before mailing anything.
- Tuolumne Meadows: Convenient early resupply if services are open for the season.
- Reds Meadow or Mammoth Lakes: A popular exit or resupply zone near Devils Postpile.
- Vermilion Valley Resort area: Off-trail resupply with extra logistics.
- Muir Trail Ranch area: A key resupply before the long southern half.
- Onion Valley via Kearsarge Pass: A strong bailout or resupply option, but it adds miles and climbing.
As of November 2026, Yosemite warns that Reds Meadow and Devils Postpile road access has been affected by ongoing road construction, and Inyo’s Recreation.gov page says permit reservations for Reds Meadow trailheads are tied to expected public road access days. Check that before you choose a resupply or exit.
What should you pack for the John Muir Trail?
Pack for sun, snow, bears, cold nights, and high-mileage hunger.
The JMT is well traveled, but it is still remote mountain country. A sunny morning can become sleet by midafternoon. A soft trail can become talus. A mild headache can become a serious altitude problem if you keep climbing blindly.
- Bear canister approved for the areas on your route
- Topographic map, offline maps, and a backup power plan
- Storm-worthy shelter
- Sleeping bag or quilt warm enough for freezing nights
- Insulating layer, rain shell, warm hat, and gloves
- Sun hoodie or long-sleeve shirt, sunglasses, and brimmed hat
- Water filter or purifier
- First-aid kit and blister care
- Headlamp with spare power
- Trowel and toilet paper pack-out bags
- Microspikes and ice axe when snow conditions require them
As of November 2026, Yosemite requires allowed bear canisters throughout Yosemite and does not allow hanging food there. That rule alone makes a canister the default choice for JMT planning.
When is the best time to hike the John Muir Trail?
Late July through early September is the most reliable window.
June can be stunning, but high passes may hold serious snow. July can still carry snow in big winters, plus creek crossings can run cold and pushy. August often brings more stable trail conditions, afternoon thunderstorms, mosquitoes in wet years, and wildfire smoke risk. September brings colder nights, shorter days, and fewer bugs, with early storms always possible.
Before you go, check official current conditions. Sequoia and Kings Canyon maintain a wilderness trail conditions page that reports pass conditions, creek crossings, downed trees, and seasonal hazards when staff or hikers provide updates.
When to see a doctor
Talk to a doctor before the trip if you have heart, lung, sleep apnea, sickle cell, or other medical conditions affected by altitude.
The JMT spends long stretches above 9,000 feet [2,743 m] and reaches 14,505 feet [4,421 m] on Mount Whitney. The CDC says high-altitude illness symptoms can include headache, loss of appetite, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, and people with symptoms should not continue higher until symptoms resolve.
Get medical help and descend if symptoms worsen, if someone becomes confused, if walking becomes unsteady, or if breathing trouble develops at rest. Do not try to diagnose yourself on a pass in bad weather. Use the CDC’s high-altitude travel guidance when planning, and get personal medical advice before the trail if your health history raises any questions.
Related reading
- Who Was John Muir?
- How Long Is the Appalachian Trail? Miles, States and Time
- Where Does the Appalachian Trail Start and End?
- How Long Does It Take to Hike the Appalachian Trail?
FAQ
Is the John Muir Trail hard?
Yes, the John Muir Trail is hard. The distance is long, the passes are high, and the food carries can be heavy, even though the tread is often excellent by wilderness standards.
Do you need a permit to hike the John Muir Trail?
Yes, you need a wilderness permit for any overnight JMT hike. For a continuous trip, get the permit from the agency that manages your starting trailhead.
Can beginners hike the John Muir Trail?
Yes, but not as a first backpacking trip. Build experience with multi-night trips, bear canister packing, creek crossings, altitude, and navigation before committing to three weeks in the Sierra.
Where does the John Muir Trail start and end?
The classic route starts at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley and ends on the summit of Mount Whitney. Most southbound hikers then descend to Whitney Portal to reach a road.
How many resupplies do you need on the John Muir Trail?
Plan on two to four resupplies. Fewer resupplies mean heavier carries, while more resupplies usually mean added miles, tighter logistics, or paid services.
Can you hike the John Muir Trail without climbing Mount Whitney?
You can hike most of the route without summiting Whitney, but the official southern end of the JMT is the summit. If weather, altitude, or safety forces a change, skipping the summit is the right call.