Backpacking the John Muir Trail

Backpacking the John Muir Trail

Harmen Hoek
The 350-kilometer (215-mile) long John Muir Trail is considered one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the United States. It stretches from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney straight through the Sierra Nevada mountains, passing through Yosemite National Park, the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wildernesses, Sequoia National Park, and King's Canyon National Park. This trek is characterized by wild camping, undisturbed wilderness and a varied wild landscape. This is my personal favorite hike in the world. This guide includes the route and campsites as seen in my YouTube films and is suitable for experienced backpackers - it requires wildcamping and bringing food for up to a week. The flexible itinerary is split up in 3 stages, that can be hiked at any pace. Additionally there is all you need to know about obtaining permits, resupplies, getting there by car or public transport, bear safety, weather and when to go and much more. What this guide includes: - A flexible itinerary for different lengths and difficulty levels - Distances, best camping options, and other useful waypoints - Custom Google Maps with all the important locations, such as my campsites, grocery stores, airports, trails, public transport stops, viewpoints, dangerous points, resupply stops, ranger stations and more. - GPX-tracks of all the routes, including scenic detours and resupplies. - Practical information on how to get there, how to get around, when to go, trail conditions, weather, geography, and more. - Detailed descriptions of the trekking route, including landmarks, terrain, and elevation changes. Get an impression on YouTube.com/HarmenHoek
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Written in February 2024, last updated on February 14, 2024.

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About this trip

The John Muir Trail (JMT) spans approximately 343.9 kilometers (213.7 miles), from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, traversing through the heart of the Sierra Nevada. This high-altitude journey averages over 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) and peaks at Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, at 4,421 meters (14,505 feet). Hikers face a cumulative elevation gain of about 14,300 meters (47,000 feet) across the trail. Designed for the ambitious adventurer, the JMT challenges and rewards with its vast wilderness, requiring careful planning for resupply and wild camping.

It's truly remarkable that despite the proximity of 40 million people living within a few hours' drive, the wilderness of the John Muir Trail offers an escape where one can embark on a three-week journey without encountering a single road or building, preserving a sense of untouched wilderness and solitude amidst the vastness of nature.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Harmen Hoek
Adventurous travel lover & film maker.
What's included
Digital Map
Fully interactive, digital map for finding places nearby
3 places
3 hand-picked places with notes from the creator
28 photos
Beautiful, hi-res photos from the creator
19 links
19 links from the creator to go even deeper with more info
DESTINATION(S) COVERED
John Muir Trail, Mammoth Lakes, CA, USA
Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Mount Whitney, California, USA
Muir Pass, California, USA
Kings Canyon National Park, California, USA
John Muir Memorial Shelter, John Muir Trail, Shaver Lake, CA, USA
Mammoth Lakes, CA, USA
Sequoia National Park, California, USA
Bishop, CA, USA
California, USA
Independence, CA, USA
Forester Pass, California, USA
Tuolumne Meadows, California, USA
Half Dome, California, USA
Ansel Adams Wilderness, Lee Vining, CA, USA
Muir Trail Ranch, Kaiser Pass Rd, Lakeshore, CA, USA
John Muir Wilderness, Lakeshore, CA, USA
FOCUSES AND THEMES
Backpacker
Adventure
Camping
Outdoors
Photography
Slow Travel
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Format
Itinerary
Itineraries typically include day-by-day plans, with food, lodging and activity recommendations for each day.
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