John Muir Trail Thru-Hiking Itinerary

The John Muir Trail runs 210 miles from Happy Isles in Yosemite to the summit of Mount Whitney. Depending on your fitness level and how much time you have, most hikers will be able to complete the trail in 10 – 20 days. Here is an example itinerary showing how you could thru-hike the JMT in 18 days (averaging around 12 miles a day.) There are hundreds of excellent campsites along the JMT route besides the ones listed here, so I don’t want to encourage you to follow this itinerary to the letter. But you can use this as a jumping off point to start planning your own thru-hike.

Happy trails,

Author of John Muir Trail Pocket Atlas

Day 1: Happy Isles Trailhead to Sunrise High Sierra Camp

Distance: 13.6 miles

Starting Mile: 0.0 (4,025 ft)
Ending Mile: 13.6 (9,315 ft)
Elevation Gain: +5,290 ft (6,975 ft climb -1,685 ft drop)

Resupply:
Yosemite Village (2.5 miles from JMT Mile 0)

Day 2: Sunrise High Sierra Camp to Tuolumne Meadows

Distance: 9.9 miles

Starting Mile: 13.6 (9,315 ft)
Ending Mile: 23.5 (8,610 ft)
Elevation Loss: -705 ft (1,325 ft climb -2,030 ft drop)

Resupply:
Tuolumne Meadows (0.3 miles from JMT Mile 23.5)

Day 3: Tuolumne Meadows to Upper Lyell Base Camp

Distance: 11.3 miles

Starting Mile: 23.5 (8,610 ft)
Ending Mile: 34.8 (10,200 ft)
Elevation Gain: +1590 ft (2,100 ft climb -510 ft drop)

Day 4: Upper Lyell Base Camp to Garnet Lake

Distance: 11.2 miles

Starting Mile: 34.8 (10,200 ft)
Ending Mile: 46.0 (9,685 ft)
Elevation Loss: -515 ft (2,585 ft climb -3,100 ft drop)

Day 5: Garnet Lake to Reds Meadow

Distance: 14.7 miles

Starting Mile: 46.0 (9,685 ft)
Ending Mile: 60.7 (7,645 ft)
Elevation Loss: -2,040 ft (2,960 ft climb -5,000 ft drop)

Resupply:
Red’s Meadow Resort (0.2 miles from JMT Mile 60.7)
Mammoth Lakes (Shuttle from Red’s Meadow)

Day 6: Reds Meadow to Lake Virginia

Distance: 15.2 miles

Starting Mile: 60.7 (7,645 ft)
Ending Mile: 75.9 (10,350 ft)
Elevation Gain: +2,705 ft (4,520 ft climb -1,815 ft drop)

Day 7: Lake Virginia to Lake Edison

Distance: 13.1 miles

Starting Mile: 75.9 (10,350 ft)
Ending Mile: 89.0 (7,900 ft)
Elevation Loss: -2,450 ft (2,600 ft climb -5,050 ft drop)

Resupply:
Vermilion Valley Resort: 7 miles from JMT Mile 89.0 (1.4 miles to Ferry)

Day 8: Lake Edison to Marie Lake

Distance: 12.5 miles

Starting Mile: 89.0 (7,900 ft)
Ending Mile: 101.5 (10,565 ft)
Elevation Gain: +2,665 ft (4,285 ft climb -1,620 ft drop)

Day 9: Marie Lake to Piute Pass Trail

Distance: 10.6 miles

Starting Mile: 101.5 (10,565 ft)
Ending Mile: 112.1 (8,080 ft)
Elevation Loss: -2,485 ft (1,300 ft climb -3,785 ft drop)

Resupply:
Muir Trail Ranch (0.8 miles from JMT Mile 108.5)

Day 10: Piute Pass Trail to Evolution Lake

Distance: 11.3 miles

Starting Mile: 112.1 (8,080 ft)
Ending Mile: 123.4 (10,870 ft)
Elevation Gain: +2,790 ft (3,865 ft climb -1,075 ft drop)

Day 11: Evolution Lake to Big Pete Meadow

Distance: 11.9 miles

Starting Mile: 123.4 (10,870 ft)
Ending Mile: 135.3 (9,265 ft)
Elevation Loss: -1,605 ft (2,085 ft climb -3,690 ft drop)

Day 12: Big Pete Meadow to Golden Staircase

Distance: 9.9 miles

Starting Mile: 135.3 (9,265 ft)
Ending Mile: 145.2 (9,320 ft)
Elevation Gain: +55 ft (2,135 ft climb -2,080 ft drop)

Resupply (Optional):
Parcher’s Resort: 13.3 miles from JMT Mile 137.0 (12 miles to South Lake Trailhead +1.3 miles to resort)
Bishop: 34 miles from JMT Mile 137.0 (12 miles to South Lake Trailhead +22 miles to town)

Day 13: Golden Staircase to South Fork Kings River

Distance: 11.5 miles

Starting Mile: 145.2 (9,320 ft)
Ending Mile: 156.7 (10,050 ft)
Elevation Gain: +730 ft (3,470 ft climb -2,740 ft drop)

Day 14: South Fork Kings River to Woods Creek Trail

Distance: 11.9 miles

Starting Mile: 156.7 (10,050 ft)
Ending Mile: 168.6 (8,550 ft)
Elevation Loss: -1,500 ft (2,775 ft climb -4,275 ft drop)

Day 15: Woods Creek Trail to Bubbs Creek Trail

Distance: 12.9 miles

Starting Mile: 168.6 (8,550 ft)
Ending Mile: 181.5 (9,570 ft)
Elevation Gain: +1,020 ft (4,400 ft climb -3,380 ft drop)

Resupply (Optional):
Independence: 20.5 miles from JMT Mile 179.5 (7.5 miles to Onion Valley Trailhead +13 miles to town)

Day 16: Bubbs Creek Trail to Shepherd Pass Trail

Distance: 13.0 miles

Starting Mile: 181.5 (9,570 ft)
Ending Mile: 194.5 (10,930 ft)
Elevation Gain: +1,360 ft (4,005 ft climb -2,645 ft drop)

Day 17: Shepherd Pass Trail to Guitar Lake

Distance: 11.2 miles

Starting Mile: 194.5 (10,930 ft)
Ending Mile: 205.7 (11,490 ft)
Elevation Gain: +560 ft (2,655 ft climb -2,095 ft drop)

Day 18: Guitar Lake to Mount Whitney

Distance: 4.8 miles (+10.5 miles to Whitney Portal Trailhead)

Starting Mile: 205.7 (11,490 ft)
Ending Mile: 210.5 (14,505 ft)
Elevation Gain: +3,015 ft (3,295 ft climb -280 ft drop)