Trekking in John Muir Trail

The John Muir Trail runs some 340 kilometres through the High Sierra, from Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney — at 4,421 metres the highest point in the lower forty-eight states. Over about three weeks it stays mostly above the treeline, crossing pass after pass through a landscape of pale granite, alpine lakes and enormous sky that Muir spent his life arguing was worth protecting.

The walking is sustained rather than technical, and the logistics are half the challenge: resupply means mailing food caches ahead and detouring to collect them, and bear canisters are mandatory throughout. The reward is weeks of near-continuous high country with remarkably little sign of the modern world.

Wilderness permits run on a competitive lottery with limited daily quotas — the hardest part of the whole trip to secure. Go in summer, roughly July to September, once the snow has left the passes, and re-check the permit system before you plan, because it changes.

Some 340 kilometres through the High Sierra, from Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney — at 4,421 metres the highest point in the lower forty-eight.

Over about three weeks it stays mostly above the treeline, crossing pass after pass through a landscape of pale granite, alpine lakes and enormous sky that Muir spent his life arguing was worth protecting.

The walking is sustained rather than technical, and the logistics are half the challenge: resupply means mailing food caches ahead and detouring to collect them, and bear canisters are mandatory throughout. The reward is weeks of near-continuous high country with remarkably little sign of the modern world.

Secure the wilderness permit first — it runs on a competitive lottery with limited daily quotas and is the hardest part of the trip to get; re-check the system before you plan, since it changes. Go in summer, roughly July to September, once snow has left the passes.

Plan resupply by mailing food caches to points along the route and detouring to collect them, and carry an approved bear canister the whole way. This is advanced-to-expert backpacking: come fit for three weeks at altitude and self-sufficient. Most walk north to south, finishing over Whitney.

Break in your gear and legs well before you start.