A Complete Guide to Hiking the John Muir Trail

“Of all the mountain ranges I have climbed, I like the Sierra Nevada the best,” John Muir, the naturalist and founder of the Sierra Club, famously quipped. The fact that the John Muir Trail – which offers some of the most scenic vistas in the nation – bears his name is reason enough to follow his footsteps on this magnificent and challenging route.

The John Muir Trail begins in Yosemite National Park and travels 210 miles along the High Sierra mountain range through the Ansel Adams Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness, Sequoia National Park, and King’s Canyon National Park, culminating at the highest peak in the continental United States – Mount Whitney. The route climbs nearly 46,000 feet of elevation and crosses six high elevation mountain passes, with most people taking around three weeks to complete.

Planning your thru-hike on the JMT can be a daunting and overwhelming task – not to mention the difficulty in procuring one of the coveted permits. In this guide we break down every detail you’ll need to begin preparing for what will surely be the adventure of a lifetime. Also, if you’re wondering what gear to bring, we encourage you to check out our John Muir Trail Gear List for lightweight gear considerations and our top recommendations.

JMT Gear List: What We Packed 

Quick Facts

• Distance: 210.4 (official length ending at Whitney summit) / 221 total miles (end-to-end length with summit of Whitney and descent to Whitney Portal)
• Days Needed: 18-21 days (seriously fit and experienced hikers may take less time, but you really need to know your limits, this is a very tough trail)
• Peak Elevation: 14,505 ft. – summit of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous U.S.
• Low Elevation: 4,000 ft. – the northern terminus at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 46,000 ft./38,000 ft. (north to south)
• Best Time: July-early October (varies year-to-year depending on snowpack and winter storms)
• Permits: Required and competitive (see below)
• Difficulty: Difficult-strenuous

Highlights

• Summiting the highest point in the United States
• Unparalleled views of endless peaks and lakes
• Some of the best backcountry campsites in the country
• Gorgeous sunrises and sunsets
• Mind-blowing stargazing
• If hiking southbound, elevation progressively increases, providing good altitude training for the increasing difficulty of passes
• Social and friendly trail community
• Feeling amazingly capable and confident at the end of the journey
• Great, yet frigidly cold, swimming opportunities (always follow LNT guidelines)

Lowlights

• Competitive Permits – 97% of all JMT thru-hike permit applications are denied
• Strenuous ascents and descents over many mountain passes
• Mosquitos and black flies can be vicious at times
• Altitude sickness until you acclimate for some (more common with northbounders)
• Early season rushing rivers can mean sketchy, sometimes dangerous fording
• Fires are prohibited most places along the JMT
• The descent from Mt. Whitney to Whitney Portal is brutal

Best Time to Hike

Although it’s possible to hike the JMT as early as mid-June for those equipped for snow travel, the best time to hike is generally late July through early October. This is highly variable year-to-year and it really depends on the season’s snowfall.

There are pros and cons to hiking in each month. July can offer very pleasant weather, but raging rivers can be potentially dangerous to ford. August often has near perfect weather, but mosquitos and flies can be at their worst. By mid-September, the days are shorter, the nights get progressively colder, and you’ll have to navigate the possibility of early snowfall in the High Sierras. Also, planning late-season resupply can be complicated due to closed resupply depots along the route (they usually start closing late-September to mid-October).

How Long Does It Take?

Most people complete the John Muir Trail in about three weeks. Although the official trail ending at Mt. Whitney is 210 miles, you’ll still need to hike down to Whitney Portal after you summit, resulting in an end-to-end total of 221 miles. While experienced backpackers may hike the trail in around two weeks, the miles in the High Sierra are hard and have a lot of elevation gain. Most people calculate in a couple of “zero” days (rest days) and take the trail at an enjoyable pace.

When you apply for your permit, you’ll have to estimate how many days you’ll be on the trail including any zero days. You are not allowed to be on the trail after your exit date, but it’s perfectly fine to finish early. Because of this, we recommend building in a couple extra days when you apply for your permit.

Difficulty

The JMT is well-maintained, well-signed, and easy to follow, so navigation is rarely an issue. That said, we always hike with a good topographical map and compass . The main difficulty of the JMT is the terrain and length of the trail. Over the course of your trip you’ll ascend and descend 11 mountain passes, many of them over 12,000 feet.

Altitude sickness can bother some hikers along the JMT, though it’s not a common complaint. The best way to minimize altitude issues is to hike the trail from north to south. You’ll naturally acclimatize and get stronger as you climb progressively higher passes on your way to Mt Whitney. One of the disadvantages of going north to south is the significant and quick altitude gain from Yosemite Valley.

Depending on the season, fording rivers can be a challenging, if not dangerous endeavor. We recommend brushing up on How to Safely Ford Backcountry Rivers before setting off on your trip, regardless of when you begin your hike.

Permits

A permit is required to hike the JMT, and the process is one of the most competitive in the country. Permit applications for the John Muir Trail have more than doubled in the last five years, and a strict quota and lottery system is in place to reduce environmental impact. The advance lottery limits the number of trekkers who can exit the Yosemite Wilderness over Donohue Pass to just 45 people a day. More than 97% of permit applications are denied, so you’ll need flexibility, patience, and persistence if you’re hoping to score a permit.

Thankfully, the JMT now has its own online permit process, so gone are the days of faxing in a paper application. For more information on the wilderness permit process for the JMT, we recommend visiting the NPS.gov page.

When To Apply

If you’re applying for a JMT permit that begins in Yosemite and ends at Whitney Portal, you can now submit one permit application which allows you to participate in 21 daily lotteries. You should submit this application 168 days (24 weeks) before your desired start date. Permit applications are accepted up to two days before the lottery takes place (170 days before your start date). That means if the lottery for your start date is on a Friday, send your application in as early as Wednesday.

Requests are accepted from February 1 through March 15 for start dates in July, August and September. Dates in these months almost always fill completely during the advance lottery, but any remaining spaces they’ll be made available in the online system starting April 1.

How to Apply

To apply for a JMT permit, complete an online application. You’ll need to know your start date, where you’ll camp your first night, your trip leader, group size, end date, ending trailhead, and if you want to hike Half Dome. Below we’ll walk through the different components of the online application.

• BEGINNING TRAILHEAD – The four trailheads that can be used to access the JMT from Yosemite are: Happy Isles, Sunrise lakes, Glacier Point, and Lyell Canyon (see below for more detailed descriptions on trailheads). On your application, you’ll list each trailhead in order of priority, along with the location of your first night’s camp.
• EXIT TRAILHEAD – If you are completing the classic JMT route from Yosemite, you’ll choose Whitney Portal as your exit trailhead.
• DATES – You’ll be required to list your first and last desired start date (21 day range maximum). Having a flexible start date can greatly increase your chance of getting a permit. You’ll also have to list your trip length – we recommend overestimating the length of time it will take by a day or two. You can finish the trail early, but you can’t be on the trail past your exit date.
• GROUP SIZE – You will identify how many people are in your group. There’s a maximum group size of 15, though your chances of getting a permit decrease drastically the larger your group size.
• HALF DOME PERMITS – As part of their JMT hike, many people choose to take a side trip to the summit of Half Dome in Yosemite. If you haven’t done this, it is absolutely worth it and a bucket-lister itself. The vistas are some of the best in the valley. As part of your JMT application, you’ll be asked if you want to apply for Half Dome permits as well. For more information on this hike, check out our Complete Guide to Hiking Half Dome.
• TRIP LEADER – The last part of the application is regarding trip leader information, which is pretty straightforward.

Once your permit application is received, you’ll get an email confirmation from the Yosemite Conservancy. Then you’ll receive daily notifications via email informing you if your application has been granted or denied. If denied, your application will roll over to the next day’s lottery until the date range specified expires or your request is granted.

If you are granted a permit, there is a nonrefundable processing fee of $5 per person, plus $5 per transaction. You won’t be charged if you’re denied. If you get a permit, you’ll have 14 days to pay for your permit or your reservation will be cancelled. You’ll receive an email with instructions to pay online.

First-Come, First-Served Walk Up Permits

If you were denied a permit in the advance lottery, there’s still a slight chance you could get a walk-up permit. Beginning in 2018, walk-up permits were eliminated for Happy Isles, Glacier Point, and Sunrise Lakes trailheads. Your best option is to try for one of the 10 walk-up permits set aside for the Lyell Canyon Trailhead (Tuolumne Meadows), but success is far from guaranteed. They become available at 10 am prior to your desired start date and are highly competitive, so we recommend getting there early.

Beginning Trailhead Options

Southbound Hikers

The classic JMT route begins in Yosemite at the Happy Isles trailhead and travels to the summit of Mt. Whitney near the Whitney Portal trailhead in Inyo National Forest. This is the most in-demand and subsequently congested starting point. When filling out your permit application, you’ll have to determine your desired beginning trailhead. The JMT can only be directly accessed from the following trailheads out of Yosemite:

• Happy Isles – This is the official start and most sought after beginning trailhead. You’ll have a big climb out of Yosemite Valley the first couple days, but you’ll also get to see some classic Yosemite landmarks (Nevada and Vernal Falls) and have the opportunity to summit Half Dome (remember to check the box on your application for separate Half Dome permits).
• Sunrise Lakes– This trailhead begins near Tenaya Lake on Tioga Pass Road, roughly 8 miles from Toulumne Meadows. If you begin here, you’ll miss out on some of the sights in Yosemite Valley, and climbing Half Dome is not really a reasonable option as it would require backtracking. That said, starting at Sunrise Lakes will give you a chance to take a side trip to the spectacular Cloud’s Rest, which doesn’t require any permits.
• Glacier Point – If you choose to begin at Glacier Point, you’ll still get to hike by the many iconic Yosemite Valley sights, and hiking Half Dome is still an option. The benefit to beginning here is that you start at a higher elevation, easing your first day of climbing. The downside is that getting to the trailhead is a bit more complicated as it’s located about an hour from where you pick up your permit.
• Lyell Canyon (Tuolumne Meadows) – Have you already visited Yosemite and all the sights in the valley? Great! Then this may be a good option for you as the trailhead begins in Tuolumne Meadows. Your first day of hiking will be relatively flat as you make your way to Upper Lyell Canyon. There are camping restrictions for the first 4 miles after Tuolumne Meadows so you’ll need to plan for this on your first day. This is also the only trailhead that reserves 10 permits on a first come-first served basis.

ENDING TRAILHEAD – For southbound trekkers, the classic end of the trail is Whitney Portal, which is 10.6 miles from the summit of Mt. Whitney. Don’t forget to grab a burger and beer at Whitney Portal to celebrate!

Hiking the JMT Northbound?

Though most people choose to hike the JMT from north to south, there are some who opt for a northbound hike. Hiking north means you’ll begin with an intense climb to Whitney and then gradually decrease in altitude as you hike towards Yosemite. Contrary to popular belief, it is just as competitive to get northbound JMT permits as southbound.

To hike northbound, you’ll access the trail from Whitney Portal. Be prepared – your first couple days will be intense. The total climb from Whitney Portal (8,374 feet), to the Whitney Summit (14,505 feet) involves an unrelenting set of switchbacks that climbs 6,131 feet in just 11 miles. Because of this, many choose to break up the climb over two days.

FIRST NIGHT CAMP OPTIONS – To break up the climb of the Mount Whitney Trail, you can spend your first night at Outpost Camp 3.8 miles in or Trail Camp at 6.3 miles. Many northbound trekkers prefer Trail Camp for its incredible views, though temperatures can dip below freezing and it can be windy. Outpost Camp offers better weather protection and a chance to start acclimating to the high elevation you’ll encounter along the JMT. The tree canopy here also provides wind relief, plenty of campsites, and water. Around mile 8.8, you have the choice to either do the out-and-back side trip to summit Whitney (you definitely should) or continue on the JMT as it descends west towards Guitar Lake, which is a great (yet busy) place to camp as well.

How to Apply for Northbound Permits

Just like southbound permits, permits originating from Whitney Portal are issued via lottery on recreation.gov. All permit applications are submitted in the same timeframe and all applications are processed through the same lottery after that timeframe.

For northbound trips, submit your application to the lottery from February 1 to March 15. Around March 24, the lottery results are announced online at recreation.gov via your profile. If there are any remaining permits (for any dates) they become available online on April 1. You must accept or confirm your approved permit by April 30, or you lose it. Unclaimed permits on that date are released at a random time during the day on May 1; check on this at recreation.gov. but don’t get your hopes too high. It’s a long shot.

If you have any questions, call the Wilderness Permit office at (760) 873-2483, fill out a form on their website to get an email follow up.

Transportation to Trailheads

If you’re hiking the JMT in the peak months of July, August, and early September, getting to and from trailheads is relatively easy. Outside of the peak summer season, transportation options can be more limited and costly. Below we’ll outline everything you need to know to get to and from your trailheads.

Airports

If you’re arriving by plane for your JMT hike, there’s a good system of transportation in place to get you from the airport to your starting trailhead. Below are the most common airports people fly into.

• Mammoth Lakes Airport – The closest and most convenient airport to the John Muir Trail. If you’re flying into Mammoth, it’s easy and affordable to use YARTS to get to Yosemite Valley to begin your hike.
• Fresno or Merced Airports – Both of these airports are convenient as they’re connected to the Yosemite Valley via YARTS.
• Reno Nevada Airport – Flying into the Reno Airport is often the cheapest route, though your transportation options after that are a bit more involved. After you land, you can catch the Eastern Sierra Transit to Lee Vining, Mammoth Lakes or Lone Pine, CA. From Lee Vining or Mammoth Lakes, transfer to YARTS to make a connection to Yosemite Valley.

By Car

Long-term parking is available at both ends of the John Muir Trail at either Whitney Portal or the backpacker’s lot near Curry Village in Yosemite. In our opinion, the easiest option is to drive yourself to where you plan to exit the trail and take public transportation to your beginning trailhead. For example, you can park a car at the Whitney Portal trailhead and take public transportation or a shuttle to Yosemite Valley (more on that below). The concept of “hiking back to your car” rather than parking where you start is generally the most convenient option because your beginning date is set and you can arrange transportation accordingly. Parking your car where you start can be logistically more complicated because it’s difficult to estimate your exact exit date and public transportation reservations can fill up quickly in peak season. It’s not impossible – it’ll just require more flexibility and patience.

Public Transport Options

For those needing transportation, there’s a remarkably effective public transit system in place to make it convenient and affordable for JMT hikers to get to and from trailheads. The two services you’ll likely use are the Eastern Sierra Transit (EST) and Yosemite Area Regional Transit (YARTS ).

The Eastern Sierra Transit (map above) offers transportation between Reno, Mammoth Lakes, Lone Pine, and other JMT trailhead communities. If you parked a car at Whitney Portal, you’ll still need to get to Lone Pine (about a 20 minute drive) to catch the EST bus. You can either press your luck and hitchhike (not the best idea if you’re short on time) or arrange a ride. A reliable option is East Side Sierra Shuttle, which offers rides from Whitney Portal to Lone Pine for $65 for the 1st person and $20 for each additional person.

After you get to Lone Pine, your best option is to take the YARTS from Lone Pine to Mammoth Lakes. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak season.

Once you arrive in Mammoth Lakes, you’ll transfer to the YARTS green line (see map below), which will take you right into Yosemite Valley. Additionally, if you arrive by air, the YARTS system is a great option because it connects to airports in Mammoth Lakes, Fresno, and Merced. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak season.

By Train

If you’re looking for a relaxing, traffic-free, and beautiful way to get to Yosemite, you can travel by Amtrak from the San Francisco, Oakland or Sacramento area. You’ll take the train to Merced, CA where you’ll transfer to YARTS, which takes you directly into Yosemite Valley.

Private Shuttle Options

A variety of private shuttle companies, like East Side Sierra Shuttle, can be reserved and arranged for pickups and drop-offs for common JMT access points on the east side. Shuttles like this are generally the most costly options, but they’re also the most direct and expedient way to get around. If you’re hiking very early or very late in the season, a private shuttle may be your only option.

Planning Your Itinerary

So you scored your JMT permit, congrats! Let the real planning begin. Your next step will be to determine your itinerary. Most people take about three weeks to complete the JMT, with many averaging around 10-12 miles a day. That said, very fit and experienced hikers may cover 15-17 miles a day. Hiking in the Sierras is no joke, so we recommend overestimating your time on the trail. You can always get off the trail early, but you cannot be on the trail after your exit date. Your plan should take into consideration your ability, personal preferences, hiking style, and pre-trip training.

We also recommend building a few zero days (no hiking) into your itinerary. Your body will thank you later. It’s often rumbled on the trail that the person who takes the longest is the winner. You were able to snag a permit, so why rush through it?

A Sample JMT Itinerary

Below is a sample itinerary for those looking to complete the trail in 22 days. Many people begin the hike with lower mileage while they gain their “trail legs”, increasing strength and stamina along the way. Desired daily mileage, physical fitness, and personal preference will dictate your actual itinerary, but you can use this as a point of reference.

• Day 1 – Happy Isles to Sunrise Creek 7.8 miles
• Day 2 – Lower Cathedral Lake 9.7 miles
• Day 3 – Tuolumne Meadow 7.1 miles
• Day 4 – Tarn Below Donahue Pass 10.9 miles
• Day 5 – Garnet Lake 11.1 miles
• Day 6 – Red’s Meadow 12.4 miles
• Day 7 – Red’s Meadow 0 (overnight)
• Day 8 – Lake Virginia 16.3 miles
• Day 9 – Just Past Bridge 12.6 miles
• Day 10 – Marie Lake 11.5 miles
• Day 11 – Muir Trail Ranch 7.5 miles
• Day 12 – Muir Trail Ranch 0 (camp for the night)
• Day 13 – Near Ranger Station in McClure Meadow 11.8
• Day 14 – Medium Lake 13.1 miles
• Day 15 – Deer Meadow 12.2 miles
• Day 16 – Taboose Pass Junction 15.3 miles
• Day 17 – Middle Rae Lake 16 miles
• Day 18 – Near Glenn Pass (Center Basin Creek) 10 miles
• Day 19 – Near Forester Pass (Wright Creek) 12.8 miles
• Day 20 – Guitar Lake 7.3 Miles
• Day 21 – Whitney Zone (Outpost Camp) 9.8 miles
• Day 22 – Whitney Portal 3.8 miles

What Food Should I Pack?

Hiking the JMT is hard, calorie-gobbling work. You’ll need a ton of calories to sustain your energy and health. That said, food is also an area where people tend to overpack and weigh themselves down. It’s critically important that each item you pack be calorically dense and lightweight. You’ll be resupplying several times along the route (more on that below), but you’ll still be carrying up to five or six days of food in each stretch, so create your food plan thoughtfully.

It’s important to not only consider weight, but also the bulk of your food on your JMT hike. You’ll have to fit all of your food into a bear canister, so you’ll want to avoid food that’s too voluminous, like bagels or bags of chips. We recommend repackaging your food into lightweight zip-loc bags to cut down on bulk.

You’ll need to plan for one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and snacks for each day on the trail. The best way to get organized with your food is to take over a room and make a pile for each day’s food. You can then easily see if you have enough calories in each day and begin packing your resupply buckets/boxes.

We suggest checking out our Lightweight Backpacking Food Guide as you prepare your backpacking food. Lightweight meal options such as freeze-dried meals, mashed potatoes, couscous, and other easily rehydrated foods are common on the trail. We recommend packing calorically dense foods such as chocolate, olive oil, peanut butter, and nuts to supplement your meals. Remember, variety is key in your food plan – you don’t want to be four days into your hike and regretting your resupply choices.

What was in our backcountry kitchen on the JMT? We brought an ultralight BRS Stove and Snow Peak Mini Solo Cookset, which was a featherlight and effective setup for us. That said, many people like the convenience and efficiency of integrated stove systems like the JetBoil MiniMo, JetBoil Flash or MSR WindBurner. For more options and to find the stove that will work best for you, check out our Best Backpacking Stoves post.

Resupply Points

Because you’ll be on the trail for 2-3 weeks, you won’t be able to carry all your food in your pack. You’ll need to stop and resupply several times along the trail; most people resupply 3-4 times.

Generally speaking, you resupply by mailing boxes/buckets ahead of time to either a post office or a predetermined store/hotel. Hiring a resupply service, buying products at small stores (such as Red’s Meadows or Tuolumne Meadows), or getting a ride into a nearby town are also common options. If your resupply plan involves mailing packages, you need to ship them at least three weeks ahead of your intended pickup date.

For the sake of this post, we’ve outlined the most common resupply points for southbound hikers beginning their hike from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. If you’re a northbound hiker, these points still apply, just in reverse order.

Tuolumne Meadows Store (mile 24)

The first resupply point for many southbounders who begin their hike in Yosemite Valley is at the well-stocked Tuolumne Meadows Store. It’s set up to serve JMT travelers and is open once the first hikers hit the trail. While many people pick up a pre-sent package here, grab a meal, or buy resupply food from the store, there is another option as well. If your transportation logistics allow and you’re parking a car at the terminus and traveling northbound to begin your hike, you can drop a sealed and labeled resupply box off in the hiker’s box near the Ranger’s Station or at the TM Store (recommended).

Though a resupply at mile 24 may seem silly, the climb out of the Yosemite Valley is intense, especially if you opted to climb Half Dome. Every pound off your back matters. You’ll be passing through Tuolumne Meadows anyways, so if you can logistically swing it, why not?

If you’re hiking early or late in the season, we recommend calling the store (209-372-8428) to check hours and options. The Tuolumne Meadows Post Office is located in the same building as the store and grill. It can be reached at 209-372-8236. They’ll hold your package for no charge. If you’re sending a resupply package, mail packages to:

• Your Namec/o General DeliveryTuolumne MeadowsYosemite National Park, CA 95389Arriving By: ETA

Red’s Meadow Resort (mile 60)

Only 1/4 mile off the JMT, the Red’s Meadow Resort is a logical place to stop for your second resupply. You have the option of mailing a package here for a small fee or there’s also a small store with limited food options, paid showers, lodging, a backpacker’s campground, and the Mule House Cafe, which serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you’re hiking early or late in the season, we recommend calling them (760-934-2345) to check availability. If you’re sending a resupply, mail packages to:

• Your Namec/o Red’s Meadow ResortPO Box 365Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546Arriving By: ETA

Mammoth Lakes (mile 60)

Another option at Red’s Meadow is to take a short bus ride into the city of Mammoth Lakes to resupply. Most people choose to do this if they’ve planned to take a zero day (a day off hiking) at this point in their trip. A bus runs regularly from Red’s Meadow Resort to Mammoth Lakes during peak season, where you can shop at full-blown super markets, dine at a variety of restaurants, take a night off in a hotel, or replenish gear at the shops. There’s also a post office in town which will hold your shipped package for free, though most people choose to resupply at a supermarket in town. If you plan on sending a resupply package to the Mammoth Lakes Post Office, mail package here:

• Your Namec/o General DeliveryMammoth Lakes, CA 93546

Vermillion Valley Resort (mile 88)

Though a slight detour off the trail, Vermillion Valley Resort (affectionately known as VVR on the trail) was one of our favorite resupply spots along the way. They’re incredibly hiker-friendly and offer thru-hikers a free beer upon arrival. Many people who are planning on resupplying at Muir Trail Ranch forgo this stop because of the off-trail mileage and inconvenience.

VVR is located at the west end of Lake Edison. To get to VVR, you’ll first need to hike the 1.5 mile detour from the JMT to get to the boat launch area on the east side of the lake. Here you have a choice to either take a boat shuttle for a small fee (recommended) or hike the 4.5 miles to VVR. A variety of lodging options, showers, restrooms, and laundry are available. They have a full service restaurant with great food. The resort holds boxes for a fee and allows thru-hikers to camp free in a small campground outside the restaurant. You can reach VVR at 559-259-4000 or visit their website for full resupply directions. If you’re planning on mailing a resupply package to VVR, don’t use United States Postal Service (USPS) – it will be returned. VVR is serious when it says use UPS only. Ship UPS package to:

• Your NameVermillion Valley Resortc/o Rancheria Garage62311 Huntington Lake, CA 93634

*According to VVR, this address IS correct; however, the UPS will say that it is not. Please have the UPS clerk override the system with this address. It WILL get delivered at this address.

Muir Trail Ranch (mile 110)

Located near the halfway point – 110 miles from Happy Isles – and only two miles off the trail, Muir Trail Ranch will hold mailed resupply packages for a fee. The Ranch also has a small sundry shop (matches, lighters, batteries, postcards), a restaurant, rooms for rent, and hot springs to soak in.

We recommend visiting their Resupply page for instructions on sending a resupply package. Contact the ranch by email at [email protected]. There is no phone at the ranch, and their business office phone is only connected October through May. They do close down earlier than most resupply spots along the trail, so it’s important to contact them for hard and fast closing dates prior to your hike. If you plan on sending a resupply package to Muir Trail Ranch, mail package here:

• Your NameMuir Trail RanchPO Box 176Lakeshore CA, 93634Arriving By: ETA

Kearsarge Pass to Onion Valley (mile 180)

While resupply points along the first half of the JMT are plentiful and convenient, things change a bit after Muir Trail Ranch. You have to make the decision before you begin your hike to either carry all your food from Muir Trail Ranch to Whitney Portal (mile 110 to 220) or to break up this stretch and resupply in Onion Valley. We only recommend the first option for fast and light hikers who are able to complete the final stretch in 6-7 days max.

Though resupplying in Onion Valley comes with some inconveniences and extra mileage, for many it’s the only option. For those hiking late in the year when resupply points such as Muir Trail Ranch are closed, this may be your only option unless you carry all your food from VVR to the end, which would be a very long haul.

Resupplying at Onion Valley adds an additional 14 miles roundtrip and will require you to climb over a small mountain pass on the way. Though additional mileage is a drag, the trail is quite beautiful as you pass Bullfrog Lake, Kearsarge Lakes, and Kearsarge Pass. If you haven’t prearranged a ride from Onion Valley trailhead, you’ll most likely have to hitchhike into Independence, which is a very small town (a couple gas stations and a few small shops).

Many people using Onion Valley as a resupply, either plan to pick up a resupply package at the post office or have arranged some sort of resupply with Mt. Williamson Motel and Base Camp, which will hold boxes or buckets for a $75 fee for those without a reservation. They also offer a complete and super convenient resupply package ($265 for one hiker, $365 for two) which includes a ride to and from the Onion Valley Campground, one night lodging, breakfast, laundry, receiving and holding your resupply package, and some other fun perks. Contact the friendly and super helpful woman named Strider at 760-878-2121 to arrange your resupply.

If you plan to ship a resupply package to the Independence Post Office, send your bucket/box to the address below. If you have any questions, you can contact them at 760-878-2210.

• Your Name
• c/o General Delivery
• Independence Post Office
• Independence, CA 935

Resources, Maps, & Guidebooks

As you begin planning your thru-hike, you’ll find there is no shortage of resources and guides on how to hike the John Muir Trail. The list below contains some of the resources we feel are most helpful in pre-trip planning as well as on-trail maps and guides.

• FarOut App – Almost everyone you run into on the JMT will have the FarOut App downloaded to their phone. It’s a great GPS resource that’s user-updated to give on-trail information regarding water sources, campsites, and other helpful trail info. It also tells you information such as mileage until the next campsite or location. Be careful – there are some campsites listed on the app that violate wilderness regulations and LNT guidelines.
• National Geographic John Muir Trail Topographic Map– This 48-page pamphlet-style map is an excellent on-trail resource. It’s waterproof, tear-resistant, and provides important information on mileage, water sources, resupply locations, campsites, and much more. We used it every single day and thought it was an incredible resource.
• John Muir Trail: The Essential Guide to Hiking America’s Most Famous Trail – (Wilderness Press) – Some people love this book, while others aren’t so smitten (too much detail they complain, too heavy to hike with, and too small font). But it’s very complete and up-to-date on everything but permitting.
• John Muir Trail Data Book (Wilderness Press) – This edition is designed for weight-conscious trekkers. On-the-trail information, including custom-made topo maps, elevation profiles, data tables, and labeled panoramas from prominent passes. Also includes trail junctions, nearly 300 campsites, ranger stations, food-storage lockers, and lateral trails accessing the JMT.
• South-to-North Edition of The John Muir Trail: The Essential Guide to Hiking America’s Most Famous Trail (Wilderness Press) – If you’re determined to hike the trail from south to north, this is your book.
• John Muir Trail Pocket Hiking Atlas by Erik the Black – This packable resource shows detailed daily navigation topo maps, side trail info, resupply info, transit and permit guidance, GPS waypoints and distances between points, and cumulative mileage and elevation.
• PCTA Resource– Part of the JMT runs along the PCT. There’s some good tips at the PCT association’s website.

Water

In general, water sources along the JMT are plentiful – it’s rare you’ll hike more than a couple hours without hitting one. That said, late fall can be one of the drier times to hike due to lack of precipitation and dwindling snowfields. Always check your map for water sources, consult with fellow hikers, or use the FarOut app for updates on current conditions. If you’re using the National Geographic JMT Map, it labels known waterless stretches, such as the section from Guitar Lake to Whitney Trail Camp, and will indicate where you need to fill up. As a rule of thumb, it’s pretty common to hike with no more than two liters at any given time along the JMT.

Though many of the water sources you’ll find on the route run clear and appear free of sediment, you’ll still want to filter your water. We used theSteriPEN Ultra as our main purification method on the JMT. It’s lightweight, works fast, and doesn’t require any pumping, squeezing, or chemicals. If using a Steripen, it’s a good idea to bring a small and lightweight power bank such as the Miady mini power bank to make sure you always have a backup charge. Another very popular and affordable option is the Sawyer Squeeze Micro.

In addition to our main filtering method, we typically backpack with Chlorine Dioxide Pills as a backup if our main filtration system malfunctions, clogs, breaks, or loses battery. Check out ourBest Water Filters list for our other top recommendations.

Bears & Food Storage

Since Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks require the use of approved bear-proof food storage systems, bears are no longer the problem they were back in the 80s and 90s. In fact, the USFS says human-bear interactions are increasingly few and far between. Bears have learned that backpackers no longer mean easy access to food. That said, it’s critically important you use proper food storage to ensure human-bear interactions remain minimal.

All JMT hikers must carry and store their food and scented items (toiletries, trash, etc) in an approved bear canister for the entire route. We used the Bear Vault BV500 and it was a great size for our resupplies. At night, simply place your locked bear canister 100 feet away from your campsite. Avoid placing it near rivers, lakes, or cliffs. Though most people store bear canisters inside their backpacks while hiking, we found it convenient and comfortable to strap them to the top of our backpacks (just be careful with any food you don’t want to melt. Like chocolate. Mmm.).

Bugs

Mosquitoes and black flies are present along the JMT and can be pretty vicious, especially in July and August. By September, most bugs have dissipated, making it a nice time to hike. The parts of the trail that can be hit the hardest are typically Tuolumne Meadows to Edison Lake, and the Rush Creek drainage.

We recommend using a combination of permethrin on your clothing and bringing a small bottle of DEET or Picardin Lotion (our choice) for exposed skin to provide full protection.

Leave No Trace

As with any outdoor space, preventing and minimizing human impact is crucial to the health of our wilderness. Individually, you may think that your fire, shallow cathole, or food scraps in the river aren’t going to harm an ecosystem, but there’s a large cumulative impact.

We share this space with tens of thousands of people hiking along the JMT corridor every year, and we all need to do our part to protect this spectacular trail. We recommend brushing up on Leave No Trace guidelines before you head out on the trail.

Backpacking Gear

The JMT is incredibly beautiful, but also incredibly challenging. For this reason, it’s critically important to keep your backpacking weight to an absolute minimum.

Dialing in your gear can be expensive and feel overwhelming. But we promise that taking the time to plan and improve your setup will make your trek a far more enjoyable and successful experience. We recommend visiting our John Muir Trail Gear List to help you determine what backpacking gear will be best for you. For even more recommendations check out our Lightweight Backpacking Gear Guides.

JMT Gear List – What We Packed 

More JMT Photos