From the Happy Isles trailhead in Yosemite
Valley the John Muir trail travels 220 miles south to the summit of Mt.
Whitney on the border of the Sequoia
National forest and over to the Inyo
National Forest. For about 160 miles (257 km), the trail follows the same
footpath as the much longer Pacific
Crest Trail.
It is named for naturalist John
Muir. From its northern terminus in Yosemite
Valley, the trail runs northeast to Tuolomne Meadows, passing near Half
Dome, then, running parallel to the main range of the Sierra
Nevada, southeast through Yosemite
National Park, Inyo and Sierra national
forests including the John
Muir and the ever popular Ansel
Adams wilderness areas, Devils
Postpile National Monument, through Kings
Canyon National Park, and Sequoia
National Park. From the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail at the summit
of Mt.
Whitney, an additional 11 mile (18 km) hike is required to reach the nearest
trailhead at Whitney Portal, thus making an end-to-end traverse of the trail effectively
222 miles (357 km). Yes... it is long.
If you need help planning a shorter hike and walk, talk to the Mammoth Welcome Center. The forest service office is there and they are the best guides of all 760-924-5500.