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John Muir Trail

John Muir Trail — the trail guide

The John Muir Trail is a 335.8 km trek in United States, typically walked in 2–3 weeks, with 14365 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (43 m of gain per km, topping out at 4409 m).

The John Muir Trail threads 340 km along the spine of California's High Sierra, from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley to the 4,421 m summit of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48. It links the Yosemite, Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses with Kings Canyon and Sequoia, crossing a chain of glacier-carved passes and rarely dropping below 2,400 m. Hikers come for the granite, alpine lakes and deep solitude. It is strictly point-to-point and permit-limited, with the last resupply at Muir Trail Ranch before a roughly 160 km finish.

Quick facts

Distance335.8 km
Total ascent14365 m
Typical duration2–3 weeks
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness43 m gain per km
High point4409 m
CountryUnited States
RegionUnited States

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 1236 m · high point 4409 m · 14365 m total ascent over 335.8 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 1236 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan10°-2°213 mm
Feb10°-2°175 mm
Mar11°0°211 mm
Apr15°2°96 mm
May19°5°65 mm
Jun27°11°17 mm
Jul31°15°5 mm
Aug30°15°8 mm
Sep27°12°20 mm
Oct21°7°46 mm
Nov15°1°89 mm
Dec11°-2°162 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the John Muir Trail?

The John Muir Trail is 335.8 km, and most hikers complete it in 2–3 weeks. Total elevation gain is 14365 m.

How difficult is the John Muir Trail?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 43 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 4409 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the John Muir Trail is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the John Muir Trail?

In United States. The route starts near 37.733, -119.558 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

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