John Muir Trail
The John Muir Trail (JMT) (Paiute: Nüümü Poyo, N-ue-mue Poh-yo) is a long-distance trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, passing through Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. It is named after John Muir, a naturalist.
| John Muir Trail | |
|---|---|
| Length | 211 mi (340 km) |
| Location | California, United States |
| Trailheads | Happy Isles trailhead, Yosemite Valley Summit of Mount Whitney |
| Use | backpacking, hiking, trail running, trail riding, pack trains |
| Elevation change | 47,000 ft (14,000 m) |
| Highest point | Mount Whitney, 14,505 ft (4,421 m) |
| Lowest point | Happy Isles trailhead, Yosemite Valley, 4,035 ft (1,230 m) |
| Difficulty | Moderate to strenuous |
| Months | July to September |
| Sights | Yosemite Valley, Devils Postpile National Monument, Sierra Nevada |
| Hazards | Snowmelt, icy slopes early season, altitude |
From the northern terminus at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley (37.7317°N 119.5587°W) and the southern terminus located on the summit of Mount Whitney (36.5785°N 118.292°W), the trail's length is 213.7 miles (343.9 km), with a total elevation gain of approximately 47,000 feet (14,000 m). For almost all of its length, the trail is in the High Sierra backcountry and wilderness areas. For about 160 miles (260 km), the trail is coincident with the longer Pacific Crest Trail.
The vast majority of the trail is within designated wilderness. The trail passes through large swaths of alpine and high mountain scenery, and lies almost entirely at or above 8,000 feet (2,400 m) in elevation. The trail sees about 1,500 thru-hiking attempts each year (including Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers), many fewer than the number of attempts on comparable walks such as the southern portion of Appalachian Trail or the Way of St. James. It has been described as "America's most famous trail".