John Muir Trail: The Essential Guide to Hiking America's Most Famous Trail

This authoritative guide for hikers and backpackers describes the 220-mile John Muir Trail, from Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney.

Stretching 220 miles from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney and onward to Whitney Portal, California’s famed John Muir Trail (JMT) is one of the most popular backpacking routes in the US. It passes through some of the most dramatic scenery in the country: massive granite peaks, dizzying waterfalls, pristine alpine lakes, and vibrant meadows filled with Sierra wildflowers. Plus, it offers the mildest, sunniest climate of any major mountain range in the world

The John Muir Trail contains the information you need for hiking or backpacking the route. The comprehensive guide describes the entire passage, with detailed directions as well as UTM coordinates for important junctions, lateral trails, campsites, food-storage boxes, and other points of interest. The book divides the trail into 13 sections, and each section includes an elevation profile and a table that lists elevation, distance from the previous point, and total mileage.

Inside you’ll find

Detailed description of the entire trail from an expert author
Trail junction locations and distances between junctions
Comprehensive table of campsites
17 topographic maps plus elevation profiles
Side trips to 15 notable peaks
Pre-trip planning information about food resupplies, gear, permits, and more

Whether you’re hiking the entire JMT or just sections of it, you’ll find expert start-to-finish advice in the updated edition of this guidebook!