John Muir Trail Expedition Backpack
Guided Backpacking Trips
24 Days, 23 Nights 203MI / 327KM
Trip Highlights
The John Muir Trail (JMT) is one of the most iconic backpacking adventures in the USA, and in fact in the world. Our 24-day backpacking trek (includes two day hikes on the JMT in Yosemite) across the spine of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range is a unique wilderness journey. We enjoy breathtaking views, alpine lakes, glaciers, pristine wilderness, waterfalls and more – all made much more achievable by our re-supplies that allow us to endeavor on such a grand adventure. Join us as we traverse 8 high-mountain passes, pass through three national parks and summit Mount Whitney (14,500’), the highest point in the continental United States. Award-winning guides, dialed logistics and world-class mountain scenery make the John Muir Trail the “trip of a lifetime!”
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World Famous Thru Hike
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Dramatic Mountain Scenery
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3 Weeks of Adventure
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Alpine Lakes
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Granite Peaks
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Stunning Views
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View Dates
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
24 Days, 23 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
Up to 13 miles -
Group Size
5-10 Guests
Receive a PDF info packet via email which includes:
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip features long daily hiking distances with moderate to severe elevation gains and losses for multiple days in a row. Backpack weight is 45+ pounds, and elevations go up to over 14,000 feet. All of these details combined make this trip a clear Level 5 difficulty expedition. Be prepared for long, challenging days of hiking through absolutely gorgeous country day after day for 24 days.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1: Day Hike JMT, Yosemite Valley
- Drive Time: 4 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 2.5-5.5 Miles
Your guide will pick you up at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Hotel near the Fresno International Airport. We will shuttle into Yosemite National Park, stop to take in some famous views of Yosemite Valley and head out for a day hike on the John Muir Trail toward Vernal and Nevada Falls. After our hike, we will continue to our camp just outside Yosemite. Your guides will conduct an in-depth orientation, go over the route, check gear and answer questions. After the orientation we’ll enjoy a delicious welcome dinner and get a good night’s sleep in preparation for our first day of hiking!
Day 2: Day Hike JMT, Tuolumne Meadows
- Drive Time: 3 Hours
- Hiking Mileage: ~4-6 Miles
Today we will pack up and shuttle up to Yosemite’s stunning high country, Tuolumne Meadows for another short section of the John Muir Trail. Our day hike begins at the Lyell Canyon trail as we head southbound on the JMT along the Tuolumne River. After a few miles we will stop for a picnic along the Tuolumne prepared by your guide. After lunch we will head back toward the vehicle and take a short shuttle to camp near the trailhead of our expedition. Tonight, we will wrap up any loose ends and prepare for the long journey ahead.
Days 3-4: June Lake to Reds Meadow
- Hiking Distance: 22 miles
Today, after plenty of preparation and apprehension, we hit the trail and begin our hike! After a brief shuttle to the trailhead, we’ll shoulder our packs and hike up the eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada, crossing the boundary into the famous and dramatic Ansel Adams Wilderness. After our first delicious, backcountry lunch at Agnew Lake, we will embark on a steep series of switchbacks that takes us to our first night’s camp at Clark Lakes. Over the next two days, the trail passes beneath Mount Ritter, Mount Banner, and Devil’s Postpile on our way to Reds Meadow where cold beverages, hot showers and our first resupply drop await us.
Days 5-7: Silver Pass to Edison Lake
- Hiking Distance: 31 miles
In our next 3-day section we will hike by the amazing volcanic Red Cones, gorgeous Virginia lake and then descend into Tully Hole. After ascending up and over Silver Pass (10,900′), we will descend to Edison Lake and the Vermillion Valley Resort, where we will spend the night, enjoy hot showers, and pick up our second resupply.
Days 8-12: Evolution Canyon and Leconte Canyon
- Hiking Distance: 48 miles
Departing Edison Lake, we start with a steep climb over Bear Ridge, pass by the wildflower-covered RoseMarie Meadow, and then top out on a high pass (10,900′). From there, we hike downhill to the roaring South Fork of the San Joaquin River. A bridge over Piute Creek and a series of switchbacks take us to McClure Meadow and Evolution Lake, one of the most stunning sections of the John Muir Trail. We then hike up and over Muir Pass (11,955′) and into LeConte Canyon for our third resupply.
Days 13-17: Mather Pass to Vidette Meadow
- Hiking Mileage: 49 miles
After leaving LeConte Canyon, our next benchmark is ascending the Golden Staircase to our high camp at Palisade Lake. We then hike up and over Mather Pass (12,100′) before descending once again, this time to the South Fork of the Kings River. From the Kings River we climb over Pinchot Pass (12,130′) and drop down to Woods Creek, which we’ll cross via a welcome suspension bridge. We hike by Rae Lakes, Fin Dome, and The Painted Lady before climbing over Glen Pass (11,978′). We will rendezvous with our final resupply at Vidette Meadow.
Days 18-21: Forester Pass to Mount Whitney Summit
- Hiking Distance: 43.5 miles
Our final section of trail is every bit as breathtaking as the rest. We start off this 4-day stint by ascending to the impressive Forester Pass (13,200), the highest elevation on the John Muir Trail and our backcountry gateway to Sequoia National Park. From there we’ll continue directly to Mount Whitney, which gradually gets taller and more imposing as we approach it. The culmination of our trip is a summit attempt on Mount Whitney (14,495′) the highest peak in the Continental United States. After Mount Whitney, we’ll hike to Crabtree Meadow, then connect with the Pacific Crest Trail to our final camp along Rock Creek in the shadow of the Major General.
Days 22-23: Exit to Lone Pine and Fresno
- Hiking Distance: 10 miles
Today we’ll get an early start for our final stretch of trail among the gorgeous Foxtail Pines. We’ll exit the high country via Cottonwood Pass in the Golden Trout Wilderness. Our shuttle will meet us at the trailhead to take us into the town of Lone Pine. A well-earned hot shower will be followed by a celebratory dinner together.
On our final day we will enjoy a comfortable shuttle back to the Fresno Airport (approximately 5-hour drive). Please don’t plan a flight before 3:00 PM.
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
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What's Included
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Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
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High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
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Use of trekking poles
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All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on the final day
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Final night’s lodging in Lone Pine, CA
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Two Pre-Trip video calls with your Guide
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Transportation originating and ending in Fresno, CA (including a ferry across Edison Lake)
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Bear canisters for food storage
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
22 Nights TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on llama treks is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Cuisine
FRESH & DELICIOUS
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your trekking guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
IN THE ACTION
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Best Western Frontier Motel
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Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
This trip meets in Fresno, CA at 7:00 am on Day 1, after which we shuttle to Yosemite for a few days hiking and a pre-trip orientation meeting. The pickup location is the Fairfield Inn and Suites near the Fresno International Airport. Your guide will be in contact approximately 10 days prior to coordinate the rendezvous.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Fresno, CA
Fresno International Airport is a convenient airport to fly into, and the starting and ending point of the trip (Fairfield Inn) is located across the street from the airport. Please arrive in Fresno well before 7:00 AM on Day 1 and don’t plan any departing flights on the final day before 3:00 PM.
Start/End Times
This tour begins at 7:00 AM at the Fairfield Inn and Suites near the Fresno International Airport on Day 1. On the final day we will be back into Fresno normally around 2:00 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time.)
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Guide Shifts
High Sierra guides work daily shifts from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. During off hours (9 p.m. to 5 a.m.) the guides’ time is their own, and they are free to sleep, rest, take personal time, postpone guest requests until the next morning, and any other legal, reasonable activity people engage in when not working. We ask all guests to respect the guides’ off-duty hours by not waking or asking anything of them unless there is a true emergency. Also, state law requires that employees receive an uninterrupted 10 minute break every four working hours, so guides are required to take four 10 minute breaks between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 10 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
- specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
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