John Muir Trail: June Lake to Tuolumne Meadows
Packstock or Porter Supported
5 Days, 4 Nights 29 MI / 47 KM
Trip Highlights
The John Muir Trail is one of the most famous trails in the world, and justifiably so. This pack-supported trek travels through a section of the John Muir Trail that is considered one of the most beautiful of all. This truly is “postcard country!” We’ll hike past Thousand Island Lake and below the impressive, glaciated peaks of Mount Ritter, Mount Banner, and Mount Lyell. Then we’ll enter into Yosemite National Park via a backcountry route over 11,000’ Donahue Pass. You’ll just carry your water and camera each day while the mules carry all the gear!
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Dramatic Alpine Scenery
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Mule-supported Hiking
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High Country of Yosemite
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Gorgeous Tuolumne Meadows
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High Mountain Passes
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Pristine River & Lakes
Book This Trip
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Packstock or Porter Supported -
Trip Length
5 Days, 4 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
Up to 10 miles -
Group Size
2-12 Guests
- 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 moderate hiking distances on moderately rugged terrain that includes on-trail and off-trail sections. Backpack weights are on the light side at 10-15 pounds.
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
Shuttle: 4.5 hours
Today you will meet your guide and group at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Fresno Airport Hotel at 8:00 AM. We will enjoy a scenic drive along the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and then into Yosemite National Park. Our drive takes us to the mouth of Yosemite Valley, then up into the high country and over famous Tioga Pass. We will set up camp at our campground near a beautiful mountain lake, conduct an orientation and enjoy our first dinner together.
Day 2
Hiking Distance: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2882 feet
Elevation Loss: 696 feet
We’ll wake up to a delicious breakfast with hot tea and coffee. Following breakfast we’ll pack up and head to our trailhead at Rush Creek. First, we need to deliver our gear and supplies to the Horse packers, who travel separately from the group. Around mid morning we’ll hit the trail, hiking along the Rush Creek with stunning views of the June Lake basin and Mono Lake.
Today’s hike is a big climb with a lot of elevation gain. We will be happy to land in tonight’s camp is at the beautiful Clark Lakes, which we aim to reach by late afternoon. We’ll set up camp and settle in for our first backcountry dinner prepared by your guides.
Day 3
Hiking Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1121 feet
Elevation Loss: 957 feet
This morning our route merges almost immediately with the John Muir Trail at the aptly named and wildly picturesque Thousand Island Lake. We’ll stop for pictures and a short break to soak up the awe-inspiring beauty of this amazing alpine lake. We then hiking to the Davis Lakes area through some of the most scenic sub-alpine Muir Trail country in the Sierra. Above us Mount Banner (12,936) and the Kuna Crest (12,000+’) loom ominously. We’ll set up camp at a gorgeous spot with great water access, and enjoy another scrumptious backcountry dinner.
Day 4
Hiking Distance: 10 miles
Elevation Gain: 1289 feet
Elevation Loss: 2500 feet
We start off the longest hike of the trip with a hike to Donahue Pass, which marks our backcountry entrance to Yosemite National Park. We’ll then hike below Lyell Glacier, dropping several thousand feet into dramatically beautiful Lyell Canyon. We’ll make our final night’s camp alongside the meandering Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River beneath the Kuna Crest.
Day 5
Shuttle Time: 4.5 Hours
Hiking Distance: 8 miles
Elevation Gain: 322 feet
Elevation Loss: 633 feet
After packing up camp the last time we’ll hike out through Tuolumne Meadows, the world famous subalpine part of Yosemite. Our route takes us through Lyell Canyon into Tuolumne Meadows to our waiting shuttle . We’ll meet the mule team to pick up our gear and have a last lunch together. After lunch your Guide will transport you back to Fresno.
Trip Dates
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What's included
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Mules to transport the majority of gear and food
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Transportation for the duration of the trip beginning and ending in Fresno, 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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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 breakfast on day 2 through breakfast on the last day
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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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Waterbottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-15% of trip cost) Note: Gratuities for mule teams are included in the trip rate.
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
3 Nights TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on backcountry 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
Delicious Backcountry cuisine
Meals from breakfast on Day 1 through lunch on the last day are included with your reservation and prepared by your guide. We don’t use pre-made backpacking meals, but instead, the guides build meals from a combination of trail friendly foods including packaged and fresh ingredients for delicious and hearty backcountry meals.
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.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
You will meet your guide and group on Day 1 at 8:00 am at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Fresno, California.
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.
Pre and Post Trip on request lodging
We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in Fresno, CA as an optional add-on for guests of this trip. This lodging is on request, and is available on a first come, first serve basis. If interested, please reach out directly to our team to check availability.
Start/End Times
Your guide will pick you up on Day 1 at 8:00 AM in Fresno. You will be transported back to Fresno on the last day of the trip. We do not recommend booking flights for this evening, as we cannot guarantee a 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.
Reviews
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Abigail C
11 days agoIncredible
Incredible views and incredibly refreshing swimming spots every day. I have never seen so many new landscapes all at once. I felt very comfortable the whole trip and met awesome people too. We saw marmots, deer, coyotes, frogs, fish. Yummy meals and snacks. This trip was a great fit for intermediate hikers and campers with good physical fitness.
Shelby H
11 days agoTruly exceptional
This trip was absolutely incredible! Our guides were truly exceptional, and their expertise allowed us to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the trails fully. The views, with towering trees, crystal-clear lakes and streams, and breathtaking peaks and waterfalls, made this experience truly unforgettable. I'll cherish my time and new group of friends for years to come. I couldn't have asked for better guides or a better adventure.
Edward R
11 days agoAn amazing learning experience
The guides Ian and Riley made the entire trip a learning experience. It was like a Wilderness instructional course with them sharing little caveats and tips on how to camp efficiently based on their extensive experience. They also provided in depth history from the region and environmental insights to the spectacular scenery we were experiencing. While the trip was tough physically they continually provided support. And most of all they were fun. It was a life experience for me and would highly recommend to anyone. Five stars all the way
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