The John Muir Trail
The 211 mile long John Muir Trail is one of the best known and loved trails in the United States. It gets its name from the prominent naturalist, environmentalist and founder of the Sierra Club. The serene beauty and solitude one encounters while hiking the Muir Trail keeps backpacking enthusiasts from all over the world coming back year after year.
The trail spans many of California's National Forest and National Park lands as well as a National Monument. These include: Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, Inyo National Forest (including the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness areas), and Devils Postpile National Monument.
There are quite a few places where one can pick up the trailhead for the Muir Trail. On the south end you can start 3 hours north of Los Angeles on Hwy 395, west of Lone Pine. From the north, the trailhead can be found in Yosemite Valley using Hwys 120 or 140 from the west. From the east side of the Sierras use Hwy 395 at Lee Vining by way of Hwy 120 over Tioga Pass. A nice place to pick up the trail near the mid-way point is at Florence Lake in the John Muir Wilderness Area near the north end of Kings Canyon National Park. This is also a great place to resupply and/or to send or recieve mail at the Muir Trail Ranch. The Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake is also an option for resupply.
Wilderness permits are required for all overnight stays and even for day trips throughout the Mt. Whitney area. A small fee is charged for mail away permits, but for those who aquire them in person the fee is waved. See our section on Wilderness Permits for more information.

For guide books and maps of the John Muir Trail and other backpacking destinations in the High Sierra, please refer to our High Sierra Library. You may also want to take a look at the High Sierra Topix message board to read what others have said about the area and to posts questions or information of your own.

The John Muir Wilderness Area
The John Muir Wilderness Area also gets its name from the prominent naturalist, environmentalist and founder of the Sierra Club. The 581,000+ acre wilderness area is the largest and most visited wilderness in California. It extends over 100 miles along the crest of the Central Sierra Nevada and encompasses both the Sierra National Forest and Inyo National Forest. It is characterized by splendid central California mountain wild land: high peaks, deep canyons, extensive and beautiful meadows, hundreds of bright streams and crystalline lakes. The South and Middle Forks of the San Joaquin River and the North Fork of the Kings River originate in this region.

 

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Muir Wilderness Area Bio
The John Muir Trail Page
Who Was John Muir?
John Muir Trail Map