For a southbound JMT thruhike to the summit of Whitney, start at the Happy Isles Trailhead in Yosemite Valley. Overnight parking is available there for free or arrange to be dropped off. Shuttles run from the parking to the TH.

For a northbound JMT thruhike the approach begins at Whitney Portal. Northbounders will need to get from there to the summit of Mt. Whitney where the JMT begins. In practice this means taking the tourist trail although the Mountaineer's Route is a viable alternative.

Route Description

A full route description can be found in Guide to the John Muir Trail by Thomas Winnett and Kathy Morey. The Tom Harrison map pack is very useful as well.

Sunset on the JMT

In short the 211-mile John Muir Trail (JMT) runs through California's Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks, Devil's Postpile National Monument, John Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness areas, and Inyo National Forest. From Happy Isles in Yosemite in the north to the summit of Mt. Whitney at the southern terminus the JMT showcases what is often called the most spectacular hiking scenery in the US if not the world. Indeed the JMT is internationally famous and attracts hikers from all over the world.

Except in early season (until sometime in June when it is snow covered) the JMT is easy to follow. Camping and water is generally readily available although some restrictions apply. There are no services on the trail, however, Toulumne Meadows, Red's Meadow, Vermilion Valley Resort, and Muir Trail Ranch are nearby resupply options.

Plan on 2 - 4 weeks for the whole hike. The single $5 permit acquired in Yosemite is valid for all jurisdictions that the JMT passes through including the Whitney Zone. TH permits go fast for in-season starts. Reserve yours early.

Simply follow the JMT (sometimes marked as the PCT, Pacific Crest Trail) southbound until the T junction with the Mt. Whitney Trail near Trail Crest. From there follow the Whitney Trail along the ridge to the summit.

Ascending from the "back" allows one a fair amount of solitude for much of the hike.

For the less hardy, joining the JMT at Crabtree Meadows is an option. This is an especially good work around when permits for the front side are not available. Secure a permit for one of the other trailheads and spend a night at Crabtree or around Guitar Lake. There are even a few nice sites above Guitar Lake.

The standard descent route is the Whitney Trail down to Whitney Portal to an arranged shuttle. I had outstanding luck hitching back but YMMV (your mileage may vary).

Essential Gear

Backpacking equipment and resupplies sufficient for a 211+ mile hike. There are not many convenient resupply points for food but thruhikers usually use Reds Meadow and Vermillion Valley Resort on Lake Edison.

Links

Probably most interesting are thruhiker journals found on Trail Journals. This site has the largest collection of journals that I know.

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