Day & Section Hikes: John Muir Trail
Your section-by-section guide to the John Muir Trail
Declared one of the top five hiking trails on the planet by National Geographic Adventure magazine, the John Muir Trail runs a spectacular 211 miles from Yosemite Valley to the foot of Mount Whitney. e only way to experience this world-class trail is by foot, and Day & Section Hikes: John Muir Trail is here to guide you the entire way, whether you’re out for a day hike, for a few days on a section hike, or for the entire trail.
This handy guide includes:
- trail maps and elevation profiles
- ratings for scenery, difficulty, solitude, trail condition, and accessibility for children
- driving directions to trailheads and coordinates for GPS users
- permit and fee instructions as applicable
- details about what to expect on the trail
“A fresh take on a classic, life-changing pilgrimage.”
—Andrew Dean Nystrom, award-winning author of Top Trails: Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks
“Doherty’s insight makes for must-have reading.”
—Tom Hale, founder of Backroads, the world’s #1 active travel company
Kathleen Dodge Doherty first shouldered a backpack at the tender age of 10, when her dad forced her to walk around the neighborhood with a pack full of encyclopedias to prepare for her inaugural overnight outing in Yosemite National Park. From the first heavily laden step, a love affair was born, and a thirst for backcountry adventure has led Kathleen to decades of starry nights in her native California. Kathleen toasted her 30th birthday from the top of Mount Whitney after completing the John Muir Trail for the first time, and she has returned every summer thereafter. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Kathleen has also had a career developing and leading hiking and biking trips around the globe, travel writing, and advocating for urban green space. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and two kids, where the steep inclines of Potrero Hill provide urban training for backcountry adventures.
Jordan Summers has slept on more dirt, rock, and snow than any one person should be allowed. He commonly hears words of concern such as “that can’t be good for you” and “what if,” as well as some words of encouragement: “OK, lots of luck.”
