The John Muir Trail passes through what many backpackers say is the finest mountain scenery in the United States. This is a land of 13,000-foot and 14,000-foot peaks, of lakes in the thousands, and of canyons and granite cliffs. It's also a land blessed with the mildest, sunniest climate of any major mountain range in the world.

The John Muir Trail is 211 miles long and runs (mostly in conjunction with the PCT) from Yosemite Valley to Mt Whitney, in California.

Because the John Muir Trail (JMT) trail ends (assuming you're doing a north to south thru-hike) at the top of the highest point in the lower 48, even after "completing" the trail you still have to hike another 11 miles and 6000 ft. down to Whitney Portal, the southern trail head.

The JMT runs through 3 National Parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia. When not within a National Park, it runs through Inyo National Forest, including the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness areas. The trail also passes through the Devils Postpile National Monument near Red's meadow.