There are multiple good John Muir Trail map sets. JMT thru-hikers generally choose to carry one of the purpose-built map sets below. They all show the trail, water sources, and other helpful information. These sets are focused on the JMT and are fairly zoomed in. Travelers wanting to take detours (say for climbing a peak, visiting a lake or trailhead) will probably want to bring along other maps too.
- National Geographic Maps’ John Muir Trail map
- Tom Harrison John Muir Trail Map-Pack
- Blackwoods Press John Muir Trail Pocket Atlas
For a guidebook, we recommend John Muir Trail: The essential guide to hiking America’s most famous trail by Elizabeth Wenk.