John Muir Trail Section Distance Comparison (Miles)
Compare John Muir Trail section distances. Happy Isles to Whitney in km and miles with NPS and PCTA miles plus resupply points listed. Includes tables.
Visual comparison
All values
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| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley Steep valley start. No dogs. Permit needed for overnight. | 7.56 kilometers | 4.7 miles. First climb past Vernal and Nevada Falls to LYV camp | USDA Forest Service JMT camp locations PDF: 4.7 mi; NPS total 211 mi |
| Little Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows 23.9 minus 4.7 equals 19.2. First resupply at Tuolumne. | 30.9 kilometers | 19.2 miles. Via Sunrise Camp and Cathedral Pass to Tuolumne store | USDA Forest Service PDF: Tuolumne Ranger Station 23.9 mi total; PCTA JMT 211 mi |
| Tuolumne Meadows to Donohue Pass Exits Yosemite. Permit quota is tight here. | 19.31 kilometers | 12.0 miles. Lyell Canyon climb to Yosemite south border at 11056 ft | NPS Yosemite JMT page: Donohue Pass 11056 ft |
| Donohue Pass to Reds Meadow JMT and PCT split near Thousand Island Lake. | 35.57 kilometers | 22.1 miles. Via Thousand Island Lake and Garnet Lake to Devils Postpile | PCTA PCT miles: Tuolumne 942 to Reds 906.6 |
| Reds Meadow to Silver Pass Creek Store and cafe at Reds. Bus to Mammoth Lakes. | 24.14 kilometers | 15.0 miles. South from Devils Postpile toward Silver Pass | PCTA resupply: Reds Meadow 906.6 |
| Silver Pass Creek to Vermilion Valley Resort spur 4.5 mile side walk or ferry to VVR if running. | 22.53 kilometers | 14.0 miles. Over Silver Pass to Lake Edison ferry junction | PCTA resupply: VVR 874.5; Reds 906.6 minus VVR 874.5 equals 32.1 PCT mi |
| Vermilion Valley Resort to Selden Pass Popular food and shower stop. Seasonal ferry. | 16.09 kilometers | 10.0 miles. Climb back to JMT and over Selden Pass | PCTA resupply: VVR 874.5 to MTR 857.7 |
| Selden Pass to Muir Trail Ranch MTR takes bucket resupply. Small store. | 17.7 kilometers | 11.0 miles. Through Evolution Basin approach to MTR junction | PCTA resupply: MTR 857.7; JMT halfway zone near mile 108 |
| Muir Trail Ranch to Pinchot Pass area John Muir Hut is the only shelter. Longest food carry starts. | 56.33 kilometers | 35.0 miles. Over Muir Pass at 11955 ft, then Mather Pass | PCTA PCT miles: MTR 857.7 to Independence 789.1 |
| Pinchot Pass area to Kearsarge Pass junction 7.5 mile side trip over Kearsarge Pass to Onion Valley for resupply. | 57.94 kilometers | 36.0 miles. Over Pinchot Pass, Glen Pass, to Onion Valley exit | PCTA PCT miles second half to Kearsarge junction |
| Kearsarge Pass junction to Guitar Lake Forester is the top point on the trail. | 25.75 kilometers | 16.0 miles. Over Forester Pass at 13117 ft to Crabtree and Guitar Lake | NPS JMT page: total 211 mi; backcountry guides place Whitney leg near 32 mi |
| Guitar Lake to Mount Whitney summit Includes summit spur. Exit is 11 miles down to Whitney Portal. | 25.75 kilometers | 16.0 miles. Up Whitney Trail to 14505 ft summit, JMT south end | NPS JMT page: Whitney 14505 ft, trail length 211 mi |
About this converter
The John Muir Trail runs 211 miles from Happy Isles to Mount Whitney. This page lists 12 sections in kilometers, with miles in context. The base unit is kilometers. Miles convert at 1.609344 km per mile. Sections follow resupply points like Tuolumne Meadows, Reds Meadow, Vermilion Valley Resort, Muir Trail Ranch, and Kearsarge junction. Use it to plan food carries and daily miles.
How to use it
Pick two entries and a unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. Start with a short leg near Happy Isles and the long Muir Trail Ranch to Kearsarge leg. Then compare Tuolumne to Reds Meadow and Reds Meadow to Vermilion legs. Values are section lengths.
Total length 211 miles comes from the National Park Service and PCTA. Tuolumne Meadows sits near mile 23.9 per the Forest Service. PCT miles place Tuolumne near 942 and Reds Meadow near 906.6, VVR near 874.5, and MTR near 857.7. Section splits can shift 1 to 2 miles by map and reroute. Kilometer values are miles times 1.609344. Check current maps before a trip. Canada entry miles are not relevant here.
FAQ
How long is the John Muir Trail?
211 miles from Happy Isles to Mount Whitney per NPS and PCTA. With the Whitney Portal exit the walk is about 222 miles.
Where do JMT and PCT differ?
In three spots: Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne, Thousand Island Lake to Reds Meadow, and Crabtree to Whitney. They share about 170 miles.
What are the main resupply points?
Tuolumne Meadows near mile 23, Reds Meadow near mile 58, VVR near mile 87, MTR near mile 108, and Onion Valley via Kearsarge near mile 179.
Why do section miles differ between sources?
Maps, reroutes, and spur choices shift totals 1 to 2 miles. Use NPS and PCTA totals, then check a current map for exact splits.
Sources
- NPS Yosemite JMT page total 211 mi
- PCTA John Muir Trail resupply miles
- USDA Forest Service JMT camp locations PDF
Last verified: 2026-10-02 · 12 entries
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