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John Muir Trail, Sierra Nevada, 13 Day Guided Hike

John Muir Trail, Sierra Nevada, 13 Day Guided Hike
John Muir Trail, Sierra Nevada, 13 Day Guided Hike
John Muir Trail, Sierra Nevada, 13 Day Guided Hike
John Muir Trail, Sierra Nevada, 13 Day Guided Hike

Join certified guides from SYMG team on a 13 day hike along the amazing John Muir trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California.

Sierra Nevada (California)

13 Days

Sep

High

Intermediate


Highlights

  • Enjoy stunning "postcard country" of the Ritter Range
  • Hike the JMT's iconic northern section
  • Traverse high-mountain passes: Selden, Silver and Donahue

Description

This amazing 13-day trek on the John Muir trail is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make your way through a large portion of the incredible Sierra Nevada mountain range.

As a result of this trip being over 2 weeks long, you will see, do, and experience so much that you can easily spend years combing through the memories and still find new ones. We will make our way through several natural parks. They include the world-famous Yosemite National Park.

Throughout the trek along the John Muir trail, you will see everything the Sierra Nevada has to offer. You will get to see a variety of wildlife, majestic forests, lush meadows, crystal blue lakes, and spectacular peaks.

Also, because this trip consists of so many days, there is no rush. The point is to enjoy the natural surroundings and to immerse yourself in the gorgeous wilderness.

We will be hiking for nearly 20 kilometers (12 miles) most of the days on this trip. As a result, participants should be in excellent physical condition. Also, you should have previous backpacking experience as well.

Along the John Muir trail, we will make sure you have an experience that you never forget. We want to help you escape from the world for 13 days. And we will see to it that escape is as comfortable as it is exciting. We will make sure you eat well, so you can keep your strength up, and you sleep comfortably under the stars every night in the campsite we will set up for you.

So send us a request, and join us on this 13-day hike along the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada.

Price includes

  • Accommodation included
  • Guiding fee
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Transport during the trip
  • Permit and entrance fees
  • Tents
  • Snacks

Price details

  • Included:
  • Accommodations
  • 1st night lodging at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Fresno
  • 11 nights of wilderness tent camping (permits included)
  • Gear
  • All group gear including stoves, cookware, water filters, group first aid kit, etc.
  • Personal backpacking gear provided by request: backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, trekking poles, and tents
  • Transportation
  • Private shuttle from Fresno to starting trailhead (day 2)
  • Ferry across Florence Lake (day 2)
  • Private shuttle from Yosemite Valley back to Fresno (day 13)
  • Food
  • • Starting with breakfast on Day 2 and ending with lunch on Day 13
  • • 2 remote food resupplies
  • • Backcountry gourmet meals including trail snacks
  • • Hot tea or coffee served each morning
  • Not included:
  • X Trip Insurance (strongly recommended, TravelGuard insurance)
  • X Recommended 1020% gratuity for guide(s)
  • X Day 1 Dinner
  • X Personal clothing & footwear
  • X Airfare
  • X Evacuations
  • X Payphones and showers at Reds Meadow on day 7 (resupply day)
  • X Accomodation in Fresno is not included on night 13

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Fresno

Your trip begins in Fresno, CA at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, located across from the Fresno airport. You can check in at the hotel anytime after 4 pm. At 6 pm you will meet your guides and group for a trip orientation, where you’ll do a final gear check and discuss the details of the trip. Dinner tonight is on your own at the hotel.

Day 2: Florence Lake - John Muir Wilderness

We will meet at 7:00 a.m. after a complimentary hotel breakfast. Our private shuttle will then drive us to Florence Lake (about 3 hrs drive) where we’ll start hiking. The first leg of the trip starts with a ferry ride across Florence Lake (7,325′) into the John Muir Wilderness. Today’s hike will be as we approach the junction of the John Muir Trail.

Day 3: Sallie Keyes Lakes

Today we’ll hike past the picturesque Sallie Keyes Lakes as we approach our first pass, Selden Pass (10,880′). We’ll finish our day of hiking to our camp just beyond Marie Lakes.

Day 4: Descend to Mono Creek Drainage

Today’s hike is mostly downhill (except for a stout, but brief uphill climb of Bear Ridge) into the Mono Creek Drainage at 7,870′.

Day 5: Cross the Silver Divide to Chief Lake

We’ll have another uphill day of 7.5 miles to Chief Lake over Silver Pass (10,880′) across the Silver Divide, named because of its silvery appearance.

Day 6: Virginia - Purple Lakes

Descending from Silver Pass, we’ll follow Silver Creek down into Tully Hole (9,520’). From there, a short but steep climb takes us to the stunning Virginia Lake for lunch and swimming. From there, rolling terrain will take us past Purple Lake and then to Duck Creek where we’ll make camp for the evening.

Day 7: Resupply at Red's Meadow

We’ll have a relatively easy day today on rolling, downhill terrain into Red’s Meadow. We’ll arrive late afternoon and meet our resupply in the front-country campground. A small camp store, payphones and showers are available here (not included in the price, to be paid on site).

Day 8: Devil's Postpile - Shadow Creek

Our next day will take us up and over a volcanic ridge, down into Shadow Lake, and then up again to our secluded camp along Shadow Creek. Along the way, we’ll pass into Devil’s Postpile National Monument where we’ll make time for a visit to the otherworldly geologic features of the area.

Day 9: Travel beneath the ritter range and thousand island lakes

Today has some of the most scenic mountain-scapes on all of the John Muir Trail (which puts it in the running for most scenic world wide). We’ll hike underneath the imposing Ritter Range, past Garnett and Thousand Island Lakes. We’ll camp alongside the creek, with sweeping panoramic views of the region.

Day 10: Donahue Pass - Lyell Canyon

Today has some of the most scenic mountain-scapes on all of the John Muir Trail (which puts it in the running for most scenic world wide). We’ll hike underneath the imposing Ritter Range, past Garnett and Thousand Island Lakes. We’ll camp alongside the creek, with sweeping panoramic views of the region.

Day 11: Tuolumne Meadows - Camp at Cathedral Lakes

A morning of cruiser flat hiking gets us to the trailhead at Tuolumne Meadows in time for lunch. From there, we’ll hike through the meadows and then up to our camp at the iconic and spectacular Cathedral Lakes.

Day 12: Hike to Sunrise Creek

From Cathedral, we’ll pop over the inconspicuous Cathedral Pass and then begin our descent toward Yosemite Valley. We’ll camp along Sunrise Creek in the evening, where we can watch the sunset over Half Dome.

Day 13: JMT - Mist Trail - Yosemite Valley

From Sunrise Creek, we’ll descend the mist trail below Nevada and Vernal Falls Plan to arrive back to Fresno around 4pm. We recommend a night at the Fairfield Inn & Suites (not included in the price) to shower up and regroup before flying home in the morning. Alternatively, late evening flights on this day are an option.

 

Details

More info

There will be two guides depending on group size. If more than 6 people we will always have another guide.

Meeting point

The town of Lee Vining.

FAQs

Where will we meet?

This trip begins and ends in at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Fresno, CA. The hotel is conveniently located across the street from the Fresno Yosemite International Airport and provides a complimentary shuttle service from the airport if needed. Transportation will be provided to and from the trailhead and Fresno although accomodation in Fresno is not included on night 13.

What fitness level do I need to go on this trip?

The JMT Northbound is one of our most difficult trips, traveling long distances over high mountain passes with uneven terrain for 12 trail days carrying a fully weighted pack (30-35 lbs). Not only do we want you to complete the trail with us, but we want you to have fun doing it!

How can I train to be prepared for this hike?

We recommend a rigorous training plan in the months leading up to your trip, focusing on:

Endurance, cardio, and aerobic activities

Core and leg strength (don’t forget those abs and quads)!

Day hikes and overnight trips with a weighted pack (30-35lbs) to train for both the physical and mental aspects of backpacking

Cycling, running, step-master or stairs are great cross-training

Include hilly terrain and steep climbs whenever possible

What previous experience is recommended to go on this trip?

We strongly encourage having recent backpacking experience or practice before embarking on this section of JMT. The most successful people on these trips have completed several backcountry trips carrying a fully weighted pack (35-40lbs) for 3-5 days.

What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?

We understand that finding the perfect place to stay is an essential part of your adventure experience. To help you with this, we’ve curated a list of three highly recommended hotels that offer comfort, convenience, and a touch of local charm. These accommodations are well-suited for adventurers looking to relax and rejuvenate after an exciting day of exploration
Best Western Bishop Lodge & Suites Bishop United States
See rooms
Vagabond Inn Bishop Bishop United States
See rooms
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Bishop Bishop United States
See rooms

About the guide

Guide profile image

SYMG

5.0

(2)

Guiding agency

Languages

English

Certificates

AMGA | PCGI

Request more information

What people are saying about this trip

Peter

5

We had an absolutely spectacular trip with Nick. It was everything we were hoping for in experiencing the JMT. Nick was outstanding – he had us well organized, picked the best sites for camping, and kept us well fed!! Our thanks to you and to Nick for a great experience.

Frank

5

I went on the northbound John Muir Trail trip in 2023, and all I can say is that my first trip with SYMG greatly exceeded my expectations. Our guide Riley did an amazing job on the trip, and the logistics were taken care of so smoothly and seamlessly that it made it very easy to relax and really enjoy the amazing scenery around us.


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