Hike the John Muir Trail

Get this on your life list: It's the #1 trail our readers think every hiker should do.

'Background image of Banner Peak, Ansel Adams Wilderness (Photo by Hank Christensen)'

Published December 8, 2014 09:57PM

Facts about the John Muir Trail:

211 MILES
total length (but add 11 to get down off Mt. Whitney)

47,000
feet of total elevation gain

HIKING SEASON
typically July to September, depending on snowpack

3.5 DAYS
about the fastest you can hike it (unsupported speed record is 3 days, 10 hours, 59 minutes, set by Andrew Bentz in 2014)

21-30 DAYS
typical hiker itinerary

DIRECTION HIKERS CHOOSE
25% south to north
75% north to south

14,496 FEET
high point (Mt. Whitney)