John Muir Trail
Sierra Nevada, CA
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Winter Storm Watch is active through Friday morning — snow and 15-30 mph winds are coming Friday, and you're on trail through Day 4. If you can't get out before Thursday night, you're looking at potentially hazardous conditions on the exit. The weather window Wednesday-Thursday is fine, but the Friday system is real.
56°/30°F · Clear · 1 alert(s)
Data temporarily unavailable
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0" depth
Elevated flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
10h 16m daylight · Sunrise 6:32 AM · Sunset 4:48 PM
Full Briefing
The big issue is the Winter Storm Watch issued by NWS Reno, active through November 14 at 10 AM — which is exactly when your trip ends. Friday's forecast is 43°F with winds ramping to 15-30 mph S and an 89% precipitation chance of light snow. That's not a dusting situation; that's a system. At JMT elevations in the Sierra Nevada, southerly wind events ahead of storms funnel hard through the passes. If your exit involves any exposed ridgeline or pass crossing, do not leave that for Friday morning. Plan to be at your trailhead or below treeline by Thursday night.
The weather window Wednesday and Thursday is genuinely good. Clear skies, sunny, temps in the low-to-mid 50s during the day and dropping to 28-30°F overnight. That's cold but manageable for a November Sierra trip. The overnight lows Thursday night hit 28°F with 15 mph sustained wind — factor that into your campsite selection, stay sheltered from the south, and get your shelter set before dark. With sunset at 4:48 PM you're losing light fast; plan to be in camp by 4:15 PM at the latest.
Stream crossings are worth attention but not a crisis based on available gauge data. The gauges in this dataset are geographically distant from the JMT corridor — Salinas near Bradley at 89% median, Llagas near Gilroy at 145% — so treat these as rough regional proxies, not direct JMT crossing data. November on the JMT typically means low flows on the main crossings after the summer melt pulse, but the incoming Friday storm will drive a melt-then-freeze cycle. Warm days (50-56°F) followed by cold nights (28-30°F) can produce afternoon flow spikes on any snow-fed drainage. Cross anything significant in the morning before solar warming kicks in, and scout before committing.
No fires within 50 miles, snowpack is currently zero at the SNOTEL stations, and the existing trail conditions are likely dry and clear through Thursday. Use Wednesday and Thursday aggressively to cover ground. Restructure your itinerary so your longest or most exposed miles are Day 2-3, with a short, low-elevation exit push on Day 4 before the storm arrives. If the storm comes in early or heavier than forecast, Thursday evening bail is your best option.
Waypoints
Happy Isles Trailhead
Start from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. Permit required.
3,999 ft
Tuolumne Meadows
Major resupply point. Tuolumne Meadows store and post office.
8,599 ft
Muir Pass
One of the highest passes on the JMT. Historic Muir Hut at the summit.
11,998 ft
Forester Pass
Highest point on the JMT/PCT at 13,153 feet. Snow through late July.
13,153 ft
Mount Whitney Summit
Southern terminus. Highest point in the lower 48 at 14,505 feet.
14,505 ft
Route Details
Distance
210.9 mi
Elevation Gain
43,999 ft
Elevation Loss
45,000 ft
Max Elevation
13,153 ft
Estimated Days
21
Trailhead
Happy Isles Trailhead (Yosemite Valley)
Best Season
Late July through September. Snow on passes in early July. Permits extremely competitive—apply early.
Permit Required
Yosemite wilderness permit required. Whitney Portal permit separate. Both through recreation.gov.
About This Route
The John Muir Trail is one of the most celebrated long-distance trails in the United States, spanning 211 miles from Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney through the heart of the Sierra Nevada. The trail traverses some of the most spectacular mountain scenery on the continent—granite peaks, crystalline lakes, flower-filled meadows, and deep river canyons. Most thru-hikers complete the JMT northbound (Whitney to Yosemite) in 17-25 days. The trail crosses 11 major passes above 11,000 feet, with the highest being Forester Pass at 13,153 feet. Snow lingers on north-facing slopes and passes well into July, making late July through September the sweet spot for most hikers. Permits are required and highly competitive. Yosemite trailhead quotas fill within minutes when released six months in advance. Whitney Portal permits require a separate lottery. Many hikers avoid the permit crunch by starting from Tuolumne Meadows or another interior Yosemite trailhead. Food canisters are required throughout much of the route. Bears are common, water sources are abundant but all require treatment, and afternoon thunderstorms are frequent in August. The JMT is a transformative wilderness experience that rewards careful planning.
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