John Muir Trail: The essential guide to hiking America's most famous trail

by Elizabeth Wenk, Kathy Morey

Running from Mount Whitney to Yosemite Valley in the Sierra Nevada, the 212 mile John Muir Trail passes through some of the most dramatic mountain terrain in the United States. Each year, thousands of backpackers traverse some or all of the trail, relying on Wilderness Press's John Muir Trail. The completely updated edition of this Sierra classic includes significant information found nowhere else. The new John Muir Trail meticulously describes the entire trail and is written for today's hikers. The book includes GPS coordinates, not only for every junction, but also for every established campsite, bear box, and mountain pass that the trail crosses. The guide has separate descriptions for northbound and southbound hikers; for each direction, a junction chart shows all the trail's ups and downs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Outdoors, Nature, Guides, Travel, Reference

286 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2007

Reviews

[Travis Duke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and hits the mains points about the JMT. I am planning my JMT hike this year (2018) so I wanted to read both books and internet sources. The book is a bit old now but I was surprised that most of the information is relative.

It hits the main points that included:
-permits
-descriptions of campsites and locations on a day to day progression both Nobo and Sobo
-supply points and bear box locations
-black and white maps
-alternate peaks to visit
-daily mileage from point to point
-transportation to the trail heads.

It goes into a brief history about 2 pages long and also a small detail on gear but really not much. the bulk of the book is the daily descriptions of a Nobo or Sobo trip (it has both) so as a trail companion book it would work i think.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is being written simultaneously from the point-of-view of someone who attempted to read the book for fun and from the point-of-view of someone who used the book while hiking on the John Muir Trail.

I picked this book up at the suggestion of my backpacking partner several months before we embarked on our John Muir Trail journey. I was very excited about the trip and impassioned to learn as much as I could before the start. I think I lasted 5 pages - I am not kidding. This book is so dry and so boring. Think back to your last backpacking trip... If you wrote a book about all the minuscule plant and animal life, views, and geography that you encountered across your multiple, day long hikes, would you want to read that? No. I wouldn't want to, and I wouldn't want anyone else to (looking at my pictures is of course a different story...)

HOWEVER, if you are currently on the trail being described or taking a break beside the trail while your partner does his business, then this kind of information is interesting. Or, if the sun is setting and you need to find the nearest acceptable campsite, then this information is rather helpful. Or, if you lost your water filter and need to know if you'll die if you drink from the nearest stream, then this information is really helpful! (that didn't happen but you get the idea).

I carried this book with me for the full 215ish miles of the John Muir Trail in August of 2017. My partner and I did the hike in a brutal 11 days. I used this book every single day to review campsite information, elevation profiles, and prepare myself for the days ahead. The text was no more interesting or engaging but at least it was relevant. It gave me fun facts to tell my backpacking partner along the way, too. If I had to do it again, I would rip out all of the relevant charts and maps and leave the rest of the book behind.

So, three starts because of its utility. No more because it is boring.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book to plan for my first JMT thru-hike (southbound). The mileage maps and the list of campsite locations were what I found to be the most helpful. This book is broken into sections and the author goes into great detail of the trail explaining the landmarks, plants, and animals that you might observe along the trail (she covers the trail going southbound). I did not find that part of the text particularly helpful and skimmed most of it. Personally, I would not hike the trail with this book and I would not remember that information when I am hiking, especially detailed plant descriptions without pictures. I appreciated that the author had an interest in wildlife biology and I believe she has written several wildlife specific guides for the Sierra Nevada region.

I think with the great number of online maps and apps (like Guthook) that you can plan your campsite locations and daily mileage without this book. And that are so many websites and Facebook groups for the JMT that you can look up updated permit and resupply information that way.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because a friend is going to do this hike. I learned a great deal about the flora and the fauna on the trail and also about the trail itself.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its wordy, and I wish it had more pictures, since this certainly isn't the version of the book you will carry with you anyway. Wilderness press continues presenting solid guidebooks though, and I'll keep buying them. This one is informative, and I appreciate the included panorama's from the crest of the passes that label what you can see in the distance, I thought this was a really nice touch.

I think I will have to check out the data book now. I hope it is something akin to AWOL's Appalachian Trail guide, though I doubt it will be, something like AWOL's guide in addition to a solid map set like Tom Harrison's would be the perfect navigational pairing for a trek like the JMT.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have hiked most of the JMT in segments over a period of 45 years and am planning on hiking the entire length this coming summer. Wenk's description of the trail tracks pretty closely with my memories and it refreshes them greatly. While I am not as much into the biology and geology as she is, her descriptions will improve my experience. But the book is more than that. It lists camping places, distances, side trips and places to leave the trail--all valuable for those which are out.

I am looking forward to taking this book on my Nook as a reference guide.

[anne s. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best JMT book I've found... it even includes replications of the Harrison maps a lot of hikers use, and extensive trail descriptions from North to South and vice versa. Multiple indexes list all campsites and "bail-out" points along the trail. Worth the weight penalty to carry it on the trail? I'll let you know when I get back.

[Kevin Pfeiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely essential to my time spent on The John Muir Trail. Filled to the brim with info and tips I cannot recommend it high enough for anyone wanting to visit the JMT. I actually bought twice, one hard copy and one ebook for the trail, that's how good it is.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only briefly read through the section hike parts. Those seem more useful when actually on the trail. Overall a thoroughly researched (she's hiked it multiple times) and written guide to the JMT.

[Gregory Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this guide book to be a thorough resource for planning and hiking the John Muir Trail (JMT). I read through, then went back and planned the thru-hike I'm hoping to complete during summer '20(hoping to be granted a permit).

Now having read the paper copy and built a plan for my hike, I'll get a digital/kindle copy to load onto my phone. The detailed trail descriptions for each section of the hike are worth referencing prior to each days hike. They include information about the terrain, landforms, geologic features, flora and fauna.

A must have guide for anyone interested in hiking the JMT.

[H Peter Ji · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book in terms of terrains, plants, animals, navigations and brief history pertaining to the trail. It would’ve been nice to see more ‘additional’ trails to hike off the main trail, but it’s highly recommended to read if you’re interested in doing the trail!

[Wendi Klaiber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the top recommended book for anyone interested in hiking the John Muir Trail. Elizabeth' s instructions and details about the trip are excellent. I just hiked a section of the trail but I her book was my primary guide.

[Kasey Wooten · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best! So many good side hike suggestions, clear indicators for campsites, and descriptions of the plants you can plan on encountering. I used this book every step of the way on my journey and you'd be remiss to not have it available (I used the kindle app on my phone to read it)

[Arnold Marsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

All you need in one place! Excellent guide to prepare for all the challenges you'll face (food, water, long days, tough climbs, thin air, campsites, permitting, etc.), but also a preview of the splendor of the environment you'll walk through.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially enjoyed learning about the yellow-legged mountain frog- I was able to engage with a nice young scientist I met on the trail who was studying said frogs. He was psyched I knew about them! Thanks, Elizabeth. Your wildflower guide is also great, too bad I only got to flip through it at the resupply stop.

[Emma Clausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically written and somehow made me even more excited to get on the trail this summer!!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly comprehensive, detailed and interesting walk-through of the John Muir Trail. Great balance between logistics, history, and ecological knowledge.

[Daryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent information (though now a decade old) and I just want to go hiking even more.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate this book as a 2 or 3 if you are reading it out of interest in the John Muir trail in general. I would rate it as a 5 if you are planning to hike the trail

[Susan V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Met the author on my first hike of the JMT. Used her guide for the second. I adored the detail about alpine botany, particularly wildflowers. It enriched my hike.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll confirm this 5-star review once we hike from Rush Creek to Whitney Portal this summer- but this has excellent descriptions of the trails, wildlife and natural features, and campsites to consider.

[Wynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly the most comprehensive and accurate guide I could find on this iconic trail. Would give it 4.5 stars if there was an option. It had all the details I needed along the trail: maps, photos identifying peaks in the distance, details on campsites, appropriately detailed descriptions of the next day's hike, and the right amount of suggested side hikes. Also good info. on resupply locations and some general pointers for a longer, through-hiking trip.

Would have preferred all the maps in one place though, as I spent a lot of time thumbing back and forth looking for the appropriate map while en route. In hindsight, I wish I had read the full book in advance, then brought the lighter JMT Data Book for the actual hike to save a little weight.

[BA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resources and very interesting. I made the mistake of reading the ebook... There are a lie of appendixes that you will have to flip back and forth on, so much better to get the regular book. However, Elizabeth adds a lot of history and interesting facts, so it is informative but also not boring to read.

[Inga Aksamit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved having this on my Kindle app on my phone--for no additional weight I could carry this invaluable resource on the trail. I enjoyed reading about the upcoming section and, as time went on, all the detailed information on plants, rocks and history of the trail. The maps are detailed, the chapters thorough and there's a lot of painstaking detail packed in this guide.

[John Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is loaded with facts, observations on this wonderful trail. The author provides elevation profiles, location of campsites and so much more. On a recent section hike, I cut out the pages I needed and it became a valuable on-trail tool. Higly recommended

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far, the best JMT guide out there. The campsite appendix, and the side trips are well worth it alone! If you're thru-hiking the trail you might consider bringing along a kindle and the kindle version of this book - as it weighs less than the printed book!

[Dana]

great book for planning my upcoming trip on the JMT.

[T.M. Mullin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it is a good planning resource. I'll know how good after the hike.

[Mike Nyberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

More map oriented than advise.

[carmen! · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is great! the only thing is, i wish it told me what all the plants looked like. just saying they're there doesn't help when i don't know what i'm looking for!