JOHN MUIR TRAIL FROM MAMMOTH TO YOSEMITE VALLEY

Hike one of the best sections of the John Muir Trail from Mammoth Lakes into Yosemite Valley via the top of Half Dome and Cloud's Rest. This guided hiking tour takes you from the Eastern Sierra resort area of Mammoth Lakes into the Yosemite high country of Tuolumne Meadows and down into to the incomparable Yosemite Valley. 

We begin with a night of camping near Mammoth Lakes with dinner prepared by your guide around a campfire. The next day we board the shuttle up to the Agnew Meadows and begin our hiking tour along headwaters of the San Joaquin River and the Thousand Lakes area. After passing into Yosemite National Park, we spend some time in the spectacular Lyell Canyon before picking up a resupply in Tuolumne Meadows.

Then we continue along the John Muir Trail  towards Cathedral Lakes area before hiking down to our Cloud’s Rest basecamp. We hike up to the Summit of spectacular Cloud's Rest.. After hiking Cloud's Rest, we descend down the famous Mist Trail into Yosemite Valley. 

Along the way we enjoy tranquil alpine lakes, whispering pine forests, great food and good company! Not to mention the summit of one of Yosemite's most sought after peaks.  You're accomplishing a section of the John Muir Trail while seeing the best of the Yosemite High Country. A great hike for those who want to hike the John Muir Trail but don't have to the time for the entire 200 miles. 

Food, Equipment & Lodging

We provide breakfast lunch, dinner and snacks prepared by your guide and backcountry chef from the time we meet till we part ways. We like to call our food "backcountry gourmet" which includes vegetables as well as freshly baked goods.

To make your trip easier for you we provide most of the gear you will need at no extra cost. We provide high quality backpacks, sleeping bags and pad, trekking poles, headlamp and eating utensils if needed. We also provide tents, all group cooking gear, first aid kit and water purification for the group. Being a backpacking trip, everyone is responsible for carrying their own gear as well as their share of any group gear. Our guides carry emergency two-way satellite communications devices at all times.

This is a backpacking trip in which everyone carries their own gear and a share of the group gear and supplies.

What a great section of the JMT! Thanks again for all your attention to detail and arranging everything perfectly.
— Brad G.
 

All Sierra 2024 Backpacking Trips Now 10% Off!

Must be Booked before March 31st. Use the code SUMMERSALE24 at checkout

Balance must be paid in full to qualify for discount. Only applies to regular scheduled trips. Does not apply to trips booked on credits


EXPERIENCE & PHYSICAL FITNESS REQUIREMENTS

  • Previous recent wilderness backpacking experience in tents is required on trips of at least two nights in length.

  • The ability to carry an overnight backpack for up to 12 miles a day with 2000-3000 feet of elevation gain for multiple days in a row. (We hike slow, but steady!)

  • Excellent physical condition required.

TheJMT Mammoth to Yosemite trip is a long & committing wilderness trip …you must train accordingly! Please feel free to contact us for any training recommendations.

Curious how to rate your physical ability? Check out our Physical Ability Page

2024 Dates:

July 15-21
July 28- August 4
August 11-17
August 25- August 31
September 15-21



Custom dates available July though September

 

COST: 
$2225

INCLUDES

  • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner prepared by your guide while in the field

  • Professional local mountain guides certified in emergency wilderness medicine, food handling & Leave No Trace Principles & trained in local natural history.

  • Backpacks, sleeping bag and pad, trekking poles and eating utensils if needed ($25 cleaning fee for using our sleeping bags).

  • Tents, all group camping gear and permits

  • Shuttles

  • One night camping in the Mammoth Lakes area with dinner the night before the hike begins

Prefer a private trip? No problem at all. We specialize in designing custom trips for you or your group.
Contact us for a quote!


For more info on this trip please fill out the form below:


JOHN MUIR TRAIL, MAMMOTH TO YOSEMITE VALLEY HIKE ITINERARY

Mammoth to Yosemite - Day 1

We meet in Mammoth Lakes at 5pm and your guide will take you to our campsite. After a gear check and introductions, we enjoy a gourmet camp dinner. 

Mammoth to Yosemite - Day 2

We board a shuttle bus from the Mammoth Mountain Inn that takes us to Agnew Meadows along the San Joaquin River and we being hiking along the JMT towards Shadow Creek. We establish camp for the evening at a beautiful remote location.

Mammoth to Yosemite - Day 3

Hiking past incredibly beautiful Sierra lakes, we make our way to the famous Thousand Island Lake. Then it's over low Island pass and down into the Rush Creek drainage where we make a cosy camp for the night along one of the many remote lakes in the area.

Mammoth to Yosemite - Day 4

Today is hiking up over Donahue Pass with it's high alpine views and crossing into Yosemite National Park. We descend into the beautiful Lyell Canyon where we make camp along the tranquil Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River. Great swimming options today!

Mammoth to Yosemite - Day 5

Hiking along the Lyell Canyon we arrive in Tuolumne Meadows around lunch time where we pick up our resupply and perhaps grab an ice cream or a cold drink at the store. Then it's back into the wilderness of the Yosemite high country where we make our way to spectacular Lower Cathedral Lake for the evening.

Mammoth to Yosemite - Day 6

Leaving Cathedral Lakes we hike towards Sunrise Lakes High Sierra Camp and descend down towards Clould’s Rest basecamp, making base camp for the night along Sunrise Creek.

Mammoth to Yosemite - Day 7

Today is summit day! We will plan to summit Cloud's Rest. Leaving at dawn, we have all day to summit Cloud’s Rest with a lightweight pack since we will hike back to our Sunrise Creek base camp afterwards. After packing up, we leave Sunrise Creek we descend towards Yosemite Valley through "Little Yosemite Valley" and then down the famous Mist Trail past Nevada and Vernal Falls into the "incomparable valley".. We then catch an evening shuttle back to the cars at the Mammoth Mountain Inn arriving back in the evening.

Itinerary subject to change & camp locations and distances each day remain flexible.