Most individuals take about three weeks to hike the John Muir Trail, which implies you’ll get to get pleasure from 20+ nights of epic alpine tenting. Most of the JMT is above the tree line and also you’ll have nightly alternatives to set your self up for unimaginable sunsets, moonrises, Milky Ways, and sunrises. Water for cooking and consuming is in all places and flat, established campsites are plentiful, particularly for those who’re keen to hike a half mile or extra off the principle hall.
Don’t fear about mapping out the place you’ll camp every evening, as a result of your tempo will change all through your hike, however there are a number of memorable locations you’ll need to intention for in case your legs are keen and daylight is in your facet. Here’s an inventory of a few of the finest John Muir Trail campsites that you simply’ll need to have in your radar as you intend your route.
This weblog publish was initially written by BFT Founder, Kristen, who hiked the John Muir Trail Southbound in 2014. It was up to date in 2022 by Mary Caperton Morton of The Blonde Coyote who hiked the John Muir Trail Northbound in 2020. It contains probably the most just lately out there data.
1) Lower Cathedral Lake (SOBO Mile 17)
This Yosemite lake is improbable for a number of causes. First, get quintessential views of needle-sharp Cathedral Peak which on a peaceful day kinds an ideal reflection within the lake. Then, for those who stroll out to the West finish of the lake, you’ll be able to watch the sundown over Tenaya Lake within the Valley under.
*Note: Lower Cathedral Lake is positioned about 1/2 mile off of the John Muir Trail and requires a brief facet path.
2) Thousand Island Lake (SOBO Mile 43)
There aren’t fairly 1,000 islands in Thousand Island Lake however there are sufficient islands to make this lake one of the picture-perfect postcard-worthy scenes of the JMT. The finest views and campsites are alongside the north facet of the lake, the place you’ll have uninterrupted views throughout the water towards 12,936-foot Banner Peak. Be conscious that a number of older, unofficial websites are inside 200 toes of the lake, too near the lake for at the moment’s Leave No Trace requirements. They are flat and look inviting, however please pitch your tent at a web site above the shoreline (just like the campsite under).
3) Garnet Lake (SOBO Mile 45)
There is a motive this lake was considered one of Ansel Adam’s favourite locations to {photograph}. Banner and Ritter Peaks rising within the distance, wonderful swimming, and dozens of tree-covered islands dotting the lake make it one of many extra recognizable lakes within the Sierras.
4) Lake Ediza Junction (SOBO Mile 47)
Once you’re on the market you’ll begin to see that the afternoon solar is a important part of an superior campsite and some websites across the Lake Ediza junction provide simply that. Beyond Lake Ediza, you descend right down to Shadow Lake, which is attractive, however shady because the identify implies. So cease right here and delight in these rays till the solar units behind the jagged ridge to the west. While the creek will possible be too shallow to swim in, photographers will love the morning reflection of the mountains within the creek.
5) Minarets Lake Loop (SOBO Mile 47)
For an extremely scenic bonus JMT facet mission that begins on the Lake Ediza Junction, take into account climbing the Ediza and Minaret Lakes Loop, which makes a semi-circle off the JMT between the Ediza Junction and Johnston Meadow. We loved top-of-the-line John Muir Trail campsites between Cecile and Minaret Lakes. This 8.5-mile loop doesn’t add any vital mileage to a JMT hike (you’ll be skipping an 8.1-mile part between Shadow Creek and Johnston Lake) and the views of the enduring and spiky Minarets throughout the excessive lakes basin are positively definitely worth the detour.
6) Virginia Lake (SOBO Mile 72)
We didn’t keep right here as a result of we thought it was too early to cease for the day, so we had a pleasant lengthy lunch, did some swimming, and continued on. As we left the lake, a deep sense of remorse began to sink in, and we agreed that we should always’ve camped right here. On the west facet of the lake, there are dozens of flat and personal spots to arrange store that present straightforward lake entry and exquisite views.
7) Vermillion Valley Resort (SOBO Mile 88)
In 2020 when Mary hiked the JMT, the ferry throughout Lake Edison wasn’t working so she needed to hike 13 miles off-trail to get to and from Vermillion Valley Resort. By sheer luck, she confirmed up on BBQ evening and the scrumptious scorching meal, scorching showers, laundry, hiker field resupply, and camaraderie with different hikers made the detour price each step. VVR’s old-time normal retailer and tent tenting space shouldn’t be wilderness tenting, however it’ll fill your canteen in additional methods than one so we needed to embrace it in our favourite JMT campsites.
*Note: As of 2022, the ferry is again in service and sometimes runs from July to October.
8) Bear Creek (SOBO Mile 96)
You come across Bear Creek after an extended scorching, dusty hike up and over Bear Ridge, and whenever you lastly attain Bear Creek’s idyllic swimming holes, you’ll be dying for a spot to chill off. So take a dip and loosen up the remainder of the day on the massive flat granite boulders which might be scattered all through the center of the cascades.
9) McClure Meadow (SOBO Mile 119)
The evening we spent in McClure Meadow occurred to be a full moon, and watching the moonrise above Evolution Basin was one of the spectacular issues I’ve seen in my life. There can also be a pretty meandering creek the place you’ll be able to watch the sundown and soak your sore toes.
10) Marie Lakes (SOBO Mile 99)
The campsites at Marie Lakes are smack dab in the midst of a kind of iconic granite lake basins created by the long-lost glaciers of the Sierra. During the final glaciation, an enormous mass of ice sat on this bowl between 10,898 foot Selden Pass and the 13,075-foot Seven Gables. All that weight gouged out the smattering of depressions that at the moment are the Marie Lakes, Medley Lakes, and Three Thousand Islands Lakes. Surrounded by lakes you’ll be handled to an unimaginable lightshow on the water and a silvery granite skyline at each dawn and sundown.
11) Evolution Basin and Darwin Bench (SOBO Mile 122)
Evolution Lake is one other unimaginable John Muir Trail campsite, the place Mary and her climbing companion caught a number of Golden trout. After establishing camp and hanging our meals they hiked as much as Darwin Bench, a dangling lakes basin that overlooks Evolution Basin. This was a spectacular spot to understand the ghosts of glaciers previous that when overtopped all however the highest peaks within the Sierra.
12) Lakes North of Pinchot Pass (SOBO Mile 159)
Unlike different areas on the path, the mountains round Pinchot Pass are dominated by neon purple hues that mild up through the alpenglow hour. There are a number of remoted lakes to select from, so have your choose and luxuriate in these attractive colours.
13) Middle Rae Lake (SOBO Mile 172)
Middle Rae Lake will possible be one of many busier campsites you encounter on the path, nevertheless it’s for a motive. Awesome swimming, iconic peaks like Fin Dome and the Painted Lady, and a few of the most excellent dawn reflections make it price placing up with a small crowd.
14) Bighorn Plateau (SOBO Mile 196)
Bighorn Plateau affords unparalleled views of the evening sky, and it’s additionally the place you get your first glimpse of Mt. Whitney. Being on a flat expanse utterly above the treeline, Bighorn Plateau is a superb place to follow some evening pictures. However, you need to solely camp on the plateau if the sky is obvious. Getting caught up there in a thunderstorm shouldn’t be solely disagreeable however might be very harmful.
15) Above Guitar Lake (SOBO Mile 206)
Everything I learn main as much as my hike was that Guitar Lake was the final place to get water earlier than heading as much as Mt. Whitney. As a outcome, that’s the place most individuals spend their final evening on the path. Just earlier than Guitar Lake, we ran right into a ranger who advised us that if we saved going a few 1/2 mile above Guitar Lake there have been a sequence of small unnamed lakes, so we determined to test it out. It ended up being the very best choice.
Guitar Lake will get chilly and shady early within the afternoon, however the small lake above it provided solitude, late-day solar, and an unimaginable view of the solar setting behind Guitar Lake. We couldn’t have requested for a greater option to spend our final evening on the John Muir Trail.
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Do you will have any questions on tenting on the JMT? What are your favourite John Muir Trail campsites? Let us know within the feedback!
