John Muir Wilderness is a protected wilderness area spanning approximately 90 to 100 miles along the crest of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Encompassing over 650,000 acres, this region is characterized by dramatic glaciated landscapes, towering peaks, and an extensive network of trails. The terrain features deep canyons, numerous high-altitude lakes, and diverse forest ecosystems, making it suitable for several sports like hiking, jogging, and more.
Exploring the John Muir Wilderness offers a range…
153
Routes
4.6
(99)
Average rating
2357
People visited

4.3
(4)
33
hikers
2.95km
00:53
100m
90m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

31
hikers
10.0km
02:46
50m
400m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
hikers
13.3km
04:30
1,080m
40m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
hikers
2.25km
00:36
20m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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23
riders
50.8km
04:40
940m
940m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
17
riders
23.8km
02:01
440m
440m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

16
riders
24.8km
02:34
600m
600m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
11.9km
00:42
130m
130m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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26
riders
42.1km
03:02
1,600m
1,590m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

7
riders
27.9km
01:36
270m
270m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5
riders
34.0km
02:44
1,180m
1,180m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5
riders
35.3km
02:21
1,000m
1,000m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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24
runners
12.1km
01:45
520m
520m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
runners
17.4km
02:33
780m
780m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

13
runners
9.82km
01:31
530m
520m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
runners
9.61km
01:25
430m
430m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3
riders
27.3km
02:44
740m
740m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
36.7km
02:44
450m
450m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4
riders
27.1km
02:02
610m
610m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
10.4km
00:51
310m
310m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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17.9km
01:41
50m
50m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
riders
69.1km
05:47
1,200m
1,200m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
145km
10:57
2,260m
2,260m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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The John Muir Wilderness is a protected area spanning approximately 90 to 100 miles along the crest of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. It encompasses over 650,000 acres, featuring dramatic glaciated landscapes, towering peaks, and extensive trail systems.
The John Muir Wilderness is a premier location for hiking and jogging, offering over 590 miles of maintained trails. Wheeled vehicles, including mountain bikes and road bikes, are prohibited within the designated wilderness area. For hiking routes, refer to Hiking in John Muir Wilderness.
Yes, overnight trips into the John Muir Wilderness require a permit. The permit must be carried by the group leader. For specific questions regarding wilderness permits, the Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permit office can be contacted.
Popular hiking trails include those leading to Big Pine Lakes, Duck Pass, and numerous alpine lakes. The wilderness also contains significant portions of the iconic John Muir Trail (JMT) and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Explore more options in Hiking in John Muir Wilderness.
Yes, the John Muir Wilderness offers routes suitable for various fitness levels, including easy day hikes. These trails provide accessible ways to experience the wilderness. Find suitable routes in Easy hikes in John Muir Wilderness.
The wilderness is distinguished by its High Sierra scenery, including 57 peaks over 13,000 feet, such as Mount Whitney. It features extensive glacial formations, deep canyons, and 957 lakes, with approximately 100 lakes in the Bishop Creek drainage alone.
No, wheeled vehicles and motorized equipment, including mountain bikes and road bikes, are prohibited within the designated John Muir Wilderness area. This regulation helps preserve the pristine natural environment.
John Muir Wilderness features 42 routes on komoot, with more than 8,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The routes have an average rating of 4.56 out of 5 stars.
Yes, komoot offers guides specifically for running trails in the area. These guides detail diverse routes suitable for trail running. Consult Running Trails in John Muir Wilderness for more information.
Information regarding waterfall hikes in the John Muir Wilderness is available through komoot guides. These resources can help locate trails that feature waterfalls. Explore options in Waterfall hikes in John Muir Wilderness.
Official information for the John Muir Wilderness is provided by the U.S. Forest Service through the Inyo National Forest's dedicated page. The official website is fs.usda.gov/main/inyo/wilderness/johnmuir.
For general inquiries about the John Muir Wilderness, the Inyo National Forest Supervisor's Office can be reached at 760-873-2400. For wilderness permit-specific questions, call 760-873-2526.

