MTS’ exclusive, mule-supported hiking expedition along the spine of the famous Sierra Nevada

Any hike on the epic John Muir Trail is a real adventure. Set in California’s stunning Sierra Nevada, this northbound half of the John Muir Trail begins in Lake Florence and ends in the beautiful Tuolumne Meadows of Yosemite National Park—an iconic voyage through three national parks and several nature preserves. Travel + Leisure hailed it as one of the “50 Great American Adventures.” MTS has developed this unique itinerary with full mule support; it is unlike any other trip available. Every day, enjoy challenging hikes through the high Sierra, while remaining light on your feet with nothing but a daypack while our professional packer and team of mules charges ahead with the heavy load to set up camp for your arrival at the day’s end. Your expert, MTS mountaineer guides will fill invigorating days on the trail with in-depth knowledge of the flora and fauna, and entertain you with plenty of trailside legends of the other great explorers and trail blazers who walked before you. And once you’ve earned your stars traveling northbound, you’ll be ready to take on the southbound trek—MTS’ ultimate challenge!

NOTE—this trail does not include the climb of Mount Whitney. If you are interested in the "southbound" half that does include the climb, see our award-winning trip The John Muir Trail - Southbound.

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Activities

11 days strenuous hiking (max. elev. 11,050')

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike through the Sierra Nevada (with full mule support) on one of the world's most scenic wilderness trails on this exclusive MTS expedition, honored with Outside Magazine’s "North America Trip of the Year Award”
• See California’s high Sierra at its finest with mountains and verdant meadows filled with wildflowers—hailed by Travel + Leisure as one of the “50 Great American Adventures”
• Descend from the Pacific Crest into the Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite—one of the most iconic crown jewels of the National Park Service
• Travel + Leisure hailed this trip as one of the “50 Great American Adventures,” and National Geographic Adventure featured it on their list of “top ten trails on the planet,” calling it “one of the most beautiful trails in the world”!
• Learn trailside lore, flora, and fauna from your MTS professional mountaineer guides

Duration: 13 days Start Location: Fresno End Location: Fresno

BRIEF Itinerary

• Day 1 : Travel to Fresno, California

  Travel to Fresno, California, gateway to the Sierra.

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  Day 2 : Sallie Keyes cut-off

  Drive to Florence Lake and meet the horse-packer and mules. Ferry ride across Florence Lake (7,325') and begin hiking in the John Muir Wilderness. Cross Selden Pass (10,880') and hike into the Mono Creek Drainage at 7,870'.

• Day 3 : Rosemarie Meadow

  Hike over Selden Pass to Bear Creek Meadows.

• Day 4 : Mono Creek

  Mostly downhill hiking into the Mono Creek Drainage (7,870').

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  Day 5 : Chief Lake

  Cross Silver Pass (10,880') and the Silver Divide to our next camp at Chief Lake. Here we'll meet our first food drop.

• Day 6 : Duck Lake

  Hike past Tully Hole and Purple Lake to camp at Duck Lake junction (9,600').

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  Day 7 : Red’s Meadow

  Hike to Red's Meadow in the Mammoth area, where we'll pick up our second food drop and camp with superb views of Mount Ritter and Banner Peak.

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  Day 8 : Shadow Creek

  Enter the Ansel Adams Wilderness, named after the famous photographer and conservationist. We'll spend the next two nights at our camp near Shadow Creek—tomorrow is a layover day to photograph, fish, hike, or just relax.

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  Day 9 : Layover day

  Layover day in the heart of John Muir Trail country to photograph, fish, hike, wash socks, and just plain “hang out.”

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  Day 10 : Upper Rush Creek

  Hike through the famous “postcard” John Muir Trail country of Garnett, Waugh, and Thousand Island Lakes. Hike over Island Pass (10,205’) to our campsite on Rush Creek.

• Day 11 : Lyell Fork

  Hike over towering Donahue Pass (11,050') and down to the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River in Yosemite National Park.

• Day 12 : End trek – Return to Fresno

  Hike the remaining 6½ miles along the John Muir Trail and finish the journey in Tuolumne Meadows.

• Day 13 : Depart

  Transfer by free shuttle to the airport for homeward-bound flights.

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  Piccadilly Inn Airport Hotel

  A superb full service hotel for business and leisure travelers alike, Piccadilly Inn Airport offers a combination of comfort, convenience and style with 185 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites. Experience a refreshing change of pace in our outdoor pool, set in a lush tropical setting. Or work off some energy in our fitness center and then relax in our heated outdoor spa.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Laura Steinbach

  My first visit to the Sierra Nevada was back in 2002 on a three month backpacking trip along the Pacific Crest and John Muir Trails. Since that very trip, I have been infected with all that these mountains have to offer and, following that hike it took me only one year to find my way back to California on a more permanent basis. I'll be the first to acknowledge that it was the backpacking, climbing and horseback riding that drew me here, but what I find most intriguing is difficult to describe and certainly isn't apparent in photographs. It's the sound of the spring meltwater, the feel of the warm Sierran granite, and the haze that settles over the mountains just as dusk falls. These are the things that can only be realized by being here in the midst of it all. Throughout all of my travels, I've never found a better playground... or office.

• Colby Brokvist

  Colby Brokvist hails originally from New England, a place where it is unusually difficult to commit to only one sport. Having a background in backpacking, mountaineering and rock climbing, he is a perfect fit for anything the Sierra has to offer. An enthusiastic naturalist, Colby also holds a degree in Environmental Sciences and finds his passion for guiding in providing interpretive and educational experiences for all of his clients. Describing his love for guiding, Colby wrote "It is both the serenity and excitement of the wilderness that compels me to it and I only hope to enjoy it with good friends". Colby can be found typically leading our longer backpacks such the John Muir Trail, Yosemite High Passes Loop, The Yosemite Grand Traverse and Trans-Sierra Trails. He has personally hiked the entire Appalachian Trail as well as most of the Pacific Crest Trail. When not in the Sierra high country, he can be found guiding interpertive trips in Polar Bear habitat as well as camp hosting in Namibia for adventure safaris.

photo credits: ©MTS Photo File