
more images of California John Muir Trail Southbound to Mt. Whitney Trek
more images of California John Muir Trail Southbound to Mt. Whitney Trek
Venture out on this exclusive trekking expedition set in the high Sierra Nevada, covering the southern half of the 212-mile-long John Muir Trail, from Lake Florence southward to Mount Whitney (14,505'), the highest peak in the continental United States. On this fully supported epic trip along what National Geographic claims as one of the "top ten trails on the planet," camp along mountain lakes, traverse mountain passes, and marvel at wildflower-dotted meadows. Once you've hiked the trail's southern part, be inspired to come back to tackle the northern half!
Fresno, California
Fresno, California
17 Days
6-10 Guests
15 yrs
This trip is designed for the seasoned hiker. You are expected to hike with up to 15 pounds in your daypack about 8-12 miles per day (5-8 hours per day) for 15 days straight, with no layover days. We will hike a total of 140 miles on mountain trails that are often steep and uneven. Most elevations are above 9,000\', one is over 13,000\', and the summit of Mt. Whitney is at 14,495\'.
Learn more here.
Day 1
Arrive in Fresno, California, to check in at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Fresno Yosemite Airport, near the Fresno air terminal, by 4pm. At 6pm, join the guides for an orientation and final gear check, along with a welcome dinner near the hotel.
Accommodation: Fairfield Inn & Suites Fresno Yosemite Airport
Conveniently located two blocks from Fresno Yosemite airport, the Fairfield Inn is clean and modern, and offers all the amenities necessary to rest and recharge on your MT Sobek adventure. The hotel boasts a 24-hour fitness center, heated outdoor pool, in-house restaurant for breakfast, and local restaurant delivery service for dinner. Each room features complimentary Wifi, a flat screen Smart TV for streaming services like Hulu and Netflix, comfortable bedding, electronics dock, coffee maker and microwave.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
Meet at 7am after breakfast, then drive about three hours to Florence Lake where you meet the horse-packer and mules to offload the gear. Then begin the first leg of the trip, which starts with a ferry ride across Florence Lake (7,325'). Today's mild acclimatizing hike goes 6.3 miles through lush meadows following the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. There is a 500-foot elevation gain along the way to the camp on the San Joaquin River.
Accommodation: MT Sobek Camp-John Muir Trail Southbound
We supply all camping and commissary gear, including tents and sleeping pads. We encourage clients to bring their own sleeping bag, rated to 15 degrees in the 2-3 pound range. We encourage this because everyone sleeps differently, some need a really warm bag, others not so much thus having your own will ensure more comfort than renting. We also provide a crazy creek chair for every trip member. Previous camping experience is required for this trip! Guides will assist clients with their tents on the first night, but then it is up to the clients to set up their tents after that.
Activity: 3-4 hours/6.3-8 miles hiking with 1,500' elevation gain and 1,050' elevation loss
Transportation: 3-hour private van transfer & ferry ride
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Continue the acclimatization process with another "easy" day on the trail. From Piute Creek, hike 6.2 miles of relatively flat terrain to the junction of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River and Goddard Canyon. Get a good night's sleep here in preparation for the ascent into the famous Evolution Canyon.
Accommodation: MT Sobek Camp-John Muir Trail Southbound
We supply all camping and commissary gear, including tents and sleeping pads. We encourage clients to bring their own sleeping bag, rated to 15 degrees in the 2-3 pound range. We encourage this because everyone sleeps differently, some need a really warm bag, others not so much thus having your own will ensure more comfort than renting. We also provide a crazy creek chair for every trip member. Previous camping experience is required for this trip! Guides will assist clients with their tents on the first night, but then it is up to the clients to set up their tents after that.
Activity: 3-4 hours/6.4 miles with 1,437' elevation gain and 775' elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Reason #01
MT Sobek adventurers have claimed this trekking expedition to be the company's most challenging. It sells out every year!
Reason #02
This award-winning adventure features 24-hour expertise of professional mountaineer guides who teach you about trailside lore, flora and fauna.
Reason #03
Hikers traverse the Sierra with the support of a professional packer and mules that transport heavy backpacks and move camp.
Fred Ackerman
Fred enjoyed his first backpacking trip in college, walking 20+ miles in inappropriate footwear and spending a few cold nights in front of the fire without a sleeping bag. He caught the travel bug from there and was soon plotting and executing adventures in California's endless wild places. In addition to being an adventure guide, Fred is also an EMT with a certification in wilderness medicine. He's hiked and climbed thousands of miles around the Sierra including a solo 200+ mile hike of the Sierra High Route. Join Fred on MT Sobek's hiking adventures in California.
Sierra Zacks
Sierra was born and raised on the entrance road to Joshua Tree National Park and spent her early years hiking, rock climbing, and horseback riding in the park. She went on to graduate from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Ecology and Plant Biology. During this period, she worked at UC Santa Cruz's Adventure Outings Department where she led climbing, backpacking, and river trips. She now spends her summers in the High Sierra leading trips and exploring the beautiful landscape. In her free time you can find her rock climbing, botanizing, or birdwatching in the mountains.
Alex Kendrall
Alex grew up in Concord, New Hampshire exploring the mountains of New England. It was here that his spirit and passion for adventure began. Alex's love for shared wilderness experiences has culminated in a degree in Outdoor Education and certifications from the American Mountain Guiding Association (AMGA). Moving to California was the culmination of a dream come true, where he is able to combine his passion for climbing with a career in guiding. He has a tremendous amount of experience in the backcountry and great leadership qualities.
Challenging hikes up to 13 miles per day on mountain trails with high ridges, rocky switchbacks, and spectacular scenery. Summit Mount Whitney at 14,495 feet!
We supply all camping and commissary gear, including tents and sleeping pads. You are expected to set up your tent, filter water, etc. Well-appointed hotels bookend the trip.
Average daytime temperatures are 65-85°F and 15-35°F at night. Like many mountainous regions, storms that bring rain and snow can hit at any time.
What do I have to carry on this trip?
You only carry your daypack the entire way. Mules & guides will carry 15 pounds of each client's gear and you are responsible for carrying any weight over this.
What section on the John Muir Trail do we hike?
You will hike the second "half" of the actual John Muir Trail, in what is considered the Southern Sierra. (The entire John Muir Trail runs from Yosemite down to Mt. Whitney).
What are the toilet and shower procedures?
We provide everything needed for a comfortable wilderness toilet experience. Certain "Leave No Trace" practices apply, and your guide will go over this as part of the camp orientation. One 5-gallon solar shower will provide some warm water for washing/showering up.
How is water treatment handled on this trip?
We supply water filters on this trip. Water in the Sierra is renowned for its cleanliness, but we still take precautions. As a trip participant you are responsible for filtering your own daily water.
What can I expect from my guide?
All our professional mountain guides are trained in wilderness medicine at the professional level and are experienced backcountry folks. They are well versed in the natural and cultural history of the area, cook excellent food, and are fun, personable people to spend time with.
What are my duties while on this camping trip?
You are responsible for setting up and taking down your own tent, packing your personal gear, and filtering your own water. Our guides are always available to assist. Other camp chores such as cooking, cleaning, hauling water, etc. are left to the guides.
Can I use my loyalty discount for the trip?
Loyalty savings are not available for this trip.
What happens if the weather conditions are bad?
MT Sobek is proud to offer trips in protected wilderness settings.
As with any backcountry adventure, unforeseen natural events can impact your trip, including extreme weather conditions, snow levels and wildfires. As your health and safety are paramount, our expert guides and office staff will respond to these natural occurrences accordingly which may result in canceling, redirecting or shortening the trip.
"This was the most challenging hike I have ever experienced. I was not sure if I could do it once we were on the trail, but the guides kept us going and encouraged us when needed."
Donna B.
MT Sobek Guest, California John Muir Trail Southbound to Mt. Whitney Trek
"I've been on quite a number of long high altitude hikes on 5 continents. This was the best equipped, best organized, best provisioned and best led of all of them."
Margaret M.
MT Sobek Guest, California John Muir Trail Southbound to Mt. Whitney Trek
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The earlier you book, the more choice of available dates you’ll have and once you book, your price is guaranteed.
Scheduled Dates
Price Includes
Price Does Not Include
Contact An Expert
Need help picking your next adventure? Call us to answer your questions.
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