CA - Muir Pass Day Hike – John Muir Trail

Distance: 16.0 miles Elevation Gain: 3200 ft Difficulty: Strenuous Type: Out-and-Back Surface: Dirt/Rock Activity: Hiking Best Season: July-September Typical Time: 8-10 hours Fee: None Dogs: False Permit: True

The Muir Pass Day Hike climbs to one of the most remote and storied points on the John Muir Trail, reaching 11,955-foot Muir Pass in the heart of Kings Canyon National Park. At the summit stands the Muir Hut, a stone shelter constructed in 1930 by the Sierra Club as an emergency refuge, and one of the most photographed structures in the Sierra Nevada backcountry. The pass sits on the divide between the Middle Fork Kings River and Bishop Creek drainages.

The approach from the south side ascends through the magnificent Helen Lake basin, where the stark granite landscape is softened by the deep blue waters of several tarns cradled in glacially polished bowls. Snowfields often linger on the approach to the pass well into August, and an ice axe may be warranted in early season. The desolate grandeur of this section of the JMT, far from any road, captures the spirit of the wilderness that inspired John Muir himself. Day hiking to the pass requires a very early start from the South Lake or North Lake trailheads and should only be attempted by fit and experienced hikers comfortable with high-altitude navigation.