John Muir Trail Map 1
Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley and Beyond
Starting at Happy Isles, most hikers prefer the Mist Trail which leads up the river to the top of Vernal Fall and then to Nevada Fall. The Mist Trail can be wet in the early season.
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Others choose the official JMT (shown above), which diverges to the south just beyond the Vernal Fall bridge and offers wonderful panoramic views from its switchbacks. Both trails converge near the top of Nevada Fall. In past years JMT hikers camped at Little Yosemite Valley, but, beginning in 2022, JMT hikers are required to hike beyond Little Yosemite Valley to at least the Half Dome Trail junction. The first good campsites begin to appear 1.8 miles beyond Little Yosemite Valley along Sunrise Creek near the Clouds Rest Trail junction.
Beyond Little Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows
From Little Yosemite Valley the trail climbs sharply along Sunrise Creek for the first 3 miles, passing the turnoffs to Half Dome and Clouds Rest. The rest of the way to Cathedral Pass the trail ascends in spurts, drops into the valley at Sunrise High Sierra Camp and climbs again to Cathedral Pass. Beyond the pass, the trail dips to the Cathedral Lake junction and then climbs briefly. After that, hikers enjoy a downhill respite into Tuolumne Meadows. While the official JMT crosses the highway into the meadow, most hikers stay on the trail south of the road.
