A scenic view of Yosemite Valley with rocky cliffs and autumn foliage reflecting in a calm river, captured during a John Muir Trail survey. The sky is partly cloudy, and evergreen trees line the banks, adding contrast to the vibrant fall colors.

John Muir Trail Survey

The John Muir Trail Survey is conducted yearly with the aim of providing a useful and practical resource for JMT hikers.

Planning a John Muir Trail thru-hike (or section hike) can be overwhelming if you’ve never undertaken anything of the sort before and there’s nothing better than information provided by JMT hikers based on real-world on-trail experience.

The survey has grown from a loose collection of a couple hundred hikers’ responses to one with thousands of John Muir Trail thru-hikers and section hikers, The goal is to continue to grow this survey to better meet the needs of the JMT community and to better serve as a resource for anyone planning to embark on a JMT hike. Each year, I do my best to improve survey questions and responses. I will gladly listen to any criticism, suggestions, or tips for making the date more practical for anyone hoping to hike the JMT.

View the latest JMT Survey results here!

Please get in touch if you have any questions or comments.