Three days on the John Muir Trail crossing Donohue Pass and Lyell Canyon. The best JMT sampler without committing to 211 miles.
Three days on the John Muir Trail connecting Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite. You'll cross Donahue Pass (the Yosemite/Ansel Adams boundary), traverse the beautiful Lyell Canyon, and walk through Tuolumne Meadows. Makes an excellent JMT sampler for those not ready for the full 211-mile commitment.
Start: Agnew Meadows (River Trail TH)
End: Tuolumne Meadows
Water: Shadow Creek, Garnet Lake
Follow River Trail from Agnew Meadows, branching off toward Garnet Lake after ~4.7 miles. Steep 500 ft climb over the last half mile to the JMT junction and lake. Banner Peak and Mt. Ritter dominate the view across the lake. Find a sheltered campsite — the lake can be very windy.
Water: Ruby Lake, Emerald Lake, Thousand Island Lake, Davis Lakes
Head north on the JMT past Ruby and Emerald Lakes to iconic Thousand Island Lake (~2.6 mi). Continue up and over Island Pass, then leave the JMT at the junction and hike 1 mile back uphill to Davis Lakes. Significantly less traffic once you leave the JMT — expect solitude at camp.
Water: Lyell Fork, Tuolumne River
Long day — start early. Climb 4.6 miles to Donahue Pass (11,066 ft), the high point of the trip with views of Mt. Lyell and the glacier. Steep descent into Lyell Canyon, then a long flat run through the canyon to Tuolumne Meadows (~15 mi from the pass). YART bus stop is at the General Store. Consider splitting into 2 days with a Lyell Canyon camp if time allows.
Davis Lakes (solitude off JMT), Ediza Lake, Cecile Lake, 60 Lakes Basin
One-car trip: YARTS bus from Tuolumne back to Mammoth (~$15); Devil's Postpile shuttle required to reach Agnew Meadows (carry cash); Day 3 is 20mi if done in 3 days - consider 4 days with Lyell Canyon camp; Inyo NF permits easier than Yosemite permits; multiple trailhead options if River Trail quota full
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