Weather forecast builder for the John Muir Trail

Plan your walk with weather from 17 years of history—choose towns and dates below.

About weather on the John Muir Trail

On the John Muir Trail (Happy Isles to Whitney Portal), the most reliable walking window runs from June to early September, when high passes typically clear, creeks calm, and days are long. Within that period, July, August, and September generally offer steady footing with mostly dry tread, warm afternoons, and only spotty showers or brief storms at elevation. Outside this window, spring and late fall bring changeable, colder conditions with intermittent snow or rain and shorter daylight, while winter turns the high Sierra snowbound, with ski or snowshoe travel and very cold nights replacing typical backpacking.

• Winter: Cold, snowbound period with frequent snow showers, freezing nights, intermittent sun, and variable precipitation including freezing rain and occasional thunderstorms.
• Spring: Transitional months bring mixed sun and clouds, light snow or freezing rain, lingering high-elevation snowpack, wide temperature swings, and unsettled, slower travel conditions.
• Summer: Predominantly sunny with long, workable days, steady footing, occasional afternoon thunderstorms, abundant water, notable mosquitoes early, warming temperatures, and possible heat or wildfire smoke.
• Fall: Begins crisp with clearer air and minimal bugs, then shifts to shorter days, intermittent rain, occasional high-elevation snow, and increasingly cold, frosty nights.

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