Clouds Rest Trail vs John Muir Trail
A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.
Units
| Clouds Rest Trail | John Muir Trail | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 9.1 mi15 km | 214 mi344 km |
| Elevation gain | 2,156 ft657 m | 36,437 ft11,106 m |
| Typical duration | — | — |
| Difficulty | — | — |
| Route type | Point-to-point | Point-to-point |
| Network | Local | Regional |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Best time to hike | Best from June to September | Best from June to September |
| Route & GPX | Route & GPX |
Clouds Rest Trail vs John Muir Trail: which should you hike?
At 214 mi344 km, John Muir Trail is the longer route — roughly 205 mi329 km more than Clouds Rest Trail (9.1 mi15 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Clouds Rest Trail is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.