is a
Long-distance Trail in
California , running 211 miles (340 km) from the
Yosemite Valley to
Mount Whitney . Much of the trail serves as a section of the longer
Pacific Crest Trail . It is named for naturalist
John Muir .
The trail runs through
Yosemite National Park ,
Kings Canyon National Park ,
Sequoia National Park ,
Inyo National Forest (including the
John Muir and
Ansel Adams wilderness areas), and
Devils Postpile National Monument .The northern terminus is in
Yosemite Valley , and the southern terminus is the summit of
Mt. Whitney .
Construction of the trail, begun a year after Muir's death in 1915 with a $10,000 grant from the California legislature, was completed in 1938 with the construction of the portion of the trail over Mather Pass.
