The John Muir Wilderness covers 581,000 acres and stretches 100 miles
along the Sierra crest. The John Muir Trail, intersects with the Pacific
Crest Trail, and the Tahoe Yosemite Trail. The
natural preserve is bordered by the Inyo National
Forest. With the exception of the first nine miles at the northern end climbing
out of Yosemite
Valley, the elevation of the John Muir Trail seldom dips below 8,000 feet
(2438 m). The trail crosses six passes in excess of 11,000 feet (3353 m): from
north to south, Donohue Pass, Muir Pass, Mather Pass, Pinchot Pass, Glen Pass,
and Forester Pass (the highest, at 13,153 feet (4009 m).