I'm done with the John Muir Trail as a must-do... it's just not worth the hype anymore.

I used to plan my whole year around getting a permit for the JMT, thinking it was the ultimate trip. After doing it in 2019, I realized the crowds and rigid camping zones made it feel like a line at an amusement park. Now I look for quieter loops in the Trinity Alps or the Wind Rivers where I can actually find some quiet... has anyone else moved away from the famous routes to find better trips?

2 comments

2 Comments

victorross1d ago

Skip the famous trails and look at a map for nearby national forests. You can find great spots without the crowds and rules. I found my best trips that way.

patricia_kelly1d ago

Without the rules" sounds great, @victorross, I'd just get lost.