Outest
John Muir Trail · Stage 7 of 18

Purple Lake to Quail Meadows

Stage 7 of the John Muir Trail covers 24.8 km from Purple Lake to Quail Meadows, with 756 m of ascent and 1,387 m of descent. The highest point is 3,319 m. Allow about 7.5 hours of walking, plus breaks.

24.8 kmdistance
756 mascent
1,387 mdescent
~7.5 hwalking time
harddifficulty
3,319 mhighest point
≈ 4 L
≈ 2,430 kcal
Plan this stage: time, water, weather and daylight
3,319 m 2,395 m 0 km 24.8 km
Elevation profile in walking direction.

Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.

Where to sleep and eat on this stage

Lake Thomas Edison

Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR)

  • Rooms
  • Camping
  • Restaurant
  • Shop
  • Transfer
  • Wi-Fi
  • Other
  • Seasonal — call ahead

Hiker-friendly resort at Lake Thomas Edison, about 2,340 m (7,680 ft), reached by a side trail from the JMT near Quail Meadows: hostel tent, tent cabins, motel, yurt, free hiker campground, kitchen, camp store, showers, laundry and paid Wi-Fi. In 2026 the lake ferry did not run; a $10 shuttle ran from Bear Ridge and Bear Creek Cutoff trailheads until 12 September, and resupply boxes ($40) had to reach Lakeshore by 12 September; now closed for the season.

+1 559-259-4000WebsiteBook onlineMap

Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed on an official page" are listed elsewhere but could not be checked on their own or an agency website. Your wilderness permit lets you camp where it is legal, at least 100 ft (30 m) from water and the trail; some lakes have extra limits. Bear canisters are required.

Help and services on this stage

Emergency: call or text 911 (no signal on most of the trail). Emergency & health guide

Nearest hospital

Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.

← Stage 6Reds Meadow to Purple Lake

Walk Purple Lake to Quail Meadows with Outest

The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.

Open the John Muir Trail in Outest App Store Google Play