John Muir Trail - South Bound Permit 101

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Updated November 2018

NEW! For 2019 hikers Yosemite NPS has announced a simplified online reservation process! Gone are the days of sitting beside the fax machine, waiting for your permit application to go through. This article is updated with instructions on how to use the new system.

The official northern starting point of the John Muir Trail is Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. Southbound hikers need only a single permit to hike the entire JMT, including exiting at Mt. Whitney, but face a challenging 2% success rate given the volume of applicants. These permits have been regulated by the same quota system for over 25 years but increasing demand has made it harder to obtain a permit each year. The information below should help you improve your odds by using alternate Yosemite trailheads, picking exact start dates, and correctly filling out the application. Most importantly, permits become available exactly 24 weeks (168 days) in advance and must be reserved online. Applications are drawn randomly each day which means you must apply 169 days ahead. Be prepared for many rejections but don’t give up!

>> Click here for my JMT trip summary page

By The Numbers

Each day there are:

This adds up to a permit success rate of only 2 or 3%! This also means the bottleneck for your permit is either Donohue Pass or your starting trailhead, so always include backup trailhead options.

Click the links below to shop my recommended book and map to begin detailed planning of your JMT trip:

Trailheads

Happy Isles is the official starting point of the JMT, with 2 options for first night campsites. There are also 3 alternate starting trailheads which are listed below in order of increasing distance along the JMT. See descriptions below the map.

  1. Happy Isles

    1. To Little Yosemite Valley:

      Begin your hike at the official starting point of the JMT. This option requires you to camp at Little Yosemite Valley on your first night, which is 4.7 miles from the trailhead and 3.5 miles from the Half Dome Junction. You can continue on to any campsite along the JMT the following night.

    2. Pass Through

      This option also starts you off at the official trailhead of the JMT. The difference is that you must camp beyond Little Yosemite Valley and Half Dome on your first night, so you must hike a minimum of 8.2 miles before setting up camp. I chose this option for our permit and we found an amazing campsite just past the Half Dome Junction, putting us in a good position to hike Half Dome on day one.

      3. >> Click here for my JMT Day 1 Summary

  2. Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley

    Glacier Point is an alternate starting trailhead and bypasses the first 4.7 miles of the JMT before joining it near Nevada Fall. The hike is approximately the same length as the JMT section you are skipping. This option requires you to camp in Little Yosemite Valley. If you are having trouble obtaining a permit at Happy Isles this is a good back-up option.

  3. Sunrise Lakes

    This is an alternate starting trailhead which bypasses the first 13.2 miles of the JMT before joining it at Sunrise High Sierra Camp. The hike to get to the JMT is 5.8 miles. If you are having trouble obtaining a permit at Happy Isles or Glacier Point this is a good back-up option.

  4. Lyell Canyon

    This alternate starting point is the furthest along the JMT, beginning in Tuolumne and bypassing the first 22.8 miles of the JMT. This trail joins the JMT almost immediately. If you are having trouble obtaining a permit at Happy Isles, Glacier Point, or Sunrise Lakes this is a good option. Lyell Canyon has more total permits than each of those trailheads individually as well.

How to Apply

First decide on a range of dates you are able to begin the hike. Note that if you choose a single date it is very unlikely that you will win a permit, so flexibility is key! Choose your start date as early as you can, knowing that you could be rejected for weeks beyond your initial intended start date. Only one permit may be submitted per group and you will be charged a $5 fee only if successful. The steps below include an example permit and your choices are likely to be different.

Reminder:

  1. Access the online permit application here: JMT Rolling Lottery. You must use this JMT lottery application in order to hike out of Yosemite over Donohue Pass.
  2. Choose your entry trailhead and first night backcountry camping location (see trailhead section above for more details). I recommend using a guide book like John Muir Trail by Elizabeth Wenk to plan campgrounds. Include more backup entry trailhead options for the best chance of winning a permit.
  3. Choose your exit trailhead. The full JMT ends at Whitney Portal.
  4. Enter your earliest and latest desired start dates (up to 21 days apart). Refer to reminder above for the first date you should apply for (169 days away). Include your overall trip length. I recommend including extra rest days just in case.
  5. Enter your group size and minimum acceptable group size in case a smaller permit becomes available.
  6. Decide if you want to hike Half Dome. If successful the Half Dome permit will be added to your JMT permit with a charge of $10/person. You can also try to get walk-in Half Dome permits if unsuccessful.
  7. Complete a number of questions about your group:
    1. Make appropriate selections for your group and stock
    2. Fill out your trip leader information
  8. Submit your application. Perform your favorite good luck ritual and patiently wait for an email! If you are successful you must pay for the permit within 48 hours and any remaining days on your application will be cancelled. If you do not obtain a permit within your range of dates you may reapply again.

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