Last updated September 22, 2026
John Muir Trail: JMT Permit, Itinerary & Complete Guide
The John Muir Trail runs 211 miles through the heart of California’s Sierra Nevada from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley to the summit of 14,505-foot Mount Whitney. Most southbound thru-hikers then descend another 10.7 miles to Whitney Portal. This guide covers the JMT permit system, route, 14-day itinerary, resupply, bear canisters, best season, direction, high passes, gear, transportation and Mount Whitney finish.
How Long Is the John Muir Trail?
The official John Muir Trail is 211 miles from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney. That number does not include the normal east-side exit from Whitney’s summit to Whitney Portal. The Mount Whitney Trail adds approximately 10.7 miles, so most southbound thru-hikers actually walk about 222 miles from Happy Isles to Whitney Portal. The JMT shares roughly 170 miles with the Pacific Crest Trail and crosses some of the highest sustained trail terrain in the Sierra Nevada.
A full southbound JMT beginning in Yosemite needs a Donohue Pass-eligible wilderness permit. Yosemite currently limits JMT/Donohue exits to 45 people per day, and the park says up to 90% of JMT requests may be denied on popular dates. Build a permit strategy before you build flights, hotels or a rigid resupply schedule.
John Muir Trail Route Map.
The JMT begins among Yosemite’s waterfalls and granite walls, rises through Tuolumne Meadows, enters the Ansel Adams Wilderness, crosses the central Sierra through Evolution Basin and Kings Canyon, then climbs over Forester Pass before finishing on Mount Whitney.
The JMT Starts Low—and Gets Harder as You Get Stronger.
Happy Isles begins around 4,000 feet in Yosemite Valley. The route immediately climbs past Vernal and Nevada falls toward Little Yosemite Valley and the high country. Southbound travel naturally places the highest passes and Mount Whitney near the end of the journey rather than the beginning.
Photo: David Iliff · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0John Muir Trail Permits: Which Permit Do You Need?
The answer depends on where the continuous wilderness trip begins. There is no single product called a universal “JMT permit,” and the PCT Long-distance Permit is not available for a normal JMT thru-hike.
Yosemite Donohue-Eligible Permit
For the traditional full JMT from Yosemite Valley, apply for Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass Eligible).
- Current total quota: 15 people/day.
- 9 spaces are in the advance allocation.
- 6 spaces are in the seven-day allocation.
- One Yosemite wilderness permit covers the continuous trip through Whitney.
- No separate “Whitney stamp” is required for a qualifying continuous Yosemite-start trip.
Lyell Canyon Donohue Permit
Starting at Tuolumne Meadows removes the Yosemite Valley section but still allows travel south over Donohue Pass.
- Current total quota: 30 people/day.
- 18 spaces are in the advance allocation.
- 12 spaces are in the seven-day allocation.
- This is not the complete 211-mile JMT because Happy Isles is omitted.
Mount Whitney Overnight Permit
A northbound full-route approach begins by climbing from Whitney Portal to Mount Whitney’s summit before starting north on the official JMT.
- Whitney overnight permits use the Recreation.gov lottery system.
- Current reservation fee: $6.
- Current Whitney recreation fee: $15/person.
- The overnight permit can continue north onto the JMT.
For a 2027 southbound trip, think in weeks—not one permit-release day.
Yosemite currently releases 60% of wilderness reservations through a weekly lottery 24 weeks before the start date. Remaining advance inventory then becomes first-come, first-served, and the other 40% is released seven days before the trip. When 2027 dates are posted, count back 24 weeks from each preferred start week rather than waiting for one annual JMT lottery date.
The PCTA Long-distance Permit is intended for qualifying trips of 500 miles or more. A normal JMT thru-hike is 211 miles and therefore uses the local permit system administered by the agency controlling the entry trailhead.
Should You Hike the JMT Southbound or Northbound?
Both directions work. The PCTA notes that southbound is more popular partly because it allows hikers to build fitness before reaching the highest and most rugged part of the Sierra.
Happy Isles → Whitney
Begin lower in Yosemite, adapt gradually to daily backpacking, move toward progressively higher terrain and finish on the highest summit in the contiguous United States.
Whitney → Yosemite
Climb Mount Whitney at the start with a fully loaded pack and face Forester Pass almost immediately. The route then generally trends toward lower terrain.
Let Access Influence Direction
A strong hiker with flexible plans may reasonably choose direction according to which legitimate permit becomes available rather than treating SOBO as mandatory.
Southbound creates the stronger narrative—but also the famous permit bottleneck.
Yosemite to Whitney feels like a geographic progression toward the high Sierra and a summit finish. Northbound gives up that sequencing but can provide a completely different crowd pattern and permit strategy.
John Muir Trail 14-Day Southbound Itinerary.
This is a planning framework rather than a campsite reservation schedule. Wilderness camping restrictions, weather, snow, resupply timing and individual pace should determine the exact camp each night.
| Day | Target zone | Approx. JMT mile | Main terrain | Planning focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunrise / Cathedral zone | 13–17 | Yosemite climb | Start conservatively; the first day carries the full pack. |
| 2 | Lyell Canyon | ≈28–37 | Tuolumne Meadows | Final Yosemite services and approach to Donohue Pass. |
| 3 | Thousand Island Lake | ≈43 | Donohue + Island Pass | First major high-pass day and one of the signature camps. |
| 4 | Reds Meadow / Crater Meadow | ≈57–61 | Garnet, Shadow, Devils Postpile | Resupply opportunity; verify road and resort operations. |
| 5 | Silver Divide | ≈78–81 | Virginia Lake + Silver Pass | Settle into sustained pass-and-basin travel. |
| 6 | Marie / Selden Pass zone | ≈97–102 | Bear Creek + Selden Pass | Position for Muir Trail Ranch resupply. |
| 7 | Evolution Valley | ≈114–121 | MTR + Evolution | Resupply, then climb into one of the JMT’s defining landscapes. |
| 8 | LeConte Canyon | ≈127–140 | Evolution Basin + Muir Pass | High granite terrain; weather timing matters. |
| 9 | Palisade Lakes / Mather zone | ≈140–149 | Golden Staircase + Mather Pass | Large vertical day through exposed high country. |
| 10 | Upper Basin / Pinchot zone | ≈149–159 | Pinchot Pass | Remote central Kings Canyon travel. |
| 11 | Rae Lakes | ≈171–175 | Woods Creek + Rae Lakes | Position for Glen Pass and southern Sierra. |
| 12 | Forester approach | ≈179–187 | Glen Pass + Vidette | Camp strategically before the highest pass on the JMT/PCT corridor. |
| 13 | Crabtree / Guitar Lake | ≈195–203 | Forester Pass + Bighorn Plateau | Prepare for an early Whitney summit and full exit day. |
| 14 | Mount Whitney → Whitney Portal | 211 + 10.7 exit miles | 14,505-ft summit + long descent | The summit is not the finish of the walking day; Whitney Portal remains below. |
Mileage zones use agency planning data and are intentionally approximate. Fourteen days is a strong-hiker schedule, not a required pace. Adding 3–7 days can improve recovery, photography, weather margin and flexibility.
Evolution Basin to Muir Pass Is the JMT at Its Most Distinctive.
Granite, alpine lakes and nearly treeless high country carry the trail toward Muir Pass and the historic stone shelter. The pass itself is not the highest on the route, but the long approaches on both sides make the entire section feel remote.
Wikimedia CommonsMajor John Muir Trail Passes.
The trail’s difficulty is cumulative. By the southern half, a thru-hiker is repeatedly climbing from deep valleys to passes near or above 12,000 feet.
| Pass / high point | Elevation | Approx. JMT position | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donohue Pass | ≈11,050 ft | Mile 37 | Yosemite exit and the permit-controlled gateway to the southbound JMT. |
| Island Pass | ≈10,225 ft | Mile 41 | Leads directly toward Thousand Island Lake and Banner Peak. |
| Silver Pass | ≈10,950 ft | Mile 80 | Signals the transition into longer central-Sierra wilderness carries. |
| Selden Pass | ≈10,900 ft | Mile 100 | Immediately precedes the Muir Trail Ranch / Evolution section. |
| Muir Pass | ≈11,955 ft | Mile 127 | Historic Muir shelter and one of the longest high-alpine approaches. |
| Mather Pass | ≈12,080 ft | Mile 149 | Steep climb above the Palisade Lakes and Golden Staircase corridor. |
| Pinchot Pass | ≈12,100 ft | Mile 159 | Another major high point before Woods Creek and Rae Lakes. |
| Glen Pass | ≈11,980 ft | Mile 175 | Steep pass immediately south of the Rae Lakes basin. |
| Forester Pass | ≈13,200 ft | Mile 187 | Highest pass on the JMT/PCT corridor and final major pass before Whitney. |
| Mount Whitney | 14,505 ft | Mile 211 | Official southern terminus and highest point of the entire JMT. |
The Highest Pass Comes After Nearly 190 Miles.
Southbound hikers usually reach Forester with trail legs, lower pack weight and weeks of Sierra experience. That sequencing is one reason SOBO remains attractive. In an early season, however, snow can transform the same switchbacks into a very different mountain-travel problem.
Photo: wetwebwork · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0How Hard Is the John Muir Trail?
The normal summer JMT is a backpacking trail, not a mountaineering route. Its difficulty comes from repeated high passes, pack weight, altitude, resupply carries and the fact that you must keep doing the work day after day.
211 + Exit Miles
A full thru-hike is long enough for foot problems, equipment failures and nutrition mistakes to become trip-level issues.
Repeated 10k–14k Travel
The southern half spends substantial time at high elevation and finishes at 14,505 feet.
Pass After Pass
The route repeatedly drops thousands of feet into drainages before climbing back toward the crest.
Snow + Creeks
High snow years can require actual snow-travel competence and can create powerful creek crossings during melt.
Lightning + Fire
Afternoon Sierra thunderstorms and regional wildfire smoke become increasingly important planning variables.
Long Sections Without Roads
The southern half becomes increasingly isolated, making self-rescue planning and conservative decisions more important.
John Muir Trail Resupply Strategy.
The northern JMT has several convenient access points. The southern half is different. Most itineraries eventually face a substantial food carry after the final convenient resupply.
| Resupply | Approx. JMT mile | Type | Current planning issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuolumne Meadows | ≈24 | Store + seasonal post office | Useful early stop, but seasonal opening dates depend on Tioga Road and services. |
| Reds Meadow / Mammoth | ≈57 | Store, package pickup, town access | Reds Meadow Road remains under reconstruction; confirm current shuttle and road access. |
| Vermilion Valley Resort | ≈87 + side access | Resort / mailed package | Seasonal remote operation; verify current ferry, resort and resupply status before mailing anything. |
| Muir Trail Ranch | ≈108 | Remote bucket resupply | A major final resupply for many SOBO hikers before the long southern Sierra carry. |
| Kearsarge / Independence | JMT ≈178 | Off-route town resupply | Requires leaving the JMT over Kearsarge Pass and returning to the same corridor. |
MTR’s current published 2026 resupply season runs June 15 through October 1. The listed resupply service fee is $115, and packages are sent in a sturdy bucket because supplies reach the remote ranch through a multi-stage transport system.
The longest food carry should shape the entire gear system.
A lightweight base pack can become heavy again after Muir Trail Ranch when a bear canister is filled for the long southern push. Test the actual canister, food volume and fully loaded pack before assuming the numbers work.
The JMT’s Reputation Was Built on Places Like This.
Thousand Island Lake beneath Banner Peak is one of the defining images of the Sierra Nevada. But the strength of the JMT is not one famous lake—it is how often a landscape of this quality repeats over more than 200 miles.
Photo: Dcrjsr · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0Best Time to Hike the John Muir Trail.
The PCTA gives July through September as the general JMT hiking season. The actual start of normal summer backpacking conditions changes every year with winter snowpack and spring runoff.
| Period | Snow / water | Weather | Advantages | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Late June | Potentially substantial | Long daylight | Quieter trail | Snow travel and high creek crossings may dominate the trip |
| Early July | Highly year-dependent | Warm days developing | Long days | Lingering pass snow, runoff and mosquitoes |
| Late July | Usually improving | Afternoon storms possible | Strong general window | Busy trail and thunderstorms |
| August | Usually lowest snow concern | Warm days, cold nights | Simplest high-pass travel in many years | Peak demand, wildfire smoke and lightning potential |
| Early September | Low streams | Cooler and often stable | Fewer bugs and beautiful light | Freezing nights and shorter daylight |
| Late September | Usually low water | Cold, variable | Quieter trail | Services close and the first significant snow can end a trip |
| October | Winter can arrive | Cold and unstable | Occasional excellent windows | Closed resupply, short days and much greater snow risk |
Do not choose a JMT date from a generic “best month” article alone.
Snowpack, creek flow, wildfire, trail closures and the first autumn storm can move the real hiking window by weeks. Recheck Yosemite, Inyo, Sequoia–Kings Canyon and PCTA condition sources close to departure.
Plan the JMT Around a Bear Canister.
Food storage is not an optional lifestyle choice on the John Muir Trail. The route crosses jurisdictions with strict animal-resistant storage requirements, including Yosemite and much of Sequoia–Kings Canyon and the eastern Sierra wilderness.
Your canister needs to contain food plus other scented items for the longest carry—not merely the first three days leaving Yosemite.
- Use a container accepted by the land managers on your route.
- Test whether the planned food actually fits before departure.
- Never leave food or scented items unattended outside approved storage.
- Use established storage lockers where required or available without assuming they eliminate the need for a canister elsewhere.
- Keep food-storage compliance separate from campsite cleanliness; both matter.
The JMT crosses multiple wilderness jurisdictions, each with rules that must be followed while inside that area.How Much Does the John Muir Trail Cost?
The wilderness permit itself is inexpensive. Transportation, food, bear-canister and gear purchases, resupply services, hotels and post-hike logistics create most of the real trip cost.
Current application processing and per-person wilderness permit fees.
Current reservation plus Whitney recreation fee for relevant Whitney permits.
Current 2026 Muir Trail Ranch resupply-service fee, before mailing cost.
Flights, hotels, shuttles, food, canister, electronics and equipment replacement dominate many budgets.
Build your own JMT budget rather than trusting one blogger’s total.
A California hiker who already owns ultralight backpacking equipment has a completely different cost structure from an international visitor buying gear and spending hotel nights at both ends. Price the fixed permit and resupply charges, then add only the travel and equipment your itinerary actually requires.
John Muir Trail Gear Priorities.
Pack weight matters because the trail repeatedly climbs thousands of feet. But dropping equipment without understanding the consequence is not the same thing as going lightweight.
Storm-Worthy
Summer afternoon storms, hail and wind can arrive quickly even after a clear morning.
Freezing-Night Capable
Much of the route camps near 9,000–11,000 feet. September temperatures can fall well below freezing.
Approved Bear Canister
Size the canister for the longest resupply segment, not the easiest northern section.
Offline + Independent Backup
Download the route before departure and retain a backup navigation method that does not share the same battery.
Rain + Insulation
Carry both waterproof protection and insulation appropriate to high-Sierra nighttime conditions.
Trekking Poles
Useful for repeated pass climbs, long descents and stream crossings when conditions allow.
The Trail Ends on a Summit—not at a Trailhead.
The official JMT reaches its southern terminus at Mount Whitney’s 14,505-foot summit. Southbound hikers still need to return to the junction, cross Trail Crest and descend all the way to Whitney Portal. Build energy, daylight and transportation around the real exit—not merely the summit photo.
Wikimedia CommonsMount Whitney and the JMT Finish.
Mount Whitney is both the official southern terminus and the highest point of the entire trail. For most southbound hikers, the summit is reached from the west after camping around Crabtree Meadow or Guitar Lake.
14,505 ft
The highest point in the contiguous United States and official JMT mile 211.
10.7 Miles More
The descent from Whitney’s summit to Whitney Portal is substantial and should be treated as part of the final day.
Whitney Portal → Lone Pine
Do not finish the planning spreadsheet at the trailhead. Arrange how the group will reach Lone Pine or onward transportation.
Where the John Muir Trail Fits.
The JMT is one of the strongest bridges between the Global Summit Guide long-distance trail cluster and the Sierra Nevada mountain cluster.
From the JMT to America’s Great Trails.
The John Muir Trail is a powerful month-scale progression step between shorter backpacking trips and the season-long Triple Crown trails.
Three Skills That Matter More in the High Sierra.
These are the three Deep Recovery links for this full build.
Use Current Agency Information Before the JMT.
The trail is stable. Permits, snow, roads, resupply operations, fire restrictions and closures are not. Verify those layers close to departure.
John Muir Trail FAQ.
The core JMT questions answered without forcing readers to hunt through the permit and itinerary sections.
How long is the John Muir Trail?
The official John Muir Trail is 211 miles from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney. Most southbound hikers then descend approximately 10.7 additional miles to Whitney Portal, making the practical trailhead-to-trailhead journey about 222 miles.
How many days does the John Muir Trail take?
Strong backpackers may complete the trail in roughly two weeks, while a 17–21 day schedule allows shorter hiking days, more recovery, weather margin and additional time in major Sierra basins. The right schedule depends on pack weight, fitness, resupply and experience.
Where does the John Muir Trail start and end?
The official northern terminus is Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. The official southern terminus is the summit of Mount Whitney at 14,505 feet. Southbound hikers normally continue down the Mount Whitney Trail to Whitney Portal.
Do you need a permit for the John Muir Trail?
Yes. A wilderness permit is required for overnight travel. The agency issuing that permit depends on where the continuous trip begins.
Which permit do I need for a southbound JMT?
A traditional full southbound JMT beginning in Yosemite Valley requires Happy Isles to Past Little Yosemite Valley with Donohue Pass eligibility. A southbound start at Tuolumne Meadows uses the Lyell Canyon Donohue Pass-eligible permit.
How difficult is it to get a JMT permit?
Very competitive on popular summer dates. Yosemite says typical summer days can receive 300–500 wilderness reservation requests, with most requests seeking JMT access, and up to 90% of JMT requests may be denied on popular dates.
How many JMT hikers can exit Yosemite over Donohue Pass each day?
The current Donohue Pass exit quota is 45 people per day: 15 associated with Happy Isles Past LYV permits and 30 associated with Lyell Canyon permits.
Can I use a PCT Long-distance Permit for the JMT?
Not for a normal 211-mile JMT thru-hike. PCTA’s Long-distance Permit applies to qualifying trips of 500 miles or more, so JMT hikers normally use the local wilderness-permit system.
Should I hike the JMT northbound or southbound?
Both are valid. Southbound is more popular and allows hikers to develop trail fitness before reaching Forester Pass and Mount Whitney. Northbound begins with a major climb from Whitney Portal to Mount Whitney while the pack is still full.
What is the highest point on the John Muir Trail?
Mount Whitney is the highest point and official southern terminus at 14,505 feet. Forester Pass at approximately 13,200 feet is the highest major pass on the JMT/PCT corridor.
What is the best time to hike the John Muir Trail?
July through September is the normal summer hiking season, but exact conditions depend strongly on the previous winter’s snowpack. August often offers simpler pass conditions, while September brings fewer bugs but colder nights and a growing risk of early snow.
Do you need a bear canister on the John Muir Trail?
Food must be stored according to the regulations of each jurisdiction, and approved bear-resistant containers are required across major portions of the JMT corridor. For a thru-hike, planning around an approved bear canister is the simplest reliable strategy.
Where can you resupply on the JMT?
Common resupply points include Tuolumne Meadows, Reds Meadow or Mammoth Lakes, Vermilion Valley Resort and Muir Trail Ranch. Some hikers also leave the route over Kearsarge Pass for Independence or Bishop before the final southern section.
How much of the JMT overlaps the Pacific Crest Trail?
The Pacific Crest Trail Association says approximately 170 miles of the John Muir Trail share the PCT. The primary differences are Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows, Thousand Island Lake to Reds Meadow and Crabtree Meadow to Mount Whitney.
Is the John Muir Trail technical?
The normal snow-free summer JMT is a hiking and backpacking route rather than a technical climbing route. Early-season snow, high creek crossings or winter conditions can substantially change the required skills and equipment.
Does the JMT end at Whitney Portal?
No. The official JMT ends on the summit of Mount Whitney. Whitney Portal is the normal east-side trailhead used after the summit and lies about 10.7 trail miles below it.
Win the Permit First. Then Build the Trail Around the Longest Food Carry.
The John Muir Trail is short enough to fit inside a normal vacation block but long enough that every system matters. Secure legitimate wilderness access, choose a direction, understand the snow year, make the bear canister work with the resupply plan and remember that mile 211 is on top of Mount Whitney—not beside your ride home.
Was this helpful?
Global Summit Guide is an independent mountaineering resource founded in 2026. The team combines first-hand trekking and climbing experience with in-depth research and professional health and nutrition review to help climbers choose objectives, prepare properly, and stay safe.
Health, altitude, and nutrition content is reviewed by Taylor Ludlow (Registered Nurse) and Brigg Hoopes (Nutritionist).
What We Don't Know Yet
Mountain information changes quickly. This box explains the limits of what this page can responsibly promise.
- Permit availability, reservation windows, quotas, and official fee rules may change after this page is updated.
- Visa, passport, vaccination, border, insurance, and local transportation rules may change before your trip.
- Route conditions, snowpack, closures, and weather can change quickly after this page is updated.
- Permit rules, fees, quotas, and reservation windows may change between review cycles.
- Operator availability, pricing, guide ratios, and cancellation terms can change by season.
Verify current conditions with official land managers, guide services, local forecasts, and current route reports before booking or climbing.
Mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, glacier travel, and high-altitude activity are inherently dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. The information on Global Summit Guide is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional instruction, qualified guiding, proper equipment, or your own judgment and experience.
Route conditions, weather, snowpack, permits, regulations, and hazards change constantly and may differ from what is described here. Details may be incomplete, out of date, or contain errors. Always verify current information with local authorities, certified guides, and official sources before making any decision in the mountains.
Nothing on this site is medical, legal, or financial advice. Our fitness, acclimatization, altitude, and nutrition content is general in nature; consult a qualified physician before beginning any strenuous exercise program or exposing yourself to high altitude.
You are solely responsible for your own safety and decisions. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Global Summit Guide and its team accept no liability for any loss, injury, damage, or expense arising from use of, or reliance on, this information. By using this site you acknowledge these risks and accept these terms.
Some links on this site may be affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you; this never affects our recommendations.
Global Summit Guide recommendation path
Next Best Mountain to Research
Use these recommendations to continue the right planning path instead of stopping on one page.
Use current permit, weather, route, and operator information before booking or climbing.