The John Muir Trail (JMT), a celebrated path stretching 211 miles from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, is a dream for many hikers. Famously overlapping with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) for much of its journey, the John Muir Trail offers an unparalleled wilderness experience through the stunning landscapes of the Sierra Nevada. While the Pacific Crest Trail extends a vast 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, traversing the crests of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada, the John Muir Trail captures some of its most iconic sections.
Within Yosemite National Park, the Pacific Crest Trail spans nearly 70 miles, reaching its highest point at 11,056 feet at Donohue Pass and descending to its lowest at 7,560 feet near Benson Lake. For PCT hikers reaching Tuolumne Meadows, they are approximately 942 miles from the Mexican border and 1,714 miles from Canada. However, for those specifically targeting the John Muir Trail, understanding the unique permits and regulations is crucial for a successful hike.
Understanding Wilderness Permits for the John Muir Trail
JMT Specific Permits
For hikers planning a continuous trek of the John Muir Trail, a single wilderness permit from Yosemite National Park covers the entire journey, eliminating the need for additional permits, even for Mount Whitney. Crucially, access to the full John Muir Trail beyond Yosemite is granted only through two trailheads: Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) and Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass eligible). These are the essential starting points for a complete JMT experience originating within Yosemite.
Permit Quotas and Demand
The popularity of the John Muir Trail has surged since 2000, with permit requests doubling between 2011 and 2015. This increased demand placed strain on permit availability for both JMT and non-JMT hikers within Yosemite, and also led to environmental concerns in areas like Sunrise Creek and Lyell Canyon due to overuse. Furthermore, solitude, a key aspect of wilderness experience, became harder to find in certain campsites along the JMT.
In response to these challenges, Yosemite National Park implemented a daily exit quota over Donohue Pass in 2015, limiting it to 45 hikers per day. This quota aims to balance access to the John Muir Trail, protect the wilderness environment, and ensure a higher quality experience for all hikers by managing visitor distribution and collecting data on trail usage and impact.
Yosemite issues wilderness permits allowing exit over Donohue Pass via the John Muir Trail for a maximum of 45 people daily. These are divided between the Happy Isles to Past LYV trailhead (15 permits) and the Lyell Canyon trailhead (30 permits). Hikers starting at Happy Isles to Past LYV should note that camping in Little Yosemite Valley is not permitted on the first night.
It’s important to note that if your John Muir Trail hike begins outside Yosemite and concludes within the park, your wilderness permit will not include access to hike Half Dome.
PCT Permits in Yosemite
Long-distance Pacific Crest Trail hikers holding a valid interagency PCT long-distance permit from the Pacific Crest Trail Association are exempt from needing a separate Yosemite wilderness permit for camping along the PCT within the park. However, this PCT permit is limited to the Pacific Crest Trail corridor. Any deviation from the PCT for overnight camping elsewhere in Yosemite requires a separate wilderness permit. Furthermore, PCT long-distance permits do not grant access to the Half Dome cables or Yosemite Valley.
Essential Logistics: Parking and Transportation
Long-Term Parking in Yosemite
Long-term parking is available within Yosemite National Park for the duration of your John Muir Trail hike without any extra charge or reservations. Parking facilities are located in both Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows, near key trailheads. For added security and to deter wildlife, food lockers are provided at all trailhead parking areas. Consider utilizing Yosemite’s public transportation options to reach trailheads and minimize parking challenges, especially during peak seasons when parking can be scarce, except in the early mornings or late afternoons.
Getting to and from the Trailheads
Transportation logistics to and from the John Muir Trail terminuses can be complex. Public transportation directly connecting Whitney Portal (near Mount Whitney) and Yosemite is unavailable. However, Eastern Sierra Transit offers bus services from Lone Pine, the closest town to Mount Whitney, to Mammoth Lakes. From Mammoth Lakes, the YARTS Highway 120 East bus provides a link to Yosemite Valley, offering a multi-stage public transit route to access or depart from the John Muir Trail. Careful planning of these transportation links is essential for JMT hikers.
Food and Safety on the JMT
Bear Canisters and Food Storage Regulations
Stringent food storage regulations are in effect throughout Yosemite National Park to protect both hikers and wildlife. Approved bear canisters are mandatory for all food storage within Yosemite; food hanging is prohibited park-wide, without exceptions, even for Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers. While food lockers are available at Little Yosemite Valley, High Sierra Camps, and Tuolumne Meadows Backpackers’ Campground, they are not available in other wilderness areas. Bear canisters can be rented at wilderness permit stations for the duration of your hike, providing a convenient solution for compliance.
Food Caches and Resupply Options
Yosemite National Park ranger stations do not handle food packages for hikers. However, resupply via General Delivery is possible at post offices in Yosemite Valley (year-round) and Tuolumne Meadows (mid-June to mid-September, approximately). Packages should be clearly marked “hold for hiker until [date]” to ensure proper handling; unmarked packages are held for only 14 days. Clearly label food packages for appropriate storage by postal staff, and avoid sending perishable items. Note that private delivery services like UPS and FedEx do not deliver to General Delivery addresses.
To send a package, address it to the hiker’s name, c/o General Delivery, Yosemite, CA 95389 (for Yosemite Valley) or Tuolumne Meadows, CA 95389 (for Tuolumne Meadows). Alternatively, hikers can purchase food and camping supplies within Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows, offering on-site resupply options.
