John Muir Trail Permit Details
Yosemite National Park
Southbound Permits
Happy Isles
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: 703
- JMT official Northern Terminus
- Located in Yosemite Valley
- Trailhead elevation: 4,000'
- Daily permit quota: 9 by lottery, 6 first-come first-serve
Useful Links
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Map of Yosemite Valley
Lyell Canyon
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: 884
- Located off Tioga Road (CA-120)
- JMT Mile 24 North-to-South
- 1 mile hike to JMT intersection
- Trailhead elevation: 8,600'
- Daily permit quota: 18 by lottery, 12 first-come first-serve
Useful Links
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Trailhead Location
John Muir Trail South of Devils Postpile
John Muir Trail South of Devils Postpile
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: AA15
- About 150 miles to Mt. Whitney
- Trailhead elevation: 7,600'
- >1 mile hike to JMT intersection
- Daily permit quota: 10 people
Useful Links:
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Shuttle from Mammoth Lakes
- U.S. Forest Service Information
- Map of area trails
Inyo National Forest
Northbound
Mt. Whitney
Quick Facts:
- JMT official Southern Terminus
- Very competitive permit process
- Trail accessed via Whitney Portal
- Trailhead elevation: 8,300'
- Mt. Whitney Summit: 14,505'
- Trail gains 6,200' over 10 miles
Useful Links
- Lottery Application
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Mt. Whitney trail info
Cottonwood Lakes
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: JM39
- 30 trail miles south of Mt. Whitney summit
- 23 mile drive from Lone Pine to Cottonwood Lakes trailhead
- Trailhead elevation: 10,000'
- Travels over New Army Pass elevation: 11,800'
- Daily permit quota: 25
Useful Links
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Lone Pine to Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead Directions
- U.S. Forest Service Information
- Map of area trails
- Additional trail information
Cottonwood Pass
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: GT60
- 28 trail miles south of Mt. Whitney summit
- 23 mile drive from Lone Pine to Cottonwood Pass trailhead
- Trailhead elevation: 10,000'
- Cottonwood Pass elevation: 12,300'
- Daily permit quota: 25
Useful Links
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Lone Pine to Cottonwood Pass Trailhead directions
- U.S. Forest Service Information
- Map of area trails
John Muir Trail North of Devils Postpile
John Muir Trail North of Devils Postpile
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: AA10
- About 60 miles to Happy Isles (Northern Terminus)
- Trailhead elevation: 7,600'
- >1 mile hike to JMT intersection
- Daily permit quota: 10 people
Useful Links:
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Shuttle from Mammoth Lakes
- U.S. Forest Service Information
- Map of area trails
Hwy 395 Acessible
Alternates (listed by distance from trail)
Reds Meadow Trailheads
John Muir Trail North of Devils Postpile
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: AA10
- Mile 61 North-to-South
- Mile 150 South-to-North
- >1 mile hike to JMT intersection
- Daily permit quota: 10 people
Useful Links:
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Shuttle from Mammoth Lakes
- U.S. Forest Service Information
- Map of area trails
John Muir Trail South of Devils Postpile
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: AA15
- Mile 61 North-to-South
- Mile 150 South-to-North
- >1 mile hike to JMT intersection
- Daily permit quota: 10 people
Useful Links:
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Shuttle from Mammoth Lakes
- U.S. Forest Service Information
- Map of area trails
Kearsarge Pass
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: JM31
- JMT intersction: Mile 181 North-to-South
- JMT intersection: Mile 30 South-to-North
- 6.6 mile hike to JMT intersection
- 13 mile drive from Independence to Onion Valley Trailhead (Kearsarge pass)
- Trailhead elevation: 9,200'
- Baxter Pass elevation: 11,800'
- Daily permit quota: 60
Useful Links
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Directions to trailhead from Independence
- U.S. Forest Service Information
- Map of area trails
- Additional trail information
Taboose Pass
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: JM27
- JMT intersction: Mile 158 North-to-South
- JMT intersection: Mile 53 South-to-North
- 9.4 mile hike to JMT intersection
- 18 mile drive from Big Pine to Taboose Pass Trailhead
- Trailhead elevation: 5,000'
- Bishop Pass elevation: 11,400'
- Daily permit quota: 10
Useful Links
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Directions to trailhead from Big Pine
- U.S. Forest Service Information
- Map of area trails
Baxter Pass
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: JM29
- JMT intersction: Mile 174 North-to-South
- JMT intersection: Mile 37 South-to-North
- 11.2 mile hike to JMT intersection
- 8 mile drive from Independence to Baxter Pass Trailhead
- Trailhead elevation: 6,000'
- Baxter Pass elevation: 12,300'
- Daily permit quota: 8
Useful Links
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Directions to trailhead from Independence
- U.S. Forest Service Information
- Map of area trails
- Additional trail information
Bishop Pass
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: JM21
- JMT intersction: Mile 136 North-to-South
- JMT intersection: Mile 75 South-to-North
- 11.8 mile hike to JMT intersection
- 22 mile drive from Bishop to Bishop Pass Trailhead
- Trailhead elevation: 9,800'
- Bishop Pass elevation: 11,970'
- Daily permit quota: 25
Useful Links
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Directions to trailhead from Bishop
- U.S. Forest Service Information
- Map of area trails
Sawmill Pass
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: JM28
- JMT intersction: Mile 165 North-to-South
- JMT intersection: Mile 46 South-to-North
- 12.5 mile hike to JMT intersection
- 10 mile drive from Independence to Sawmill Creek Trailhead
- Trailhead elevation: 4,600'
- Sawmill Pass elevation: 11,300'
- Daily permit quota: 10
Useful Links
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Directions to trailhead from Independence
- U.S. Forest Service Information
- Map of area trails
- Additional trail information
Piute Pass
Quick Facts:
- Recreation.gov ID: JM15
- 15.6 mile hike to JMT intersection
- JMT intersection: Mile 110 North-to-South
- JMT intersection: Mile 101 South-to-North
- 20 mile drive from Bishop to Piute Pass Trailhead
- Trailhead elevation: 9,350'
- Piute Pass elevation: 11,400'
- Daily permit quota: 10
Useful Links
- Permit Reservation
- Permit Video Tutorial
- Directions to trailhead from Bishop
- U.S. Forest Service Information
- Map of area trails