How to Get a JMT South of Devils Postpile Permit
Start at the stone columns of Devils Postpile and walk south on the John Muir Trail as far as your food lasts, all the way to Whitney Portal if you want it.
Check JMT South of Devils Postpile permit availabilityRecreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee. Every visitor to Reds Meadow Valley also pays a transportation fee that covers the mandatory shuttle bus.
Permit Cost
5-14 days
Duration
strenuous
Difficulty
About JMT South of Devils Postpile
John Muir Trail South of Devils Postpile is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point in Reds Meadow Valley for southbound JMT hikers. Inyo's quota season runs May 1 to November 1 in 2026, with reservations opening six months in advance at 7 am Pacific and additional permits released two weeks ahead. The Reds Meadow road and shuttle set the practical window. The permit runs one way. Inyo states it does not go to Yosemite. If your trip ends at Whitney Portal, Inyo requires you to select the Mt. Whitney-Trail Crest Exit as your exit point on the permit, and notes that hikers beginning their trip in another park or forest are exempt from the Trail Crest exit quota.
Inyo National Forest describes this as the section of the John Muir Trail south of Devils Postpile National Monument near Reds Meadow, and gives the key instruction for a full southbound push: if you will exit at Whitney Portal, select the exit point of Mt. Whitney-Trail Crest Exit on your permit. It is the standard way to walk the southern two-thirds of the JMT without a Yosemite permit.
The Experience
The first mile is a tourist walk past the postpile columns, and then the trail turns south and does not come back to a road for a very long time. Purple Lake, Silver Pass, Muir Trail Ranch, Evolution Basin, Mather Pass, Forester. Everything the JMT is famous for is south of here.
Inyo describes the access: from the Devils Postpile Visitor Center, shuttle stop number 6, it is less than a mile to a bridge across the river and the junction with the John Muir Trail. Following the trail southward you pass the stone columns of Devils Postpile.
From there the JMT climbs out of the San Joaquin drainage and works south through the John Muir Wilderness and into Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Inyo is clear that the permit does not go to Yosemite, so this is a one-direction permit.
If the trip ends on Mount Whitney, Inyo requires you to select the Mt. Whitney-Trail Crest Exit as your exit point when you book. Hikers who begin their trip in another park or forest are exempt from the Trail Crest exit quota, which is the mechanism that makes a JMT permit valid for the summit.
What to Expect
Access from the Devils Postpile Visitor Center at shuttle stop number 6
A southbound-only permit that Inyo states does not go to Yosemite
The Mt. Whitney-Trail Crest Exit selection if you finish at Whitney Portal
A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
Sequoia and Kings Canyon rules once you enter the parks, including no pets and no bear spray
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Permit Requirements
No campfires above 10,000 feet, or at Duck Creek or Purple Lake
Bear containers are required for storage of food and trash
Maximum group size is 15
Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness regulations apply
Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness regulations apply once you enter the national parks, including no pets and no bear spray
All visitors to Reds Meadow Valley pay a transportation fee that allows use of the mandatory shuttle bus
Select the Mt. Whitney-Trail Crest Exit as your exit point if you will exit at Whitney Portal
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •A bear canister - required by Inyo here and by the national parks further south
- •A stove, since campfires are out above 10,000 feet for most of the route
- •A resupply plan, because the southern JMT has very few road crossings
- •Water treatment
- •Pack-out kits for the Whitney zone if you finish over Trail Crest
Hazards & Safety
Bears in the Reds Meadow backpacker parking, where Inyo reports vehicle break-ins for food in 2026
A string of high passes that hold snow into early summer
Afternoon thunderstorms above treeline day after day
Long distances between exits once you are south of Mammoth
Best Time to Visit
The quota season is May 1 to November 1, but a full southbound JMT needs the high passes clear. Mid-July through mid-September is the realistic window, and late August into September gives the most stable weather for the southern passes.
Pro Tips
Select the Mt. Whitney-Trail Crest Exit at booking if Whitney is the finish - adding it later means a new reservation
This permit is southbound only, so do not book it for a northbound JMT
Confirm the Reds Meadow shuttle schedule before committing to a start date
Use the food lockers at the backpacker parking, since Inyo reports bear break-ins there in 2026
Plan resupply at the usual southern JMT stops before you leave, because there are almost no road crossings
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a JMT South of Devils Postpile permit?
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JMT South of Devils Postpile permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit JMT South of Devils Postpile?
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The quota season is May 1 to November 1, but a full southbound JMT needs the high passes clear. Mid-July through mid-September is the realistic window, and late August into September gives the most stable weather for the southern passes.
How difficult is JMT South of Devils Postpile?
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Hikers walking the southern John Muir Trail, and anyone who wants the Whitney finish without the Yosemite lottery.
What gear do I need for JMT South of Devils Postpile?
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Essential gear includes: A bear canister - required by Inyo here and by the national parks further south, A stove, since campfires are out above 10,000 feet for most of the route, A resupply plan, because the southern JMT has very few road crossings, Water treatment, Pack-out kits for the Whitney zone if you finish over Trail Crest.
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