Reservation8/10
Whitney Trail Crest Exit permit
The exit quota for trips finishing at Whitney Portal. Your permit must name "Mt ...
Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — JMT South of Devils Postpile
Inyo National Forest · California
Each entry point carries its own quota
Wilderness permit for entry via JMT South of Devils Postpile in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on JMT South of Devils Postpile were gone within 10 minutes.
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JMT South of Devils Postpile Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh8/10
SeasonMay 1 - November 1
CostRecreation.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.
Max Group Size15 people
JMT South of Devils Postpile Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, JMT South of Devils Postpile in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- JMT South of Devils Postpile is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for JMT South of Devils Postpile runs May 1 through November 1.
- Cancelled JMT South of Devils Postpile permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
SeasonMay 1 - November 1
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level8/10
LocationEastern Sierra, CA
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
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
5-14 days
Difficulty
StrenuousHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
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Backcountry Tips
- Windy conditions: Bring wind-resistant shelter if camping.
Today
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69°
56°
Sun
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70°
51°
Mon
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74°
50°
Tue
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71°
51°
Wed
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71°
52°
Thu
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73°
53°
Fri
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74°
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View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create an account before permits drop
Find this permit on the managing agency's booking system and set up an account with your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: Mid-July through mid-SeptemberShoulder: Early July and late September
Conditions
Passes clearing from July, daily afternoon storms, warm valley starts.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +The full southern JMT is open
- +Resupply services running at their peak
- +Reds Meadow shuttle operating
Challenges
- !Mosquitoes for the first weeks
- !Snow on the southern passes in early July
- !Competitive permits
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand5/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill2/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment5/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Hikers walking the southern John Muir Trail, and anyone who wants the Whitney finish without the Yosemite lottery.
Recommended Experience
Multi-week backpacking experience, a resupply plan, and prior travel above 12,000 feet.
Not Recommended For
Anyone hoping to walk north into Yosemite on this permit, which Inyo does not allow.
About This Permit
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.
The Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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.
The Feeling
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.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for JMT South of Devils Postpile
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Guide Services
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Key Landmarks
Devils Postpile Visitor Center
Shuttle stop number 6. Less than a mile to the bridge and the JMT junction, per Inyo.
Devils Postpile columns
The stone columns the trail passes going south.
Purple Lake and Duck Creek
Named in the permit conditions as no-campfire areas on the southbound route.
Mt. Whitney Trail Crest
The exit to select at booking if you finish at Whitney Portal.
Safety & Planning
JMT South of Devils Postpile FAQ
Can I hike north into Yosemite on a John Muir Trail South of Devils Postpile permit?
No. Inyo National Forest states this permit does not go to Yosemite. For a northbound trip you need the John Muir Trail North of Devils Postpile permit.
How do I finish at Whitney Portal on a John Muir Trail permit?
Inyo says to select the exit point of Mt. Whitney-Trail Crest Exit on your permit. Hikers who begin their trip in another park or forest are exempt from the Trail Crest exit quota, so the permit issued at your entry location is valid to visit Mount Whitney.
Where does the John Muir Trail South of Devils Postpile trail start?
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.
Do I need a bear canister on the southern John Muir Trail?
Yes. Inyo requires bear containers for storage of food and trash on this permit, and the national parks further south require them as well.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
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Write the First ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
First light on the Silver Divide from the climb out of Cascade Valley, a couple of days south.
Best Light
Evening in Evolution Basin, when the peaks line up over the lakes.
Beat the Crowds
Southbound in early September puts you behind the main JMT wave and ahead of the first storms.
Classic Shots
- 📍The Devils Postpile columns on the first mile
- 📍Purple Lake from the JMT traverse above it
- 📍The Whitney summit hut if you finish over Trail Crest
Can't Get a JMT South of Devils Postpile Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
John Muir Trail North of Devils Postpile
Similar ExperienceThe northbound half of the same corridor, which can run all the way to Happy Isles.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Opposite direction, and it is the way to reach Yosemite without the park lottery.
Duck Pass
Similar ExperienceA Mammoth Lakes entry whose permit may continue on the JMT north or south.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A climb to start instead of a valley walk, but no shuttle and a flexible JMT direction.
Cottonwood Pass
Same AreaThe southern PCT entry from Horseshoe Meadows toward Crabtree and Whitney.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A much shorter trip to the Whitney area, on a June 30 to September 15 quota season.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your JMT South of Devils Postpile trip
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