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John Muir Trail — Yosemite Entry Permit
Yosemite National Park · California
Lottery, then cancellations all season
The legendary 211-mile trail from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney. Two Donohue Pass-eligible trailheads offer different entry strategies.
The JMT isn't one permit
What you reserve is a Yosemite wilderness entry permit for the trailhead you start from — each has its own daily quota. If you're heading north over Donohue Pass, that exit draws a separate quota, which is the lottery. Pick your trailhead below and we'll watch its quota for cancellations.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on JMT Yosemite were gone within 5 minutes.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
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Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
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JMT Yosemite Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodLottery
Demand LevelExtremely High10/10
SeasonYear-round permits, but Tioga Road typically opens mid to late June - Overnight parking prohibited on Tioga and Glacier Point Roads from October 15
Cost$10 lottery application + $5 per person on confirmation
Daily Quota45 people
Lottery Odds45 people/day over Donohue Pass, no published rate
Max Group Size15 people
JMT Yosemite Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, JMT Yosemite in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via lottery.
- JMT Yosemite is one of the most competitive permits in the United States, rating 10/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The JMT Yosemite lottery typically opens 24 weeks before your entry date, Sunday 12:01 am and closes The following Saturday, 11:59 pm, with results announced Monday evening by email; accept and pay by Thursday 11:59 pm.
- The JMT Yosemite route covers 211 miles, rated strenuous.
- Cancelled JMT Yosemite permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Who issues JMT Yosemite permits
Source: National Park Service, Yosemite National Park. Read the official permit page.
“Sixty percent of reservations become available starting 24 weeks in advance and another forty percent become available one week in advance.”
Checked against the agency page on August 20, 2026.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery Opens24 weeks before your entry date, Sunday 12:01 am
Lottery ClosesThe following Saturday, 11:59 pm
ResultsMonday evening by email; accept and pay by Thursday 11:59 pm
SeasonYear-round permits, but Tioga Road typically opens mid to late June - Overnight parking prohibited on Tioga and Glacier Point Roads from October 15
Permit Details
TypeThru-Hike
Booking MethodLottery
Demand Level10/10
LocationSierra Nevada, CA
Pro Tips
- •Apply for Lyell Canyon, not Happy Isles, if you just want to walk the trail. It carries 30 of the 45 daily places against Happy Isles' 15.
- •One application per group, and NPS defines a group as anyone who may be planning to hike together. Multiple applications from the same party are cancelled without refund.
- •List up to eight preferred entry dates and entry points on the application. Only one preference can be awarded per week, so spread them.
- •Cancellations release quota immediately, and 40% of permits do not appear until seven days out. Losing the 24-week lottery is not the end of it.
- •Check the road dates before you pick a trailhead. Tioga Road typically opens mid to late June, and a Lyell Canyon permit for a closed road is not issued and not refunded.
- •Post offices, not ranger stations, take resupply. General Delivery to Yosemite Valley year-round and Tuolumne Meadows roughly mid-June to mid-September, marked "hold for hiker until [date]".
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
211 miles
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
2-3 weeks
Difficulty
StrenuousElevation Range
4,035 - 14,505 ft
Highlights
- •211 miles from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, on one Yosemite permit for a continuous hike
- •Only two Donohue Pass eligible trailheads: Happy Isles to Past LYV, and Lyell Canyon
- •45 people per day may exit Yosemite over Donohue Pass - 15 from Happy Isles, 30 from Lyell Canyon
- •60% of permits reservable 24 weeks ahead, 40% released seven days ahead
- •Weekly lottery: Sunday to Saturday, results Monday evening, pay by Thursday
- •Bear canisters required throughout Yosemite; hanging food is not permitted anywhere in the park
- •First night cannot be in Little Yosemite Valley on a Happy Isles to Past LYV permit
- •Permits must be picked up in person at a wilderness permit station, the day of or day before entry
Best Time to Visit
Mid-July through September. Tioga Road typically opens mid to late June and Glacier Point Road late May or June, both depending on snowpack and plowing, so a Lyell Canyon start before late June may simply not be reachable. From October 15, overnight parking is prohibited on both roads and inclement weather can close them for the season with little notice, so an exit date after that means arranging your own transport. Early season means snow on Donohue and the passes south of it; late September means short days and the first storms.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Snow on the passes into July in a heavy year, and creek crossings running high with it
- !Altitude - the trail spends weeks between 8,000 and 14,000 feet
- !Afternoon thunderstorms above treeline through the summer
- !Bears, which is why canisters are mandatory and hanging is banned outright in Yosemite
- !Seasonal road closures: if your trailhead is inaccessible your permit will not be issued and there is no refund
- !Overnight parking is prohibited on Tioga and Glacier Point Roads from October 15, and weather can close them with little notice
- !A permit that only covers continuous travel - stepping out to a road, a bus or the Valley voids it
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (4,035 ft)
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Backcountry Tips
- Today: Expect 37°F colder at summit. Layer up.
- Today: Freezing temps at elevation. Bring insulation even if warm below.
- Tomorrow: Expect 37°F colder at summit. Layer up.
Today
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58°
45°
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Tue
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65°
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Wed
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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 the lottery opens
Find this permit on the managing agency's booking system, then verify your email and add payment info ahead of time.
2
Apply during the lottery window
Submit your application between 24 weeks before your entry date, Sunday 12:01 am and The following Saturday, 11:59 pm. Apply for multiple dates to increase your odds.
3
Wait for lottery results
Results are typically announced Monday evening by email; accept and pay by Thursday 11:59 pm. Check your email and the account you applied with.
4
If unsuccessful, monitor cancellations
Permits get cancelled daily. Peak cancellation times are 24-48 hours before the trip date.
5
Set up PermitSnag alerts
Get notified when cancellations happen. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: Mid-July through mid-SeptemberShoulder: Late June and late September
Conditions
Snow on the passes and Tioga Road still closed. Glacier Point Road may reopen in late May, Tioga typically mid to late June.
Crowd Level
LowAdvantages
- +Lightest lottery competition of the year
- +Full creeks and waterfalls in the Valley
- +Empty trail
Challenges
- !Lyell Canyon may be unreachable until Tioga Road opens
- !Snow on Donohue Pass and everything south of it
- !High, dangerous creek crossings
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
Navigation2/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment5/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Backpackers ready for two to three weeks of self-supported travel at altitude, with resupply logistics to organise and a permit process to survive 24 weeks before they leave.
Recommended Experience
Several multi-night trips at altitude with a full pack. Just as important: the ability to plan resupply, transport at both ends, and a permit application 24 weeks ahead of a trip you have not yet trained for.
Not Recommended For
Anyone who has not spent consecutive nights above 9,000 feet, and anyone attempting an early-season start without snow travel skills for the passes.
About This Permit
The John Muir Trail runs 211 miles from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, and for most of that length it overlaps the Pacific Crest Trail. If you hike it as a continuous trip, NPS says you need exactly one wilderness permit - a Yosemite one - for the whole thing.
What you are actually competing for is a trailhead entry date. Yosemite issues permits to a limited number of people each day per trailhead, based on entry date and entry point, and it measures those quotas per person rather than per permit. On top of that sits the Donohue Pass exit quota, introduced in 2015: the park issues permits valid for exiting Yosemite over Donohue Pass for up to 45 people per day, 15 of them from Happy Isles to Past LYV and 30 from Lyell Canyon. Those are the only two trailheads that reach the full JMT beyond the park.
The lottery is weekly and runs 24 weeks ahead of your entry date, from Sunday 12:01 am to Saturday 11:59 pm, with results emailed the following Monday evening and payment due by Thursday 11:59 pm. Sixty percent of wilderness permits can be reserved 24 weeks in advance; the remaining forty percent become available seven days in advance. One application per group per lottery - and NPS defines a group as anyone who may be planning to hike together, cancelling duplicates without refund.
A permit is $10 to enter the lottery plus $5 per person when you confirm, and none of it is refundable.
The Experience
Why It Matters
This is not a permit for a trail. It is a Yosemite wilderness entry permit for a specific trailhead on a specific date, which happens to be the thing that unlocks the John Muir Trail. NPS puts it plainly: if you hike the JMT as a continuous hike you only need one wilderness permit from Yosemite for the entire trip - no Whitney stamp, no permits from the forests and parks in between. The catch is the exit quota. Yosemite limits hikers exiting the wilderness over Donohue Pass to 45 per day, and only two trailheads are Donohue Pass eligible.
The Route
The John Muir Trail runs 211 miles from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, and it overlaps the Pacific Crest Trail for most of its length. Inside Yosemite the trail's high point is Donohue Pass at 11,056 feet, on the park's southern border - which is exactly where the quota bites.
Only two trailheads give access to the full JMT beyond Yosemite: Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) and Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass eligible). Of the 45 people a day allowed to exit over Donohue Pass, 15 come from Happy Isles and 30 from Lyell Canyon. If you start at Happy Isles, your first night cannot be in Little Yosemite Valley.
Everything downstream of Yosemite is covered by that one permit. Bear canisters are required throughout the park, food hanging is not permitted anywhere in Yosemite, and there are no exceptions for through-hikers. Resupply goes by General Delivery to the post offices in Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows - ranger stations do not accept food packages.
The Feeling
Everything about the JMT is decided before you take a step. You are not choosing a start date so much as being assigned one, out of a weekly lottery, 24 weeks ahead, for one of 45 places a day. And then you walk out of Yosemite Valley at 4,035 feet and do not touch a road again for weeks.
Trailhead Information
Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible)
4,035 ft elevationYosemite Valley start for a full JMT. 15 of the 45 daily Donohue Pass exit places, and the first night may not be in Little Yosemite Valley.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
Long-term parking for the length of your trip is free in Yosemite Valley with no reservation needed. Food lockers are at all trailhead parking areas.
Nearest Services
Yosemite Valley - permit station, store, post office for General Delivery resupply, backpackers' campground.
Notes
This is one of only two trailheads that provide access to the full John Muir Trail beyond Yosemite.
Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass eligible)
8,600 ft elevationTuolumne Meadows start, with the larger allocation - 30 of the 45 daily Donohue Pass exit places.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
Free long-term parking in Tuolumne Meadows, no reservation required, with food lockers at the trailhead lots.
Nearest Services
Tuolumne Meadows - post office for General Delivery packages roughly mid-June to mid-September, and the backpackers' campground.
Notes
Reached via Tioga Road, which typically opens mid to late June depending on snowpack. Overnight parking on Tioga Road is prohibited from October 15.
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley
7,200 ft elevationA Half Dome eligible entry, but not Donohue Pass eligible - it will not get you onto the full JMT beyond Yosemite.
Restrooms
No water
Notes
Glacier Point Road typically opens late May or June. Useful for a Yosemite section, not for a continuous John Muir Trail hike.
Rules & Regulations
- •A wilderness permit is required year-round for any overnight stay in Yosemite Wilderness
- •Trailhead quotas are per person and by entry date, not by length of stay
- •The permit is valid only for the trip leader, trailheads, dates and number of people on it, and only for continuous wilderness travel
- •Exiting the wilderness mid-itinerary invalidates the permit; any travel through Yosemite Valley invalidates it, with no exception
- •Thru-hikers may stay one night at the Tuolumne Meadows backpackers' campground as part of a continuous permit
- •45 people per day maximum exiting over Donohue Pass: 15 from Happy Isles to Past LYV, 30 from Lyell Canyon
- •On a Happy Isles to Past LYV permit, the first night's camp cannot be in Little Yosemite Valley
- •Maximum group size is 15 people, or 8 for cross-country hiking more than a quarter mile off any trail
- •Approved bear-resistant canisters are required for food storage everywhere in Yosemite Wilderness; hanging food is not permitted
- •Campfires are prohibited above 9,600 feet
- •Camp at least 100 feet from any water source and any trail
- •One application per group per weekly lottery - duplicates from the same group are cancelled without refund
- •Permits must be picked up in person by 11 am on the entry date unless held for late arrival
Gear Checklist
Required
- An approved bear canister - required throughout Yosemite, with no exception for through-hikers, and rentable at any wilderness permit station for $5 a week
- A stove; campfires are prohibited above 9,600 feet and most of the JMT is above it
- Water treatment for three weeks of Sierra creeks and lakes
- Warm layers and a real shelter - Donohue Pass is 11,056 feet and the passes south of it are higher
- Your permit, picked up in person; there is no printing it at home
Recommended
- Microspikes and an ice axe for an early-season start, when the passes still hold snow
- A resupply plan by General Delivery to Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows post offices - ranger stations do not accept food packages
- Sun protection for weeks above treeline
- A second bear canister staged in a resupply box, since one rarely holds more than about a week of food
- Transport plan for the finish: there is no public transport between Whitney Portal and Yosemite, though Eastern Sierra Transit runs Lone Pine to Mammoth and YARTS runs Mammoth to Yosemite Valley
Plan Your Trip
Lottery concierge
Your next shot at JMT Yosemite
Next season’s application dates aren’t published yet.
We check for them every day. Track JMT Yosemite now and your concierge picks them up the moment they land, then emails you when applications open, before the deadline, and when results post.
Better odds with a crew
JMT Yosemite is a lottery. Every friend who applies adds another entry, so a crew gets more shots at the same permit than any one of you alone.
One of you runs the pool (Pro or a $19 alert). Everyone else joins free.
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Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for JMT Yosemite
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
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Key Landmarks
⛰️
14,505ft
High📏
208.7mi
DistanceClick on a marker to view details•58 landmarks
Landmarks (58)
Lottery Statistics
45 people/day over Donohue Pass, no published rate
estimated success rate
Get detailed lottery statistics and tips. Sign up to track this permit.
Boost Your Chances
Apply with a crew to multiply your combined odds, and let auto win-detection tell you the moment you win — you never have to go looking for the result. Win-detection reads the result email you forward us, so it takes a one-time setup in your inbox (about two minutes, and we walk you through it). Pool and auto win-detection are on Pro or a $19 permit alert.
Apply these for the best odds
- Set a reminder for both release moments. Sixty percent of reservations open 24 weeks ahead and the last forty percent open one week ahead, so a trailhead that looked full all summer can reopen seven days before your start date.
- Consider alternate Donohue-eligible trailheads (Sunrise Lakes, Rafferty Creek, Lyell Canyon). They reach the same JMT corridor and each carries its own separate quota.
JMT Yosemite FAQ
How do I get a John Muir Trail permit from Yosemite?
Through Yosemite's weekly wilderness permit lottery on Recreation.gov, for a Donohue Pass eligible trailhead. The application window opens 24 weeks before your entry date, from Sunday 12:01 am to Saturday 11:59 pm, with email notification the following Monday evening. Successful applicants must accept and pay by Thursday at 11:59 pm.
How many John Muir Trail permits does Yosemite issue per day?
45. Yosemite issues wilderness permits valid for exiting the park over Donohue Pass for up to 45 people per day - 15 for the Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) trailhead and 30 for Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass eligible).
Which trailheads are Donohue Pass eligible?
Only two: Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) and Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass eligible). NPS states these are the only two trailheads that provide access to the full John Muir Trail beyond Yosemite. A Cathedral Lakes or Sunrise permit puts you on the same trail but is not valid for exiting the park over Donohue.
Do I need more than one permit to hike the John Muir Trail?
No, not for a continuous hike. NPS says that if you hike the JMT as a continuous hike you only need one wilderness permit from Yosemite for the entire trip - no Whitney stamp and no permits from other national forests or national parks. Exiting the wilderness mid-trip invalidates it, though, and any travel through Yosemite Valley voids the permit with no exception.
How much does a Yosemite John Muir Trail permit cost?
$10 to enter the lottery, plus $5 per person when you confirm a successful application. Outside the lottery it is a one-time $10 per permit and $5 per person. None of it is refundable, including for fires, floods or emergency closures.
What percentage of Yosemite wilderness permits are reservable in advance?
Sixty percent can be reserved 24 weeks in advance. The remaining forty percent are available seven days in advance, and any reservations left after each week's lottery become first-come, first-served the Friday after the application period closes, up to three days ahead.
What is the group size limit for a Yosemite wilderness permit?
Fifteen people, or eight for any cross-country hiking more than a quarter mile off any trail. Note that trailhead quotas are counted per person, so a group of eight uses eight of the daily places.
Do I need a bear canister on the John Muir Trail?
In Yosemite, yes, without exception. Approved bear-resistant canisters are required for food storage in all areas of Yosemite Wilderness and hanging food is not permitted anywhere in the park, including for PCT and JMT through-hikers. Canisters rent for $5 a week at any wilderness permit station.
Can I hike Half Dome on a John Muir Trail permit?
Only if your entry trailhead is Half Dome eligible. A wilderness permit cannot be used for a Half Dome day hike at all, and if you begin your JMT outside Yosemite and finish in the park, your permit is not valid for Half Dome. Happy Isles to Past LYV is both Donohue Pass and Half Dome eligible.
Can I still get a John Muir Trail permit if I lose the lottery?
Yes. Forty percent of Yosemite's wilderness permits are held back and released seven days in advance, and leftover lottery inventory goes first-come, first-served on the Friday after each application period, up to three days ahead. Cancellations release quota immediately - Yosemite says the quota is released and made available to others as soon as you cancel.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Photography Guide
Golden Hour
Lyell Canyon in early morning, when the meadow holds mist and the light comes in flat along it.
Best Light
The Sierra runs on afternoon build-up and clear mornings. Shoot the passes early; save camp shots for the long evenings.
Beat the Crowds
Starting at Lyell Canyon skips the Yosemite Valley section entirely, which is the busiest 15 miles of the whole trail - and it has twice the permit allocation.
Classic Shots
- 📍Nevada Fall from the JMT above Vernal Fall on day one
- 📍Lyell Canyon meadow at first light
- 📍The climb to Donohue Pass at 11,056 feet, looking back into Yosemite
- 📍Thousand Island Lake, immediately south of the park boundary
- 📍Half Dome from the Sunrise side, if your permit is Half Dome eligible
Can't Get a JMT Yosemite Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Yosemite Wilderness - Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass eligible)
Same AreaThe other Donohue-eligible trailhead, and the one with twice the allocation - 30 of the 45 daily exit places.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
You skip the Yosemite Valley climb and start at 8,600 feet, which is better odds and worse acclimatisation. Reachable only once Tioga Road opens.
Yosemite Wilderness - Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible)
Same AreaThe Valley start for a full JMT, with 15 of the 45 daily Donohue Pass exit places.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
The classic beginning, from 4,035 feet. Fewer places than Lyell Canyon, and your first night cannot be in Little Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite Wilderness - Cathedral Lakes
Easier AlternativeA Tuolumne trailhead onto the JMT corridor inside the park, without the Donohue Pass exit quota.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Much better odds and it puts you on the same trail through the Cathedral Range. Not valid for exiting the park over Donohue Pass, so it is a section, not a thru-hike.
Half Dome day hike permit
Similar ExperienceThe other Yosemite lottery people plan whole years around, for the cables in a single day.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
One day instead of three weeks. Note that a wilderness permit cannot be used to day hike Half Dome - if you want the cables on a JMT itinerary you need a Half Dome eligible entry trailhead.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your JMT Yosemite trip
Trip planning
Articles that plan a trip around this permit.
- How Wilderness Permits Are BookedSix ways a US wilderness permit is actually sold, from a single dated entry to a river launch to a night-by-night itinerary, and why the difference matters.
- JMT vs PCT Permits ComparedPlanning a long Sierra hike? John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail permit systems, quotas and strategies compared, and which route suits you better.
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