How many Donohue Pass eligible permits does the JMT lottery issue per day from Yosemite?

Yosemite issues only 45 southbound Donohue Pass eligible permits per day: 15 from Happy Isles and 30 from the Lyell Canyon trailhead at Tuolumne Meadows. Every JMT thru-hike that exits the park over Donohue Pass has to come out of one of those pools, which is why overall odds sit around 8 percent.

The application window for 2026 runs February 15 through March 15. Because the Lyell Canyon pool is twice the size of Happy Isles, listing Lyell Canyon as a choice materially improves your chances, at the cost of skipping the classic Yosemite Valley start past Vernal and Nevada Falls. Glacier Point is a third option that connects to the JMT through Little Yosemite Valley and gives you a scenic descent instead of the Valley climb.

A few numbers for context on what you are applying for: 211 miles, roughly 47,000 feet of total gain, 14 to 21 days for most hikers, and a group size cap of 15. Fees run 15 dollars plus 5 dollars per person per night. If the lottery does not go your way, cancelled Yosemite wilderness permits return to Recreation.gov through the season, and shoulder-season dates in September see thinner competition.