JMT vs PCT Permits Compared
The John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail share over 200 miles of spectacular Sierra Nevada terrain. Both require permits. But their permit systems work very differently, creating strategic choices for long-distance hikers. Here's what you need to know.
Trail Overview
The JMT runs 211 miles from Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney. The PCT spans 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, with the Sierra section covering roughly 400 miles. For hikers wanting the Sierra experience, both trails cover similar terrain through the heart of the range, including Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Inyo National Forest.
JMT Permit System
There is no permit called a John Muir Trail permit. You get a wilderness permit from whoever manages your entry trailhead, and it covers the whole hike:
- Permits are issued by the park or forest where you enter, not by the trail
- Most JMT thru-hikers start at Happy Isles or Lyell Canyon in Yosemite, or come north from the Whitney end
- Going southbound out of Yosemite requires a "Donohue Pass Eligible" wilderness permit
- Each Donohue-eligible trailhead has its own hard daily quota, set by Yosemite
- Yosemite publishes its wilderness statistics as charts only, so there is no official success rate for these trailheads
- NPS does publish the release split: sixty percent of reservations open 24 weeks ahead, the other forty percent one week ahead
- Permit cost: $10 per reservation plus $5 per person
PCT Permit System
PCT permits work differently, favoring long-distance hikers:
- Long-distance PCT permit covers the entire trail (no quota limits)
- Must start at or near the southern/northern terminus
- California section doesn't require separate permits (with PCT permit)
- Permit is free through PCTA's permit portal
- Applications open in late fall for the following year
- No lottery, but popular start dates fill quickly
The Key Difference: Quotas
This is the part that decides your summer: JMT entry trailheads have hard daily quotas, and PCT long-distance permits do not. If you're flexible about your route, the PCT permit system is far easier. You can hike nearly identical Sierra terrain without competing for the Donohue-eligible spots that leave Happy Isles each day.
Tip: The PCT Permit Hack for Sierra Hiking
Many hikers who want the JMT experience actually get PCT permits instead. Start at Kennedy Meadows (southern Sierra entry), hike north through the JMT corridor, and exit at Tuolumne Meadows or continue north. You walk most of the same Sierra terrain without competing for a quota-limited Yosemite trailhead. The trade-off: you're hiking south-to-north instead of the traditional JMT direction.
JMT Traditional Direction: North to South
The classic JMT experience goes from Yosemite to Whitney:
- Start at Happy Isles, exit at Whitney Portal
- Dramatic finish on the highest peak in the lower 48
- Elevation profile generally climbs toward the end
- Most established JMT community walks this direction
- Resupply at Tuolumne, Red's Meadow, Muir Trail Ranch, Bishop Pass
PCT/Southbound Alternative
Hiking the Sierra section on a PCT permit typically means south to north:
- Start at Kennedy Meadows or Cottonwood Pass
- Climb Whitney early in the hike (not as a finale)
- Generally descending elevation profile toward the finish
- Mix of PCT-only and JMT-overlap hikers on trail
- Similar resupply options in reverse order
Which Route Has Better Permits?
For most hikers the PCT permit is easier to get. Yosemite's Donohue-eligible trailheads are capped by a daily quota that peak-summer demand blows past, and PCT long-distance permits aren't quota-limited at all. The main constraint on the PCT side is your preferred start date. Apply when the permit window opens and you'll usually get your choice.
Warning: Peak-Summer JMT Permits Are Brutal
Be realistic about your odds before you book flights:
- Happy Isles is the classic start, which is exactly why it's the hardest one to land
- Yosemite publishes no success rate for these trailheads, so plan a peak-summer start as a long shot
- Cancelled Yosemite permits are re-released all season, so a lost draw isn't the end of the trip
- Winning once doesn't help future years - each draw is independent
- Shifting to a mid-September start puts you outside the busiest stretch of the season
Starting from Other JMT Trailheads
Besides Happy Isles, you can start the JMT from other points with better permit odds:
- Lyell Canyon (Tuolumne Meadows): the other Donohue-eligible trailhead, with 30 permits a day and no Yosemite Valley crowds
- Glacier Point: a scenic start into Little Yosemite Valley, but not Donohue eligible, so it cannot take you south out of the park
- Cottonwood Pass (southbound): Start from Whitney end, much better odds
- Bishop Pass or Kearsarge Pass: Enter mid-trail and section hike
- Each has trade-offs in total mileage and experience
Tip: Section Hiking Strategy
Can't get a thru-hike permit? Consider section hiking the JMT over multiple years. Break it into 3-5 sections, getting permits for each section's entry trailhead. Some trailheads (like Kearsarge Pass or Bishop Pass) have much better availability. You hike the same trail, just spread across multiple trips.
Timing Comparison
Both trails have similar seasonal windows:
- Snow typically clears by late June to early July
- September offers stable weather and fewer mosquitoes
- JMT hikers tend to cluster in July-August (permit lottery timing)
- PCT hikers spread across May-September (continuous flow)
- Permit applications open February (JMT) and fall (PCT)
Resupply Considerations
Both routes require similar resupply planning. Major resupply points include Red's Meadow, Muir Trail Ranch, and Bishop (via side trail). PCT hikers traveling south-to-north hit these in reverse order. Planning resupply boxes or buying food at lodges works for either direction.
Which Should You Choose?
Consider your priorities:
- Want the traditional JMT experience with Whitney finish? Enter the JMT lottery
- Prioritize actually hiking this year? Get a PCT permit and go south-to-north
- Limited time? Section hike the JMT from easier-to-permit trailheads
- First long-distance hike? PCT permit removes lottery stress
- Returning for a second trip? Try the direction you didn't do first time
Conclusion
The JMT and PCT offer nearly identical Sierra scenery with very different permit realities. Yosemite's Donohue-eligible trailheads each carry a hard daily quota. PCT long-distance permits have no daily quotas at all. For most hikers, especially first-timers, the PCT path is more practical. If you want the traditional north-south JMT, aim for mid-September dates outside the busiest stretch, catch both reservation releases (24 weeks out and one week out), and watch for cancelled Yosemite permits getting re-released.
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