John Muir Trail Permits: Catch a Cancellation, or Win the Lottery
Cancelled John Muir Trail permits go back on Recreation.gov with no warning, and PermitSnag checks the Yosemite entry trailheads for them all season. The other way in is Yosemite's weekly draw 24 weeks out, where only 45 people per day can exit over Donohue Pass. Both are below.
John Muir Trail permit alertsThis guide covers the John Muir Trail permit.
JMT lottery at a glance
Yosemite publishes no success rate for the Donohue Pass trailheads (the John Muir Trail's Yosemite entry) — its wilderness lottery statistics are released only as charts. What the park does state is the release schedule: sixty percent of reservations open 24 weeks ahead, and the remaining forty percent one week ahead.
When the JMT lottery runs
| Applications open | 24 weeks before your entry date, Sunday 12:01 am |
|---|---|
| Applications close | The following Saturday, 11:59 pm |
| Results announced | Monday by 5 pm Pacific, by email; accept and pay by Thursday 11:59 pm |
The application window the managing agency publishes for this permit.
JMT lottery odds
| Year | Lottery | Applications | Awarded | Success rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wilderness reservation release (Donohue Pass trailheads)Sixty percent of reservations open 24 weeks in advance, the other forty percent one week in advance. NPS publishes no success rate for these trailheads. |
Sources: NPS — Yosemite Wilderness Permit Reservations · NPS Yosemite Wilderness Permit Statistics (charts only)
Last checked against the agency August 6, 2026. See the full JMT odds breakdown
Apply as a crew
Every extra person entering the JMT lottery for the same dates is another chance at the same trip. Whoever wins takes the group.
60/40
Release Split
45
Donohue Quota
$15
Permit Cost
Jul-Sep
Peak Season
211 mi
Full Trail
Understanding the Donohue Pass Quota
The JMT crosses multiple jurisdictions, but there's one bottleneck: only 45 people per day can exit Yosemite via Donohue Pass. If you start at Happy Isles and hike northbound, you count against this quota. This is what makes the classic JMT permit so competitive.
Four Ways to Start the JMT
Happy Isles (Classic)
Traditional start • Most competitive
Complete JMT experience with Vernal/Nevada Falls
Enter the weekly lottery on Recreation.gov, 24 weeks before your entry date
Happy Isles to Past LYV releases 15 a day, all of it against the 45-per-day Donohue quota
Tuolumne Meadows
Skip Yosemite Valley • Its own trailhead quota
Start at Lyell Canyon or Cathedral Lakes at elevation
Lyell Canyon releases 30 a day, twice the Happy Isles quota and on its own trailhead allocation
Miss the waterfalls, still counts against Donohue
Inyo NF (East Side)
Much easier permits • Section hikes
Kearsarge Pass, Bishop Pass, Cottonwood Pass entries
Can include Whitney segment with lower competition
Not a complete thru-hike, different logistics
Northbound (NOBO)
Whitney Portal start • Different perspective
Summit Whitney first, hike north to Yosemite
Avoids Donohue quota, different acclimatization
Whitney lottery is also competitive, more early elevation
2026 Permit Timeline
Yosemite Permits
Trail Season
Get John Muir Trail Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
6 Ways to Land a JMT Permit
Set a Cancellation Alert
Cancelled JMT permits go back on Recreation.gov all season with no warning. PermitSnag checks the Yosemite JMT trailheads around the clock and alerts you the moment one opens.
The Draw Runs After the Window Closes
Yosemite draws its wilderness lottery after the Sunday-to-Saturday window closes, so applying at 7am on the first morning wins nothing. What matters is entering before the window shuts and listing every date you can actually walk.
Know Both Releases
Sixty percent of reservations open 24 weeks ahead. The other forty percent open one week ahead, so a trailhead that looked full all summer can reopen seven days before your start.
Watch the Weather Window, Not the Odds
Snow can linger on the passes into late June, and September nights get cold. Pick dates you can actually hike, then work the release windows for them.
Be Flexible on Trailhead
Lyell Canyon is the other Donohue-eligible door and releases twice as many permits as Happy Isles. NPS lists Sunrise Lakes as '(no Donohue Pass)', so a permit from there cannot carry you south out of the park however convenient the trailhead looks.
Catch the One-Week Release
NPS holds forty percent of reservations back until one week before the entry date. Be logged in and ready when that batch drops for your trailhead.
Resupply Strategy
The JMT is too long to carry all your food. Plan resupplies at these key points:
Tuolumne Meadows
Mi 25Small store, limited selection
Red's Meadow
Mi 58General store, UPS packages
Vermilion Valley Resort
Mi 76Ferry + walk, package pickup
Muir Trail Ranch
Mi 108Bucket resupply, book early
Kearsarge Pass
Mi ~110Hitch to Bishop
Bishop Pass
Mi ~130Shuttle to Bishop
What Happens When You Get a Permit
Pay permit fee
$5/person/night
Plan resupply
Book MTR buckets early
Get bear canister
Required everywhere
Pick up permit
Day before at station
Start hiking
Check in at trailhead
Didn't Get a Permit? You Still Have Options
Cancellation Alerts
Permits get cancelled every day. PermitSnag monitors 24/7 and alerts you the moment one opens.
The One-Week Release
Forty percent of reservations do not open until one week before the entry date. Missing the 24-week window is not the end of it.
Section Hike
Enter from Inyo NF (east side) for easier permits and experience the best sections of the JMT.
Pro Tips from JMT Thru-Hikers
Apply for multiple trailheads
Submit applications for Happy Isles and backup trailheads simultaneously. Don't put all eggs in one basket.
Book resupply early
Muir Trail Ranch bucket slots fill months in advance. Book as soon as you get your permit.
Bear canister is mandatory
Yosemite, SEKI, and Inyo NF all require bear-resistant containers. No exceptions, no bear hangs.
Train for altitude
You'll spend weeks above 10,000 feet with 11 passes. Acclimatize before attempting high passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a JMT permit if I miss the lottery?
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Yes. Cancelled John Muir Trail permits go back on Recreation.gov all season, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens at the Yosemite trailheads you pick. The weekly draw 24 weeks out is the other way in.
What are the odds of getting a JMT permit?
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45 people a day can exit via Donohue Pass. 60% of reservations open 24 weeks in advance, the other 40% one week in advance.
When does the JMT permit lottery open?
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It is a weekly lottery, not a race. NPS runs the application period 'every Sunday through Saturday from mid-November through early May', 24 weeks before the entry date, and draws it after the window closes. Sixty percent of reservations are released that far out; the other forty percent come back one week before the entry date.
Can I start the JMT from a different trailhead?
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Yes. While Happy Isles is the classic start, many hikers enter via Inyo National Forest trailheads (Cottonwood Pass, Kearsarge Pass, Bishop Pass) and hike sections of the JMT. These permits are often easier to obtain.
Do I need separate permits for the whole JMT?
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No. A single wilderness permit covers your entire trip. The permit is tied to your entry trailhead and date. Once you enter the wilderness, you can travel freely on the trail for the duration of your permit.
How long does it take to hike the JMT?
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Most thru-hikers complete the 211-mile JMT in 14-21 days. Fastpackers can finish in 8-10 days. The trail includes 11 passes over 10,000 feet and approximately 47,000 feet of cumulative elevation change.
Don't Miss Your JMT Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors JMT trailhead availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts
Permits along the trail
A JMT thru-hike touches three permit systems. These are the pages for each.
- Inyo National Forest wilderness permitsEvery Eastern Sierra trailhead quota in one place, from Whitney Portal to the Ansel Adams entries. Each trailhead has its own daily cap.
- Mount Whitney day hike permitThe 14,505-foot finish line for half the Sierra. 100 day hikers a day, cancellation alerts all season, and a February lottery.
- High Sierra Trail permit availabilityThe other way onto Whitney: walk in from Crescent Meadow instead of drawing the Whitney Portal lottery.
- Half Dome cables permit225 hikers a day on the cables, sold through a preseason lottery and a daily lottery two days out.