Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Baxter Pass (JMT)
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Baxter Pass (JMT) in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Baxter Pass (JMT) opens on your dates.
When it opens
- 6 months
- First come, first served from six months before your entry date, at 7 am Pacific60% of quotaYou book on Recreation.gov.
- 2 weeks
- First come, first served from two weeks before your entry date, at 7 am Pacific40% of quotaYou book on Recreation.gov.
Source: recreation.gov
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Baxter Pass (JMT) were gone within 10 minutes.
Baxter Pass (JMT) reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Baxter Pass (JMT) permit
As of September 2026, Baxter Pass (JMT) in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Baxter Pass (JMT) is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Baxter Pass (JMT) permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Baxter Pass (JMT) runs May 1 through November 1.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Eastern Sierra, CA
Step 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.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Baxter Pass (JMT) pro tips
- Start before dawn: the east-facing climb bakes by mid-morning and Inyo says so outright
- Carry water high. The upper canyon is dry and the pass is 8 miles up
- Set an alert for the two-week release, not just the six-month window. Inyo puts more permits out at 14 days
- Plan Kings Canyon camping around the limits: no Bullfrog Lake, two nights at Charlotte or Kearsarge, one night per lake in Rae Lakes
- If you want the same terrain for a fraction of the climb, apply for Kearsarge Pass first and keep Baxter as the backup
More on Baxter Pass (JMT): Live availability activityWhen Baxter Pass (JMT) permits open up
How much a Baxter Pass (JMT) permit costs
Baxter Pass (JMT) permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
The Baxter Pass (JMT) hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 3-5 days
- Difficulty
- Expert
Baxter Pass (JMT) landmarks
- 1Oak Creek trailhead
Start of the climb, west of Independence.
- 2Baxter Pass
Inyo's mileage to the top of the pass, where the trail crosses into Kings Canyon National Park.
- 3John Muir Trail junction
Inyo's total mileage from the trailhead to the JMT.
- 4Rae Lakes area
One-night camping limit per lake from Glen Pass to Dollar Lake, per the permit conditions.
Six thousand feet of climbing in eight miles to reach the John Muir Trail, on the pass almost nobody chooses, which is exactly why it is still available.
About this permit
Baxter Pass is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point on the east side of the Sierra crest, giving access to the John Muir Wilderness and, over the top, to Kings Canyon National Park. The permit reserves your entry trailhead and your entry date.
Inyo runs a quota season from May 1 to November 1 in 2026, when the number of people per day is limited. Reservations open six months ahead at 7 am Pacific, and additional permits are released two weeks in advance. From November 2 to April 30 the trailhead is non-quota, with permits bookable up to two weeks ahead and no daily people limit.
This is a hard entry point. Inyo describes it as steep and rugged, with more than 6,000 feet of climbing to the crest, and asks hikers to start early. The reward is a trailhead that rarely sells out.
The route
The trailhead sits near Oak Creek west of Independence. Inyo puts the top of the pass at about eight miles and the John Muir Trail junction at a total of 13 miles.
Inyo warns that it pays to start early in the day for this high elevation pass. Over the top the trail drops into Kings Canyon National Park, and the park's camping limits take over immediately: no camping at Bullfrog Lake, a two-night camping limit at Charlotte or Kearsarge Lakes, and in the Rae Lakes area a one-night camping limit per lake from Glen Pass to Dollar Lake.
Inyo also notes a smaller group size limit applies to hikers visiting 60 Lakes or Gardiner Basin, and that the trail is not recommended for stock.
Why it matters
Inyo National Forest describes Baxter Pass bluntly: the trail is steep and rugged, starting near Oak Creek and climbing more than 6,000 feet to the Sierra Crest at Baxter Pass. It is one of the hardest ways over the crest and one of the least contested. For a JMT resupply exit or a back door into the Rae Lakes country, it trades sweat for permit odds.
The feeling
The lower canyon is hot, dry and east-facing, so the sun hits you at first light and does not let go. The trail is relentless. Then the crest arrives and the whole Kings Canyon backcountry drops away west in one view, and you understand why the few people who do this route keep coming back.
Baxter Pass (JMT) hike highlights
- About eight miles to the pass and 13 miles total to the John Muir Trail, per Inyo
- More than 6,000 feet of climbing from the trailhead to the crest
- A quota season from May 1 to November 1, with a two-week release on top of the six-month window
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness rules the moment you cross the pass
- Very little company compared with Kearsarge or Bishop Pass
How hard the Baxter Pass (JMT) hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required5/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5
Best for: Fit, acclimatized backpackers who want a JMT connection or a Rae Lakes trip and are willing to take the hardest door in.
Recommended experience: Prior high-altitude backpacking and at least one long, sustained climb with a full load.
Not recommended for: Anyone who has not climbed 5,000 feet in a day with a pack, parties with stock, or first trips at altitude.
When to hike Baxter Pass (JMT)
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. Late July through September is when the pass is reliably clear of snow and the creek crossings have dropped. Early season means snow at 12,000 feet on a slope with no easy escape.
- Peak
- Late July through September
- Shoulder
- Early July and October
Summer
Hot on the climb, clear at the pass by late July, thunderstorms most afternoons.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Pass usually snow-free from late July
- Advantage: Full access to the Rae Lakes and 60 Lakes country over the top
- Advantage: Permits available when Kearsarge and Bishop Pass are gone
- Challenge: Brutal heat on the lower canyon
- Challenge: Little water low on the climb
- Challenge: Storms on an exposed crest
Fall
Cold, dry, stable. Quota season runs to November 1.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Best climbing temperatures of the year
- Advantage: Stable weather windows
- Advantage: Almost no competition for permits
- Challenge: Short days for a 13-mile approach to the JMT
- Challenge: Hard freezes above 11,000 feet
- Challenge: Early storms can load the pass with snow
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Day 3: Extreme heat (95°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 4: Extreme heat (97°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 5: Extreme heat (99°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
Today
77°
52°
Wed
79°
55°
Thu
95°
57°
Fri
97°
60°
Sat
99°
63°
Sun
99°
65°
Mon
96°
63°
Baxter Pass (JMT) photography guide
Golden Hour
First light on the Sierra crest from the lower switchbacks, looking straight into the sun over the Owens Valley.
Best Light
Late afternoon from the pass looking west into Kings Canyon, when the ranges stack up in layers.
Beat the Crowds
There is nothing to avoid on the climb. The people appear once you hit the John Muir Trail at mile 13.
Classic Shots
- The Owens Valley falling away behind you on the climb
- The view west from Baxter Pass into Kings Canyon National Park
- Rae Lakes basin, if your itinerary reaches it
Baxter Pass (JMT) rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup where containers are not required
- Four litres of water capacity for the dry, east-facing climb
- A stove, since campfires are out above 10,400 feet
- Sun protection for a slope that gets full sun from dawn
- Trekking poles for a 6,000-foot descent on the way out
Rules & regulations
- 01No campfires above 10,400 feet
- 02Food and refuse must be stored in a container designed to prevent access by bears, or counter-balanced at least 15 feet above the ground and 10 feet horizontally from a tree trunk where containers are not required
- 03Maximum group size is 15
- 04No camping at Bullfrog Lake
- 05Two-night camping limit at Charlotte or Kearsarge Lakes
- 06One-night camping limit per lake in the Rae Lakes area from Glen Pass to Dollar Lake
- 07A smaller group size limit applies to hikers visiting 60 Lakes or Gardiner Basin
- 08Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness regulations apply once you enter the park, including no pets, no bear spray, and an off-trail group size limit of 8
- 09Special approval is required for commercial use, and the trail is not recommended for stock
Hazards & considerations
- Heat and dehydration on the lower east-facing switchbacks, which is why Inyo tells you to start early
- Altitude gain of more than 6,000 feet in eight miles, faster than most people acclimatize
- Lingering snow at the pass in early season
- Afternoon thunderstorms on an exposed crest crossing
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Baxter Pass (JMT).
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Baxter Pass (JMT) · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Baxter Pass (JMT) FAQ
How hard is the Baxter Pass trail?
Inyo National Forest calls it steep and rugged, with more than 6,000 feet of climbing from near Oak Creek to the crest, and advises starting early in the day. The pass is about eight miles from the trailhead.
How far is it from Baxter Pass to the John Muir Trail?
Inyo puts it at 13 miles total from the trailhead to the John Muir Trail junction, of which roughly the first eight climb to the pass.
Do I need a bear canister for a Baxter Pass wilderness permit?
Food and refuse must be stored in a container designed to prevent access by bears, or counter-balanced at least 15 feet above the ground and 10 feet horizontally from a tree trunk where containers are not required. Once you cross into Kings Canyon, park rules apply as well.
When can I reserve a Baxter Pass permit?
Inyo's quota season runs May 1 to November 1 in 2026. Reservations open six months in advance at 7 am Pacific, and additional permits become available two weeks in advance. Outside the quota season permits are non-quota and bookable two weeks ahead.
Baxter Pass (JMT) trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
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Alternatives to a Baxter Pass (JMT) permit
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Kearsarge Pass
The standard eastside crossing into the Rae Lakes and Bullfrog country from Onion Valley.
Tradeoffs
Far less climbing and a much shorter approach to the JMT, but the most competitive Inyo trailhead there is.
- Same AreaPermit required
Sawmill Pass
The next eastside pass north, another long dry climb to the crest and the JMT.
Tradeoffs
Similar difficulty and similar solitude, with a different set of lakes on the west side.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Shepherd Pass
A 6,000-foot climb from Symmes Creek to a 12,000-foot pass and the Tyndall Creek JMT junction.
Tradeoffs
Every bit as demanding, and it lands you further south near the Whitney approach.
Where to stay near Baxter Pass (JMT)
- Humboldt Redwoods Sp Baxter Environmental CampHumboldt Redwoods SP
- Humboldt Redwoods Sp Hamilton Barn Environmental CampHumboldt Redwoods SP
- Humboldt Redwoods Sp Cuneo Creek Horse CampHumboldt Redwoods SP
- All California campgrounds
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