Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — High Trail – PCT (JMT)
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via High Trail – PCT (JMT) in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when High Trail – PCT (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 High Trail – PCT (JMT) were gone within 10 minutes.
High Trail – PCT (JMT) reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a High Trail – PCT (JMT) permit
As of September 2026, High Trail – PCT (JMT) in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. High Trail – PCT (JMT) is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled High Trail – PCT (JMT) permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for High Trail – PCT (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.
High Trail – PCT (JMT) pro tips
- Take the High Trail out and the River Trail back if you can, for two completely different days on the same loop
- Never leave food or scented items in your car at Reds Meadow. Inyo reports bears breaking into vehicles there in 2026
- Use the food lockers in the backpacker parking area before you get on the shuttle
- Camp at Badger or Clark Lakes instead of Thousand Island if you want the view without the tent city
- Build your first and last day around the shuttle schedule, not the mileage
More on High Trail – PCT (JMT): Live availability activityWhen High Trail – PCT (JMT) permits open up
How much a High Trail – PCT (JMT) permit costs
High Trail – PCT (JMT) permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee. Every visitor to Reds Meadow Valley also pays a transportation fee that covers the mandatory shuttle bus.
The High Trail – PCT (JMT) hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 2-5 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
High Trail – PCT (JMT) landmarks
- 1Agnew Meadows
Trailhead at shuttle stop number 1 in Reds Meadow Valley.
- 2Agnew Pass and Clark Lakes junctions
Side options Inyo names off the High Trail.
- 3Thousand Island Lake
Where the High Trail joins the John Muir Trail. No camping within 300 feet of the outflow.
- 4Garnet Lake
South on the JMT. Same 300-foot outflow camping restriction, no campfires.
The high line above the San Joaquin, with the Minarets, Mount Ritter and Banner Peak across the canyon the whole way to Thousand Island Lake.
About this permit
The High Trail is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point at Agnew Meadows in Reds Meadow Valley, running north through the Ansel Adams Wilderness on the Pacific Crest Trail toward Thousand Island Lake.
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 are released two weeks ahead. Outside that window the trailhead is non-quota with a two-week booking window, though the access road governs when you can actually use it.
The permit allows continuing on the John Muir Trail, which makes it one of the better JMT entries when the Yosemite trailheads are gone. It does not allow starting on Shadow Creek or the River Trail, both of which leave the same area on separate reservations.
The route
The trail starts from Agnew Meadows, shuttle bus stop number 1. Instead of crossing the meadow it climbs the east side of the canyon and contours north.
Inyo lists several trail junctions with options to Summit Lake, Agnew Pass, Clark Lakes or Badger Lakes. The High Trail is part of the Pacific Crest Trail and joins the John Muir Trail near Thousand Island Lake.
Two hard boundaries on this permit: Inyo states it does not allow starting on Shadow Creek or the River Trail, both of which leave from the same Agnew Meadows area. Camping is prohibited within 300 feet of the outflow of Thousand Island Lake or Garnet Lake, and campfires are out at Thousand Island, Garnet, Ruby, Emerald, Badger and Clark Lakes and anywhere above 10,000 feet.
Why it matters
The High Trail is the scenic half of the Pacific Crest Trail through the Ansel Adams Wilderness, and Inyo National Forest confirms this permit allows continuing on the John Muir Trail. Inyo describes the trail climbing partway up the east side of the canyon instead of crossing Agnew Meadow, then contouring to the headwaters of the San Joaquin River with magnificent views across the valley of the Minarets, Mount Ritter and Banner Peak.
The feeling
You spend the day walking a bench above a huge canyon with the Ritter Range in front of you and nothing between. The valley trail down below is faster and duller. Up here the views never close, and the trail delivers you at Thousand Island Lake, which is the postcard everyone has seen.
High Trail – PCT (JMT) hike highlights
- A start at Agnew Meadows, shuttle stop number 1, with a mandatory shuttle into Reds Meadow Valley
- Views across the canyon to the Minarets, Mount Ritter and Banner Peak for most of the day
- A junction with the John Muir Trail near Thousand Island Lake
- A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
- No Shadow Creek or River Trail starts on this permit
How hard the High Trail – PCT (JMT) hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required3/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5
Best for: Backpackers who want maximum scenery per mile, and JMT hikers starting south of Yosemite.
Recommended experience: A previous overnight at altitude and comfort with an exposed traverse in changeable weather.
Not recommended for: Parties expecting to start on Shadow Creek or the River Trail, which this permit does not allow.
When to hike High Trail – PCT (JMT)
Best time to visit
The quota season is May 1 to November 1, but the shuttle and the Reds Meadow road set the practical window. Mid-July through September is prime. Late September gives cold nights, sharp air and the best Ritter Range light.
- Peak
- Mid-July through September
- Shoulder
- Early July and early October
Summer
Warm on the bench, cold at the lakes, storms most afternoons.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Best views on the PCT through Ansel Adams Wilderness
- Advantage: Direct JMT connection near Thousand Island Lake
- Advantage: Full shuttle service into Reds Meadow
- Challenge: Mosquitoes at the lakes in early summer
- Challenge: Exposure to storms on the traverse
- Challenge: Heavy JMT and PCT traffic at Thousand Island Lake
Fall
Cold and clear, with the quota season running to November 1 and the shuttle winding down.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Best light of the year on the Ritter Range
- Advantage: Quiet lakes
- Advantage: Easier permits
- Challenge: Shuttle and road closures end access before the quota season does
- Challenge: Hard freezes at the lakes
- Challenge: Short days on a long traverse
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
73°
55°
Tue
81°
50°
Wed
87°
56°
Thu
90°
62°
Fri
90°
64°
Sat
89°
67°
Sun
88°
66°
High Trail – PCT (JMT) photography guide
Golden Hour
Dawn at Thousand Island Lake with Banner Peak lit and the water flat.
Best Light
Late afternoon from the High Trail bench, when the Minarets go into relief across the canyon.
Beat the Crowds
Thousand Island Lake is crowded by design. Camp at Badger or Clark Lakes on the High Trail side and walk over for sunrise.
Classic Shots
- Banner Peak over Thousand Island Lake
- Garnet Lake from the JMT climb above it
- The Minaret skyline from the High Trail contour
High Trail – PCT (JMT) rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear canister: Inyo requires containers for food and trash here
- A stove, since fires are out at every named lake on the route and above 10,000 feet
- Water treatment
- Wind shell for a trail that spends the day on an exposed east-facing bench
Rules & regulations
- 01No campfires at Thousand Island, Garnet, Ruby, Emerald, Badger or Clark Lakes, and no campfires above 10,000 feet
- 02Bear containers are required for storage of food and trash
- 03No camping within 300 feet of the outflow of Thousand Island Lake or Garnet Lake
- 04Maximum group size is 15
- 05Ansel Adams Wilderness regulations apply, and Yosemite wilderness regulations apply if you enter the national park
- 06All visitors to Reds Meadow Valley pay a transportation fee that allows use of the mandatory shuttle bus
Hazards & considerations
- Bears in the Reds Meadow parking areas, where Inyo reports vehicle break-ins for food in 2026
- Afternoon thunderstorms on an exposed traverse with no bail-out
- Snow on the contour into early summer, where it holds on north-facing gullies
- Shuttle timing, which can strand a party at the end of a long day
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for High Trail – PCT (JMT).
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for High Trail – PCT (JMT) · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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High Trail – PCT (JMT) FAQ
Can I hike the John Muir Trail on a High Trail permit?
Yes. Inyo National Forest states this permit allows continuing on the John Muir Trail. The High Trail is part of the PCT and joins the JMT near Thousand Island Lake.
Can I start on Shadow Creek with a High Trail permit?
No. Inyo states this permit does not allow starting on Shadow Creek or the River Trail. Those are separate reservations from the same Agnew Meadows area.
Do I need to take a shuttle to the High Trail trailhead?
Agnew Meadows is shuttle stop number 1 in Reds Meadow Valley. Inyo states all visitors to Reds Meadow Valley pay a transportation fee that allows use of the mandatory shuttle bus.
Can I camp at Thousand Island Lake on a High Trail permit?
Yes, but not within 300 feet of the outflow, and campfires are prohibited at Thousand Island, Garnet, Ruby, Emerald, Badger and Clark Lakes.
High Trail – PCT (JMT) trail conditions and trip reports
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a High Trail – PCT (JMT) permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow)
The direct climb from Agnew Meadows to Shadow Lake and Ediza Lake under the Minarets.
Tradeoffs
Closer to the Minarets and a shorter day, on a separate reservation from the same trailhead.
- Same AreaPermit required
River Trail (Agnew Meadow)
The valley-floor route up the San Joaquin toward the same lakes.
Tradeoffs
Shadier and easier walking, with far fewer views than the High Trail bench.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Rush Creek (Silver Lake)
The June Lake approach into the Ansel Adams Wilderness toward Thousand Island Lake from the north.
Tradeoffs
No shuttle needed, but a steeper start out of the June Lake Loop.
Where to stay near High Trail – PCT (JMT)
- Pleasant Valley Pit CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Horton Creek CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Four Jeffrey campgroundInyo National Forest
- All California campgrounds
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