Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Pine Creek Pass (JMT)
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Pine Creek Pass (JMT) in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Pine Creek 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 Pine Creek Pass (JMT) were gone within 10 minutes.
Pine Creek Pass (JMT) reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Pine Creek Pass (JMT) permit
As of September 2026, Pine Creek Pass (JMT) in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Pine Creek Pass (JMT) is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Pine Creek Pass (JMT) permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Pine Creek 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.
Pine Creek Pass (JMT) pro tips
- Budget three days minimum to reach the JMT, since it is 20 miles from the trailhead
- Check the entry point name at booking. Gable Lakes and Italy Pass leave the same canyon on different reservations
- Camp in French Canyon rather than Humphreys Basin if the forecast is unsettled, since the basin has no shelter
- This is the reliable fallback when Bishop Pass and Piute Pass sell out
- Fires are out above the wilderness boundary, so plan every meal around a stove
More on Pine Creek Pass (JMT): Live availability activityWhen Pine Creek Pass (JMT) permits open up
How much a Pine Creek Pass (JMT) permit costs
Pine Creek Pass (JMT) permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
The Pine Creek Pass (JMT) hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 3-6 days
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Pine Creek Pass (JMT) landmarks
- 1Pine Creek trailhead
In the deep canyon between Mount Tom and the Wheeler Crest.
- 2Pine Lakes
The lake chain on the climb toward the pass.
- 3Pine Creek Pass
The crossing into the French Canyon side.
- 4Piute Creek John Muir Trail junction
Inyo's stated distance from the trailhead to the JMT.
Twenty miles from a deep eastside canyon to the John Muir Trail, through French Canyon and Humphreys Basin, the long way in, and the one you can actually book.
About this permit
Pine Creek Pass is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point northwest of Bishop, climbing the Pine Creek canyon into the John Muir Wilderness and on toward French Canyon, Royce Lakes and Humphreys Basin.
Inyo's quota season runs May 1 to November 1 in 2026, with reservations opening six months in advance at 7 am Pacific and additional permits released two weeks ahead. Outside that window the trailhead is non-quota with a two-week booking window.
Inyo puts the trailhead-to-John Muir Trail distance at 20 miles, reaching the JMT at the Piute Creek junction. The length is the trade: it is a slower way in, and it is a far easier permit to get than the short crossings on either side.
The route
The trail climbs the Pine Creek canyon past the Pine Lakes to Pine Creek Pass. Beyond the pass the country opens into French Canyon, with side trips to Royce Lakes and the Humphreys Basin lakes.
Inyo gives the distance directly: from the trailhead at Pine Creek to the John Muir Trail junction at Piute Creek is 20 miles. That makes this a committing entry rather than a quick crest crossing, which is exactly why it stays available when Bishop Pass and Piute Pass are gone.
One booking note from Inyo: the Pine Creek Pass trail does not include Italy Pass or Morgan Lakes, and trips going toward Gable Lakes or Italy Pass are a different reservation.
Why it matters
Inyo National Forest describes several trails starting from the deep canyon cut by Pine Creek between Mount Tom and the Wheeler Crest. The Pine Creek Pass trail goes to the Pine Lakes, along Pine Creek, and to destinations beyond Pine Creek Pass, and Inyo names it a popular choice for French Canyon, Royce Lakes and Humphreys Basin.
The feeling
The canyon is steep and industrial at the bottom, with the old tungsten mine road, and then it turns into one of the finest granite valleys on the east side. Humphreys Basin at the far end is wide open tundra with lakes scattered across it and no trees to block anything.
Pine Creek Pass (JMT) hike highlights
- Twenty miles from the trailhead to the John Muir Trail at Piute Creek, per Inyo
- A climb past the Pine Lakes to Pine Creek Pass
- French Canyon, Royce Lakes and Humphreys Basin as the named destinations
- A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
- No Italy Pass or Morgan Lakes on this permit
How hard the Pine Creek Pass (JMT) hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5
Best for: Backpackers with four or more days who want Humphreys Basin, and JMT hikers willing to walk 20 miles to reach the trail.
Recommended experience: Prior multi-day Sierra travel and comfort camping above treeline.
Not recommended for: Weekend parties, and anyone who needs a short exit if weather turns.
When to hike Pine Creek Pass (JMT)
Best time to visit
The quota season is May 1 to November 1. Mid-July through September is when the pass is clear and Humphreys Basin is at its best. September brings hard nights and empty country.
- Peak
- Mid-July through September
- Shoulder
- Early July and October
Summer
Warm in the canyon, cold above the pass, storms most afternoons.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Whole French Canyon and Humphreys Basin route open
- Advantage: Permits available when Bishop and Piute Pass are gone
- Advantage: Long days for a 20-mile approach
- Challenge: Hot, shadeless canyon climb
- Challenge: Exposed camping in the basin
- Challenge: Mosquitoes in French Canyon in early summer
Fall
Cold and stable, quota season running to November 1.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Empty basin
- Advantage: No bugs
- Advantage: Easy permits
- Challenge: Hard freezes above 11,000 feet
- Challenge: Short days on a long approach
- Challenge: Early storms load the pass
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°
Pine Creek Pass (JMT) photography guide
Golden Hour
Last light on the Wheeler Crest from partway up the canyon, looking back east.
Best Light
Early morning in Humphreys Basin, when Mount Humphreys catches first sun over the tarns.
Beat the Crowds
The canyon sees day traffic to the Pine Lakes. Past the pass, French Canyon and the Royce Lakes side are close to empty.
Classic Shots
- The Pine Creek canyon walls from the switchbacks
- Royce Lakes under the Royce-Merriam crest
- Open tundra and scattered lakes across Humphreys Basin
Pine Creek Pass (JMT) rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup where containers are not required
- A stove, since fires are out above the wilderness boundary in the canyon
- Water treatment
- Warm layers for open camps in Humphreys Basin, which is above treeline
Rules & regulations
- 01No campfires above the wilderness boundary in Pine Creek Canyon, and no campfires above 10,000 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
- 04Trips going toward Gable Lakes or Italy Pass are a different reservation
- 05John Muir Wilderness regulations apply
Hazards & considerations
- A long, sustained climb out of the canyon with limited shade
- Exposure in Humphreys Basin, where there is no shelter from storms
- Snow on the pass into early summer
- Twenty miles to the JMT, so a bad forecast is harder to walk away from
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Pine Creek Pass (JMT).
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Pine Creek Pass (JMT) · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Pine Creek Pass (JMT) FAQ
How far is it from the Pine Creek trailhead to the John Muir Trail?
Inyo National Forest states it is 20 miles from the trailhead at Pine Creek to the John Muir Trail junction at Piute Creek.
Does a Pine Creek Pass permit cover Italy Pass?
No. Inyo states the Pine Creek Pass trail does not include Italy Pass or Morgan Lakes, and that trips going toward Gable Lakes or Italy Pass are a different reservation.
Where can I have a campfire on the Pine Creek Pass trail?
Nowhere above the wilderness boundary in Pine Creek Canyon, and nowhere above 10,000 feet. Carry a stove.
What are the main destinations from Pine Creek Pass?
Inyo names French Canyon, Royce Lakes and Humphreys Basin as popular choices beyond the pass, along with the Pine Lakes on the climb.
Pine Creek Pass (JMT) trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Pine Creek Pass (JMT) permit
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Piute Pass (North Lake)
The short way into Humphreys Basin from North Lake above Bishop.
Tradeoffs
Much less mileage to the same basin, and correspondingly harder to reserve.
- Same AreaPermit required
Italy Pass (Pine Creek)
The other route out of Pine Creek canyon, toward Italy Pass and Granite Park.
Tradeoffs
A separate reservation from the same trailhead, with rougher trail beyond the lakes.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Bishop Pass -South Lake
The short, popular crossing into Dusy Basin and LeConte Canyon.
Tradeoffs
A far shorter approach to the JMT, but among the most contested Inyo trailheads.
Where to stay near Pine Creek Pass (JMT)
- Pleasant Valley Pit CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Horton Creek CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Four Jeffrey campgroundInyo National Forest
- All California campgrounds
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