Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Sawmill Pass (JMT)
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Sawmill Pass (JMT) in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Sawmill 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 Sawmill Pass (JMT) were gone within 10 minutes.
Sawmill Pass (JMT) reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Sawmill Pass (JMT) permit
As of September 2026, Sawmill Pass (JMT) in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Sawmill Pass (JMT) is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Sawmill Pass (JMT) permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Sawmill 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.
Sawmill Pass (JMT) pro tips
- Climb at night or before dawn in summer, because Inyo's heat warning is not decoration
- Carry every litre you can manage for the first few miles
- Late September and October are the right months for this canyon
- Kings Canyon caps off-trail groups at eight for Sixty Lakes and Gardiner Basin
- If Baxter Pass is taken, this is the next door along
More on Sawmill Pass (JMT): Live availability activityWhen Sawmill Pass (JMT) permits open up
How much a Sawmill Pass (JMT) permit costs
Sawmill Pass (JMT) permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
The Sawmill Pass (JMT) hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 3-5 days
- Difficulty
- Expert
Sawmill Pass (JMT) landmarks
- 1Division Creek trailhead
On the Owens Valley side. No water and no shade here or for the first few miles.
- 2Sawmill Pass
The crest, more than 6,700 feet above the trailhead per Inyo.
- 3Woods Creek
The Kings Canyon destination beyond the pass, on the John Muir Trail.
More than 6,700 feet to the crest, with no water and no shade for the first few miles. Inyo says outright that it may be extremely hot.
About this permit
Sawmill Pass is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point near Division Creek, climbing from the Owens Valley to the Sierra crest and down to the Woods Creek area of Kings Canyon National Park.
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 describes it as steep and strenuous, with more than 6,700 feet of climbing to the crest, no water or shade at the trailhead or along the first few miles, and a route that may be extremely hot during summer and early autumn.
The route
The trail starts near Division Creek on the Owens Valley side and climbs more than 6,700 feet to the Sierra Crest at Sawmill Pass.
Over the crest it drops toward the Woods Creek area of Kings Canyon National Park, which connects to the John Muir Trail and the Rae Lakes country from the north.
Inyo's practical warning is about water and heat rather than technical difficulty. There is no water or shade at the trailhead or along the first few miles, and campfires are prohibited above 10,400 feet.
Why it matters
Sawmill Pass is the hardest of the eastside climbs to the Woods Creek country. Inyo National Forest calls the trail steep and strenuous, starting near Division Creek and climbing more than 6,700 feet to reach the Sierra Crest, then going to the Woods Creek area of Kings Canyon National Park.
The feeling
The first miles are the problem: Inyo says there is no water or shade at the trailhead or along the first few miles, and that the route may be extremely hot during summer and early autumn. Everyone who does this trail talks about that section. Above it the canyon turns beautiful and empty.
Sawmill Pass (JMT) hike highlights
- More than 6,700 feet of climbing to the Sierra crest, per Inyo
- No water or shade at the trailhead or along the first few miles
- Conditions Inyo describes as potentially extremely hot in summer and early autumn
- A descent to the Woods Creek area of Kings Canyon and the John Muir Trail
- A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
How hard the Sawmill Pass (JMT) hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required5/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential4/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5
Best for: Very fit, acclimatized parties heading for Woods Creek, Sixty Lakes or the northern Rae Lakes country.
Recommended experience: Prior 6,000-foot climbing days and real heat management experience.
Not recommended for: Anyone hiking in midsummer heat, and any party without the water capacity for a dry climb.
When to hike Sawmill Pass (JMT)
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. Late September and October are the sensible months, when the lower canyon is cool. Inyo specifically warns the route may be extremely hot in summer and early autumn.
- Peak
- Late September and October
- Shoulder
- Early September
Summer
Extremely hot low down, clear at the pass, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Long days for a huge climb
- Advantage: Access to the Woods Creek and Sixty Lakes country
- Advantage: Permits nearly always available
- Challenge: Inyo's own heat warning applies
- Challenge: No water for the first few miles
- Challenge: No shade anywhere low
Fall
Cooler and stable, though Inyo's heat warning extends into early autumn. Quota season to November 1.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: The only comfortable window for this canyon
- Advantage: Empty trail
- Advantage: Stable weather
- Challenge: Short days for a very long climb
- Challenge: Hard freezes at the crest
- Challenge: Early snow ends the season
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°
Sawmill Pass (JMT) photography guide
Golden Hour
Dawn over the Inyo Mountains from the lower switchbacks, before the heat arrives.
Best Light
Evening from the crest looking west into the Woods Creek drainage.
Beat the Crowds
This is one of the emptiest trails in the range. The company starts at the John Muir Trail.
Classic Shots
- The Owens Valley from the shadeless lower canyon
- Sawmill Lake below the pass
- The Kings Canyon backcountry from the crest
Sawmill Pass (JMT) rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup
- Four or more litres of water capacity, because there is none low on the trail
- A stove, since fires are banned above 10,400 feet
- Sun protection for a completely unshaded lower canyon
- Trekking poles
Rules & regulations
- 01Campfires are prohibited 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
- 04John Muir Wilderness regulations apply, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon regulations apply once you enter the park, including no pets, no bear spray, and a group size limit of eight for the Sixty Lakes and Gardiner Basin areas
Hazards & considerations
- Heat and dehydration low on the trail, which Inyo flags directly
- More than 6,700 feet of gain, the biggest single climb of the eastside passes
- Afternoon storms on an exposed crest
- Snow at the pass into early summer
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Sawmill Pass (JMT).
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Sawmill Pass (JMT) · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Sawmill Pass (JMT) FAQ
How much elevation does the Sawmill Pass trail gain?
Inyo National Forest says the trail climbs more than 6,700 feet from near Division Creek to the Sierra Crest.
Is there water on the lower Sawmill Pass trail?
No. Inyo states there is no water or shade at the trailhead or along the first few miles, and that the route may be extremely hot during summer and early autumn.
Where does the Sawmill Pass trail lead?
Over the Sierra Crest to the Woods Creek area of Kings Canyon National Park, which connects to the John Muir Trail.
Are campfires allowed on the Sawmill Pass trail?
Not above 10,400 feet. Below that, John Muir Wilderness rules apply.
Sawmill Pass (JMT) trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Sawmill Pass (JMT) permit
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Baxter Pass
The neighbouring eastside climb, more than 6,000 feet to the crest and 13 miles to the JMT.
Tradeoffs
Slightly less climbing and a clearer mileage to the trail, in similar solitude.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Taboose Pass
More than 6,000 feet in 6.5 miles to an 11,350-foot pass, north of Sawmill.
Tradeoffs
Steeper per mile, with standing 2019 fire hazards on the ground.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Kearsarge Pass
The standard high-trailhead crossing from Onion Valley into the same country.
Tradeoffs
Vastly less climbing, and the most contested Inyo permit there is.
Where to stay near Sawmill Pass (JMT)
- Pleasant Valley Pit CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Horton Creek CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Four Jeffrey campgroundInyo National Forest
- All California campgrounds
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