Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Shepherd Pass (JMT)
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Shepherd Pass (JMT) in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Shepherd 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 Shepherd Pass (JMT) were gone within 10 minutes.
Shepherd Pass (JMT) reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Shepherd Pass (JMT) permit
As of September 2026, Shepherd Pass (JMT) in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Shepherd Pass (JMT) is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Shepherd Pass (JMT) permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Shepherd 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.
Shepherd Pass (JMT) pro tips
- Be fit and start early: that is Inyo's own advice for this pass
- Carry an axe unless you have a current report saying the pass is clear
- Anvil Camp is the last sheltered ground, so plan to sleep there rather than push the headwall late
- No fires at Anvil Camp or above 10,400 feet, so a stove is not optional
- The two-week release adds permits on top of the six-month window. Set an alert for both
More on Shepherd Pass (JMT): Live availability activityWhen Shepherd Pass (JMT) permits open up
How much a Shepherd Pass (JMT) permit costs
Shepherd Pass (JMT) permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
The Shepherd Pass (JMT) hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 3-6 days
- Difficulty
- Expert
Shepherd Pass (JMT) landmarks
- 1Symmes Creek trailhead
Start of the climb, west of Independence. Multiple creek crossings early.
- 2Anvil Camp
The last sheltered camp below the pass. No campfires here, per the permit conditions.
- 3Shepherd Pass
Inyo's stated crest elevation. A steep snow bank lingers year-round in many years.
- 4Tyndall Creek John Muir Trail junction
Where the descent into Sequoia and Kings Canyon meets the JMT.
A demanding 6,000 feet from the valley floor to a 12,000-foot pass that keeps a steep snow bank at the top in many years, all summer long.
About this permit
Shepherd Pass is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point west of Independence, climbing from Symmes Creek over the Sierra crest into Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The permit reserves your entry trailhead and entry date.
Inyo's quota season runs May 1 to November 1 in 2026, with reservations opening six months ahead at 7 am Pacific and additional permits released two weeks in advance. Outside that window the trailhead is non-quota and bookable up to two weeks ahead.
This is one of the hardest maintained approaches on the east side. Inyo describes a demanding 6,000-foot climb to a 12,000-foot pass, warns that a large steep snow bank lingers year-round at the top in many years, and says it may be impassable to stock.
The route
From Symmes Creek the trail climbs steadily toward Anvil Camp, the last sheltered ground before the pass. Inyo's advice is plain: it pays to be fit and start early for this pass.
At the top the trail crosses the Sierra Crest at about 12,000 feet. Inyo notes that in many years a large steep snow bank lingers year-round at the top of this challenging pass and may be impassable to stock. Parties should plan for snow at the crest regardless of the calendar.
Over the pass the trail descends into Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and continues to the Tyndall Creek junction with the John Muir Trail, which opens the whole Whitney and Kern country.
Why it matters
Shepherd Pass is the back door to the Mount Williamson and Tyndall country and one of the few eastside routes that puts you on the John Muir Trail deep in the southern Sierra. Inyo National Forest describes it starting along Symmes Creek and climbing a demanding 6,000 feet from the valley floor to the 12,000-foot Shepherd Pass where it crosses the Sierra Crest, then descending into Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to the Tyndall Creek junction of the John Muir Trail.
The feeling
The trail earns its reputation in the first hours, crossing Symmes Creek several times and then climbing a set of switchbacks that gains a thousand feet only to give some of it back. Above Anvil Camp the world turns to talus and the pass sits there, unreasonably high, for hours before you reach it.
Shepherd Pass (JMT) hike highlights
- About 6,000 feet of climbing from the valley floor to a 12,000-foot pass, per Inyo
- Several Symmes Creek crossings in the first miles
- A snow bank at the pass that lingers year-round in many years
- A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
- A descent into Sequoia and Kings Canyon to the Tyndall Creek JMT junction
How hard the Shepherd Pass (JMT) hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required5/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills3/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential4/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route5/5
Best for: Strong, acclimatized parties heading for Mount Tyndall, Mount Williamson or a southern JMT connection.
Recommended experience: Prior 12,000-foot travel, comfort on steep snow with an axe, and a sustained 5,000-foot climb with a pack.
Not recommended for: Stock parties, first-time high-altitude backpackers, and anyone without snow travel skills.
When to hike Shepherd Pass (JMT)
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. August and September are the most reliable for the pass, and even then Inyo says the snow bank can persist. Early season means snow travel on a steep, exposed slope.
- Peak
- August and September
- Shoulder
- July and early October
Summer
Hot low down, snow possible at the crest all season, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Longest daylight for a very long approach day
- Advantage: Access to the Tyndall and Williamson country
- Advantage: Permits usually available
- Challenge: Heat on the lower switchbacks
- Challenge: The pass snow bank
- Challenge: Storms above treeline
Fall
Cold and stable, with the quota season running to November 1.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Cool climbing weather
- Advantage: Firm snow at the pass rather than slush
- Advantage: Empty trail
- Challenge: Short days on a 6,000-foot climb
- Challenge: Deep overnight cold at 11,000 feet
- Challenge: Early storms close the window quickly
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°
Shepherd Pass (JMT) photography guide
Golden Hour
Dawn on Mount Williamson from the upper switchbacks, before the sun clears the crest.
Best Light
Afternoon from the pass looking west across the Kern plateau toward the Great Western Divide.
Beat the Crowds
Solitude is the default here. The only busy ground is the JMT itself past Tyndall Creek.
Classic Shots
- The Owens Valley from the Symmes Creek switchbacks
- Anvil Camp with the headwall above
- The snow bank at Shepherd Pass, which is the trip's signature obstacle
Shepherd Pass (JMT) rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup where containers are not required
- An ice axe and the skill to use it if there is snow at the pass
- A stove, since fires are prohibited at Anvil Camp and above 10,400 feet
- Large water capacity for the long dry stretches on the climb
- Trekking poles for the descent
Rules & regulations
- 01No campfires at Anvil Camp, and no 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
- 04John Muir Wilderness regulations apply on the east side
- 05Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness regulations apply once you enter the parks, including no pets, no bear spray, and a group size limit of 8 for the Sphinx Creek and Brewer Range area
Hazards & considerations
- The year-round snow bank at the top of the pass, which Inyo calls out specifically
- 6,000 feet of climbing in a single approach, well ahead of most acclimatization
- Symmes Creek crossings during runoff
- Afternoon thunderstorms above treeline with no shelter between Anvil Camp and the pass
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Shepherd Pass (JMT).
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Shepherd Pass (JMT) · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Shepherd Pass (JMT) FAQ
How much elevation does the Shepherd Pass trail gain?
Inyo National Forest describes a demanding 6,000 feet from the valley floor to the 12,000-foot Shepherd Pass, starting along Symmes Creek.
Is there snow at Shepherd Pass in summer?
Often. Inyo states that in many years a large steep snow bank lingers year-round at the top of this challenging pass and may be impassable to stock. Plan for snow travel even in August.
Can I take stock over Shepherd Pass?
Inyo warns the pass may be impassable to stock because of the lingering snow bank. Check current conditions with the forest before committing a stock party.
Where does the Shepherd Pass trail meet the John Muir Trail?
It descends into Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and continues to the Tyndall Creek junction of the John Muir Trail.
Shepherd Pass (JMT) trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions(1)
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Shepherd Pass (JMT) permit
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Baxter Pass
Another 6,000-foot eastside climb to the crest and the JMT, north of Shepherd.
Tradeoffs
Similar effort and similar solitude, landing you nearer the Rae Lakes country instead of Tyndall Creek.
- Same AreaPermit required
Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit
The exit-quota permit for parties descending the Mt. Whitney trail to Whitney Portal Road.
Tradeoffs
Only relevant if you finish over Trail Crest, and it carries the Mt. Whitney fee and pack-out requirement.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Cottonwood Pass
A far gentler crest crossing from Horseshoe Meadows into the Golden Trout Wilderness and on to the PCT.
Tradeoffs
Much less climbing and a higher trailhead, but a longer walk to reach the same southern Sierra country.
Where to stay near Shepherd Pass (JMT)
- Pleasant Valley Pit CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Horton Creek CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Four Jeffrey campgroundInyo National Forest
- All California campgrounds
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