Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Taboose Pass (JMT)
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Taboose Pass (JMT) in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Taboose 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 Taboose Pass (JMT) were gone within 10 minutes.
Taboose Pass (JMT) reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Taboose Pass (JMT) permit
As of September 2026, Taboose Pass (JMT) in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Taboose Pass (JMT) is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Taboose Pass (JMT) permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Taboose 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.
Taboose Pass (JMT) pro tips
- Start at 3 or 4 in the morning in summer, because the canyon has no shade at any hour
- Carry more water than you think, since the lower canyon is dry
- Avoid the climb during or right after rain, given the standing rock fall warning
- September is the month for this pass, not July
- If Kearsarge and Bishop Pass are gone, this one almost never is
More on Taboose Pass (JMT): Live availability activityWhen Taboose Pass (JMT) permits open up
How much a Taboose Pass (JMT) permit costs
Taboose Pass (JMT) permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
The Taboose Pass (JMT) hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 3-5 days
- Difficulty
- Expert
Taboose Pass (JMT) landmarks
- 1Taboose Creek trailhead
On the Owens Valley floor in sage. No shade.
- 2Taboose Pass
Inyo's distance and elevation. Between Cardinal Mountain and Goodale Mountain.
- 3South Fork Kings River headwaters
Where the trail joins the John Muir Trail, south of Mather Pass.
More than 6,000 feet of climbing in 6.5 miles, from Owens Valley sage to an 11,350-foot pass. The steepest sustained grade to the John Muir Trail.
About this permit
Taboose Pass is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point on the Owens Valley floor south of Big Pine, climbing Taboose Creek Canyon to the Sierra crest and the John Muir Trail.
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's own figures make the case: more than 6,000 feet of climbing in 6.5 miles to an 11,350-foot pass. The forest also warns that hazards remain from the 2019 wildfire, including potential rock fall and unstable terrain during rain or snowmelt.
The route
The trail climbs Taboose Creek Canyon from the Owens Valley floor. Inyo's numbers are the whole story: more than 6,000 feet in 6.5 miles.
Over 11,350-foot Taboose Pass the trail enters Kings Canyon National Park and joins the John Muir Trail at the headwaters of the South Fork of the Kings River, south of Mather Pass. That places you deep in the JMT's best stretch with a single, brutal day of walking.
Inyo carries a standing warning for this canyon: many hazards remain in this area from the 2019 wildfire including potential rock fall, and hikers should beware of unstable terrain especially during rain events or snow melt. The trail is not recommended for stock.
Why it matters
Inyo National Forest describes the trail beginning in the sage environment of the Owens Valley with a strenuous climb of more than 6,000 feet in 6.5 miles up Taboose Creek Canyon, crossing 11,350-foot Taboose Pass between Cardinal Mountain and Goodale Mountain and entering Kings Canyon National Park to join the John Muir Trail at the headwaters of the South Fork of the Kings River, south of Mather Pass.
The feeling
Nothing on the east side is steeper for as long. You start in sagebrush at desert temperature and finish in alpine tundra on the same day, watching several biologic zones go past in a few hours of relentless climbing.
Taboose Pass (JMT) hike highlights
- More than 6,000 feet of climbing in 6.5 miles, per Inyo
- An 11,350-foot pass between Cardinal Mountain and Goodale Mountain
- A John Muir Trail junction at the headwaters of the South Fork Kings River, south of Mather Pass
- Standing wildfire hazards from 2019, including rock fall and unstable terrain
- A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
How hard the Taboose 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 who want the fastest line to the southern John Muir Trail and do not mind paying for it.
Recommended experience: Prior 6,000-foot climbing days and comfort at 11,000 feet.
Not recommended for: Stock parties, first-time Sierra backpackers, and anyone hiking in midsummer heat.
When to hike Taboose Pass (JMT)
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. September and early October are the sane months here, when the canyon is cool enough to climb. Midsummer afternoons on this slope are punishing.
- Peak
- September
- Shoulder
- Late August and early October
Summer
Very hot in the canyon, clear at the pass, afternoon storms.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Long days for a 6.5-mile, 6,000-foot climb
- Advantage: Direct access to the best stretch of the John Muir Trail
- Advantage: Permits nearly always available
- Challenge: Serious heat risk on an unshaded east-facing climb
- Challenge: Rock fall hazard after storms
- Challenge: No water low in the canyon
Fall
Cool and stable, with the quota season running to November 1.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: The only comfortable time to climb this canyon
- Advantage: Stable weather
- Advantage: Empty trail
- Challenge: Short days for a very long climb
- Challenge: Hard freezes at the pass
- Challenge: Early snow closes it out
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°
Taboose Pass (JMT) photography guide
Golden Hour
First light on the Owens Valley from partway up the canyon, with the White Mountains opposite.
Best Light
Late afternoon from the pass looking west toward the Kings River headwaters.
Beat the Crowds
You will likely not see another party until the John Muir Trail.
Classic Shots
- The Owens Valley dropping away below the switchbacks
- Cardinal Mountain from the upper canyon
- The Kings River basin from Taboose Pass
Taboose Pass (JMT) rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup
- Four or more litres of water capacity for a hot, exposed climb
- A stove, since fires are banned along the creek and above 10,400 feet
- A helmet is worth considering given the standing rock fall warning
- Trekking poles for the descent
Rules & regulations
- 01No campfires above 10,400 feet or along Taboose Creek
- 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
- 03This trail is not recommended for stock
- 04Maximum group size is 15
- 05John Muir Wilderness regulations apply, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon regulations apply once you enter the park, including no pets and no bear spray
Hazards & considerations
- Rock fall and unstable terrain left by the 2019 wildfire, which Inyo warns about specifically
- Extreme heat low in the canyon, with no shade
- More than 6,000 feet of gain in a single day for most parties
- Storms at the pass with no shelter
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Taboose Pass (JMT).
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Taboose Pass (JMT) · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Taboose Pass (JMT) FAQ
How much elevation does the Taboose Pass trail gain?
Inyo National Forest describes a strenuous climb of more than 6,000 feet in 6.5 miles up Taboose Creek Canyon to the 11,350-foot pass.
Is the Taboose Pass trail safe after the 2019 wildfire?
Inyo warns that many hazards remain in this area from the 2019 wildfire, including potential rock fall, and asks hikers to beware of unstable terrain especially during rain events or snow melt.
Where does the Taboose Pass trail meet the John Muir Trail?
Inyo says it enters Kings Canyon National Park and joins the John Muir Trail at the headwaters of the South Fork of the Kings River, south of Mather Pass.
Can I take stock over Taboose Pass?
Inyo states this trail is not recommended for stock.
Taboose Pass (JMT) trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Taboose Pass (JMT).
Trip Reports
Write ReportNo trip reports yet
Be the first to share your experience at Taboose Pass (JMT).
Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Taboose Pass (JMT) permit
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Sawmill Pass
The next pass south, another huge climb from the valley floor to the Woods Creek country.
Tradeoffs
Even more climbing at more than 6,700 feet, with the same shadeless start.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Bishop Pass -South Lake
A short, high-trailhead crossing to Dusy Basin and LeConte Canyon.
Tradeoffs
A fraction of the climbing, and much harder to reserve.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Baxter Pass
Another 6,000-foot eastside climb, to the Rae Lakes side of the crest.
Tradeoffs
Similar difficulty and similar emptiness, on a longer approach to the JMT.
Where to stay near Taboose Pass (JMT)
- Pleasant Valley Pit CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Horton Creek CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Four Jeffrey campgroundInyo National Forest
- All California campgrounds
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
No permit needed to start
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Takes less than a minute.