JMT Permit Reservation - Which Trailhead?

imported
#1

I went to fillout the online reservation information and they had 3 trailheads listed for Happy Isles. I wasn’t sure which one to pick. Here they are:

Illilouette
Little Yosemite Valley
Sunrise/Merced Lake

I would like to start at the start of the JMT. Looking on a map, Illilouette appears to be the closest and that is what I made my reservation for. Please let me know if this is wrong so I can change it.

Thanks,
Bob

Bob

#2

The formatting got messed up above, so just to clarify, this is the list:

  1. Illilouette
  2. Little Yosemite Valley
  3. Sunrise/Merced Lake

Bob

Bob

#3

There is only one Happy Isles, but there are multiple destinations from Happy Isles, each with its own separate permit quota. I don’t have a map in front of me, but I don’t think Illilouette is correct. While you start at the same place, I think the Illilouette trail takes you past Illilouette Falls and eventually up to Glacier Point. Little Yosemite Valley is the right option if you plan to camp there your first night to get acclimated. Many JMT hikers continue on to Sunrise High Sierra Camp, option 3 (also known as the Sunrise/Merced Lake pass through). As long as you plan to camp at least a half mile or mile beyond Little Yosemite Valley, option 3 is the one you should choose.

Kanga

#4

I agree with Kanga - the Sunrise/Merced Lake pass through is the one I have always booked. It isn’t very clear on the reservation form due to the many possible destinations from the trailhead but the valley wilderness office would give you Sunrise/Merced permit if you asked for the JMT.

Phil B

#5

I’d never used the reservation system before so I didn’t understand what all the options were for. Thanks, I’ve changed my reservation.

Bob