Permits (N-S) - John Muir Trail

imported
#1

Am planning to do the JMT solo this summer and have noted that all the reserved permits out of YV during peak season are long gone (the only way to get a permit is a walk-up).

Right now, my plan is to arrive in YV on the last Tuesday in July on the YARTS bus (which is supposed to arrive at around 11 a.m.). At that time of the year (literally the height of the season), I suspect that my chances for getting a permit for that same day are slim to none (even as a solo JMTer coming in at mid-week), but am going to try anyway. Assuming I don’t get a permit, how early do I have to get to the permit station to have a good shot at getting a permit the next day (or do I have to even come early the next day if I was there the day before? i.e., does it count that I got there the day before or is it “first come-first served” on the day they issue the permits)? I’m flexible and am willing to take either of the Happy Isles permits (LYV or Sunrise pass through) or the Glacier Point/Panorama Trail permit.

Also, if I don’t get a permit the first day, am I allowed to stay in the backpackers’ campground in YV (or will I need to get a “placeholder” permit to a less popular trailhead and then, hopefully, trade it in for a permit for the JMT)? And will they let you stay in the YV backpackers’ campground for a couple of days if you have to wait that long to get a permit?

Thirtysomething_Hiker

#2

I don’t think you need to worry too much. They usually hold back 40% of the permits for walk-in’s.
You may have to start or choose one of the lesser popular starts is all.

Go early and you must have a permit the day BEFORE your hike. So you will have to camp somewhere, and the permit allows you access to the backpackers campground the day before…only it is not free it is $5 per person. Staying more than one day will be hard…but one never knows…all depends on the Park Ranger…the rules say only one day before your hike and one day after your hike.

Really…a lot of hikers are no shows etc…I think you will be fine. Call as well…I noticed it was all full on the web site in advance??? :rolleyes So I called anyways and got our permit with no problems. It was NOT full as yet…even though the date I picked said…No more available.

AlohaTink

#3

Can someone confirm the accuracy/inaccuracy of that comment in the above post??

Doug

#4

There’s no policy that you have to have it the day before. They start issuing the walk-in permits for the next day when they open in the morning. So if you get there a little before they open up in the morning, the worst you can expect is to get a permit for the next day. However, it’s possible that at the time you get there someone will have cancelled or changed their permit, or not all the walk-ins midweek will have been claimed. I don’t think that showing up later in the day helps you “placehold” for a permit that can’t be issued until the next day though.

Just check it out when you get there, and maybe they’ll have one ready for you. (That’s what happened to us, August, mid-week, 2 people.) If not, they’ll tell you to come at ?AM the next day to get your permit for the day after. They won’t kick you out of backpackers camp, because 1st night you’re waiting for a permit, and the next night you HAVE a permit.

markv

#5

I did the same thing last year expect it was at a higher peak time (Mid July and on a Saturday) I got to the permit office in YV at 6:00 AM and was the first in line. I figured that I would only be able to get a permit to start on Sunday, but I actually got one for that same day.

Mike O.

#6

Okay more detail…if you have a reservation you must pick up your permit the day before or the day of before 10 am or lose it!

We tried to get another permit for a different trail on the same day we did but were not allowed to start the trail till the next day…so could be another one of those…who helps you things:oh

AlohaTink

#7

Per the geneeral info section of my confirmation letter, you can call “No more than two days in advance” and request your permit be held, but it will still only be good for that day.

That is what I plan to do since we will be arriving via the Yarts bus that morning and I don’t want to take any chances on being late.

Also, as a backup, I reserved a permit for the next day. Didn’t get it for Happy Isles (didn’t expect to), but did get it for Lyell Canyon which is accessible via the eastbound Yarts bus.

Doug

#8

I told the reservation people I would not make it by 10 am. They put a hold on it until 5 pm that day. I got there at noon and got my permit. So the comment above that you loose it by 10 am is only true if you don’t ask the reservation people to hold it for you.

Jim

#9

I did the exact same thing you’re doing last year (showed up last Sunday in July), and had the same concerns about where to stay that first night in the valley w/o a permit. If you keep your ticket/reciept from the bus you can legally stay one night in the backpackers campground for one night. After that you need to either sucessfully get a permit (so you can stay in the backpackers camp one more night) or move over to camp 4 (fills up by 9 or 10).

For what it’s worth, when I showed up at the wilderness office that Sunday afternoon, I was able to get 2 permits for the next morning.

eric