Water availability on the trail

imported
#1

Does anyone have any current information on water availability on the JMT trail from Reds to Whitney Portal? Is there any sections that one should be concerned with? Have any streams dried up where water would normally be available?

Thanks.

Gary

#2

I haven’t been up there yet this year but I’ve talked with lot of people who have and you shouldn’t have a problem. Even in a dry year like this there probably won’t be any dry stretches for more than 8-12 miles or so.

ducky

#3

I am starting on Monday the 11th - what stretches are typically the dry ones that I should have my bottles topped off before starting?

Thanks!

-martin

OregonBeerMan

#4

Water Availability
With the significantly below average snow pack this year water availability has become a concern as we enter the end of summer. Many creeks, but small and large, but certainly not all, have dried up. Most of the larger and more significant creeks still have water available. Please check your route before your trip and plan your camping site appropriately. Be prepared to hike a short distance either up or down stream of a crossing to find water.

Yosemite Creek has pools of water in it.
Sunrise High Sierra Camp has water, though it will probably be dry by mid-August
Rafferty Creek is dry.

Water Availability - North End

Cold Canyon Creek is dry.
Spiller Creek is down to just pools.
Other significant creeks have flowing water, though they are low.

Water Availability - South End

Streams are very low or dry; do not rely on streams in this area anymore this year.
Givens Creek is dry.
South Fork of the Merced in some places has only pools of water, otherwise it is a trickle
Buck Creek is a trickle with pools
There is no reliable water from top of Chilnualna Falls to Crescent Lake though some of the creek crossings have pockets of water in them.
From Chilnualna Lakes to the west has no water sources.
Ottoway creek is has flowing water.
No water is flowing from Upper and Lower Merced Pass lakes.

Sorry don’t know about the rest of the JMT

AlohaTink

#5

The longest stretch without a reliable water source is roughly 5ish miles between Deer Creek and Duck Creek. Otherwise, there will be plenty of water sources along the trail.

Lisa