This is so incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for putting this content out there. Since the change in the permit process kicks in this summer, this is the only source I've seen that really spells things out. I'm hoping to go southbound with my daughter this summer. Hopefully we can score some permits. Thanks again.
I followed your instructions and I just received an email indicating that I'd won a permit! On my second attempt, too! Thanks again. Now I'm keeping my trekking poles crossed and hoping my luck extends to a permit for an overnight up/down Mt. Whitney.
Thank you so much for this video. After watching many videos on how to get a JMT permit, this is THE ONLY ONE that gives information without ALL THE PERSONAL NOISE AND CHATTER dialogue. Just the nuts and bolts of the process in the process. (And no annoying music-thank you)
Great video. I just went through this process for the North Lake/South Lake Loop. As for campsites at 12:27, I just randomly chose some sites. I was stopped twice by very friendly rangers asking to see the permit. They could care less about camp site selection. I'm hoping to through hike the JMT next year. Thanks again and your instructions were spot on and exactly the process I went through for the 6 day/5 night loop.
I won! I can't believe it but I won! Happy Isles here I come! Thanks again Jon I came back to your video for the portion about claiming my permit after winning the lottery. So your video was helpful twice.
@@jonallenoutside Well, as life often goes, things have gone wrong with my hopes of hiking the JMT starting August 2nd. My original hiking partner had to bail on me, and now a lady l have recently met who at first thought she could go with me now says she is worried that she is not up to a through hike of the JMT has also opted out. Sooo, after being so fortunate to win a permit on my first try...I too will opt out until next year when l will begin to apply for a another JMT permit. :(
Jon, I wish you hadn’t removed your other video on “How to hike the John Muir Trail without using the lottery system”. It was a great video that I found very useful!
Very helpful info. Wasn't a trail I had ever thought about hiking, but now I'm really interested in doing the JMT. Have a wonderful Christmas and a great 2022 to you and your family 👍
Thanks for a great video explaining this new permit system! I did a walkup permit for next day start from tuolumne meadows in 2016. It was only way I could get in due to time and no lottery wins.
Thanks Jon!! Awesome giving us the tips for the new way to apply and for some side tips as well....I just will have to watch this again come February when I actually make the application.
Thank you for this very informative video! It is easy to follow and lays everything out clearly. As someone who’s applied with no success in the past, I’m still really hopeful for next year!
I just got accepted for a June 6 departure. I accepted, hoping to get a better date next week. This is better than my prior, May 29 date, which I will cancel once my new one is accepted. I have been watching the weather channel and would not be surprised if some part of the trail are under 10' of snow by now.
Thank you. This is the best information out there. Great job. Because of you and your blog I have was awarded a permit for JMT in July of 2022. Out of Happy Isles. With out your video this never would have happened for me. Would you have any information on resupply at Onion Valley trail head parking lot bear boxes. I watch a video of hikers picking up their resupply buckets there
Thank you! Unfortunately I have not resupplied at Onion Valley and don’t know the details. However, I’m sure someone on the JMT Facebook group would know the answer.
It appears the site has already progressed a week, making it impossible to get my second permit before leaving. I don't think I can accurately predict when I will be done. Hence, I will hope for a walkup permit a few days in advance so I can complete the whole trail in one shot.
You made my day 💕 English is my second language and was about to give up. You made it possible for me to fill the application. Gracias amigo💛💛💛 Can you make for the Grand Canyon 🙏
@@jonallenoutside For the Nov 9 PCTA permit lottery, there wasn’t any permits left once I got in. So I’ll try again during the Jan lottery. IF that is unsuccessful, then I’m going to look at what it takes to acquire all the separate permits needed for a thru-hike. BTW, your PCTA video was very helpful in preparation for the lottery date.
Golden information! Thank you! I'm thinking of getting a walk-up permit at Happy Isles. What can you tell me about the likelihood of that? I'm guessing that the permits that don't get picked up by 10am are up for grabs at 11?
There are permits reserved specifically for walk ups. I got one from Tuolumne Meadows in 2018 showing up at 10:30 a.m. but that was a unique situation due to the wildfires in Yosemite. I think it will vary a lot from day to day and being there early is a good idea.
This first-night-only thing seems incorrect, maybe it works for coming out of YNP. But I'm planning to get onto the JMT by starting up Rush Creek, an easier permit to get, and I twice timed out because I couldn't complete the daily camping form in the allotted 15 minutes.
I don't believe that getting the Half Dome add-on to your permit will change the fact that you can't camp at LYV the first night. As long as you camp past the Half Dome turn-off you are legal, which may even be less walking than backtracking to LYV after you finish Half Dome. Either way, starting at Happy Isles and going all the way up Half Dome in one day would be a long day with all that climbing.
Hi John!! I followed your steps and applied for my permit today. Question Do I have to repeat the process each week until I get the permit? Thank You so much. I started following you. You have been a great help.
This is a terrific step-by-step guide! Thanks so much. If you win the lottery for four permits and one of the four can't start on the official starting date, can that person join the other three somewhere past Donahue Pass or do all four people have to start on the same day? Also, if one of the original three has to hop off trail after Donahue Pass for a work commitment, can that person start back up where they left off a few weeks later?
You may want to call a ranger and ask these questions because I don't see them addressed specifically in the regs. My hunch is that it would not be allowed, but they may be willing to go with it.
So I just apply for leaving Yosemite valley from happy isles (in my case since I'm three months late, so I'm walking up), then saying I'm exiting from mount Whitney and it's all good if I get it? I was under the impression that there were many permits. Thanks! This video has helped clear most of my confusion :)
Hey Jon-Great video with excellent advice! Thank you! Also, just thinking about the odds of getting a walk up permit at Happy Isles. Do they hand them out in the order of arrival?
Thank you for a very informative video. In the past there is been an option to request a larger group size but specify that you are willing to accept fewer slots if there are not enough available for your initial request. Has this option been eliminated?
As long as you don’t go over Donahue Pass you can skip the SOBO lottery. For example, get a permit for the Rush Creek trailhead and hike to the JMT south of Donahue.
Hello, thank you for this helpful video. If starting from Lyell Canyon TH, where would you recommended camping the first night if trying to go 8-12 miles the first day?
Thanks man! I was going nuts trying to figure this out! BIG question!!! I WON the lottery but my trailhead is Illilouette. Does that mean they gave me a permit for a trailhead I can't use? I have until tomorrow to decide. Not sure what to do. Drat!
Can you make a video about walk up permit. If I arrive in Yosemite at 8:30 pm, can I sleep in front of the visitor centre. If there is less than 6 persons. Am I then guaranteed a permit. What are the hours of the centre.
After trial and error, I figured out that all the text in the Comments field cannot have any returns (Enters) in it. Otherwise, you will get an odd looking error. You also need to tell a bit more about your first night campsite than the name. Good luck!
People have done it, but it’s a very tough hike to do in one day. I did it over three days and two nights as a separately permitted hike the year after I did the JMT. The permit was easy to get.
I’m not aware of any limit on group size (aside from total permits available on a given day) but as group size goes up, your chance of winning goes down.
Update: I re-applied and got picked for a June 19 date from Lyell. That may still be early for me so I entered the lotter again, this time w/ 8 entries, hoping to get a start date between June 26-July 2. Instead of submitting 2 date ranges (one from each start point), I entered 8 date ranges (5 from Happy Isles and 3 from Lyell), hoping to get picked again. Something tells me my luck is about to run out. 😉
If you are referring to my example, I just did that for purposes of this video and then immediately cancelled the permit. It would be highly dangerous to attempt the JMT in April.
@@jonallenoutside oh ok, thanks for clarifying that. Just as I suspected. But if i can ask your opinion on when is the earliest "safe" date to start the JMT or backpack a few nights in the high sierras?
@@solukhumbu911 That varies every year based on snowpack and weather. Bear in mind the weather can change quickly. In most years you can avoid snow with a start date in late July or early August.
This is the best permit video I’ve watched! Crystal clear explanations.
Thank you! Best of luck if you apply for a permit.
This is so incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for putting this content out there. Since the change in the permit process kicks in this summer, this is the only source I've seen that really spells things out. I'm hoping to go southbound with my daughter this summer. Hopefully we can score some permits. Thanks again.
Just got my permit today. Your video helped me navigate the acceptance procedures. Thanks
Congrats! Enjoy the epic adventure!
I followed your instructions and I just received an email indicating that I'd won a permit! On my second attempt, too! Thanks again. Now I'm keeping my trekking poles crossed and hoping my luck extends to a permit for an overnight up/down Mt. Whitney.
Wow, that’s great! Enjoy your adventure!
Hi again Jon, thanks to you I WON the lottery on my first attempt!
Have a great adventure!
Thank you for the detailed information; I did the JMT in 2017 and the reservation system is different now so this video is very helpful;
Thank you so much for this video. After watching many videos on how to get a JMT permit, this is THE ONLY ONE that gives information without ALL THE PERSONAL NOISE AND CHATTER dialogue. Just the nuts and bolts of the process in the process.
(And no annoying music-thank you)
Glad you liked it!
Great video. I just went through this process for the North Lake/South Lake Loop. As for campsites at 12:27, I just randomly chose some sites. I was stopped twice by very friendly rangers asking to see the permit. They could care less about camp site selection. I'm hoping to through hike the JMT next year. Thanks again and your instructions were spot on and exactly the process I went through for the 6 day/5 night loop.
Glad it helped!
Thank you SO MUCH!! We are trying for summer 2023 and your video was a life saver. Now to win the lotto!
Sending good luck vibes your way!
Thank you so much for this. Best permit video I've seen.
Wow, thank you!
Thank you for the detailed information!😊
I won! I can't believe it but I won! Happy Isles here I come! Thanks again Jon I came back to your video for the portion about claiming my permit after winning the lottery. So your video was helpful twice.
Yes!!! Congrats!
Thanks John. Great video! You helped me to save my permit.
Enjoy the journey.
Thank you for such a detailed and helpful guide on the new permitting process.
Thank you! Very informative video. I used this informative video a few days ago and WOOHOO!, was just notified that l won a permit!!! Thanks again!!!
Congrats! Now the anticipation begins!
@@jonallenoutside YES SIR!!!
@@jonallenoutside Well, as life often goes, things have gone wrong with my hopes of hiking the JMT starting August 2nd. My original hiking partner had to bail on me, and now a lady l have recently met who at first thought she could go with me now says she is worried that she is not up to a through hike of the JMT has also opted out. Sooo, after being so fortunate to win a permit on my first try...I too will opt out until next year when l will begin to apply for a another JMT permit. :(
Jon, I wish you hadn’t removed your other video on “How to hike the John Muir Trail without using the lottery system”. It was a great video that I found very useful!
I unfortunately had some wrong information that was causing some confusion so I needed to remove it.
@@jonallenoutside well thank you for your work and effort!
Very helpful info. Wasn't a trail I had ever thought about hiking, but now I'm really interested in doing the JMT. Have a wonderful Christmas and a great 2022 to you and your family 👍
Great video Jon. I really like the week to week format vs. reapplying every 21 days. I will apply for early Sept start hoping I get picked.
A thousand thanks, from Paris, (France). Your explanations. are clear, precise and valuable :)
Both this and your PCT Permit videos were very helpful. Thank you!
THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!!!
Thank you clarifying the process! It has been pretty confusing and your explanation is super clear!
Thanks for a great video explaining this new permit system! I did a walkup permit for next day start from tuolumne meadows in 2016. It was only way I could get in due to time and no lottery wins.
We never got checked for a permit
Thanks Jon!! Awesome giving us the tips for the new way to apply and for some side tips as well....I just will have to watch this again come February when I actually make the application.
Jon...really helpful...especially the Donohue Pass info. Thanks.
The Donohue Pass piece was vital!
Thank you, Jon. You outlined the process exactly and I was able to get a permit for June 12. Hopefully we'll have a modest snowpack by then. Pine
Congrats! Enjoy the journey!
This is a huge help, thank you!!
Thanks, and good luck on your permit. I’ve had several people share that they won the lottery already.
Thank you for this very informative video! It is easy to follow and lays everything out clearly. As someone who’s applied with no success in the past, I’m still really hopeful for next year!
UPDATE! I won a lottery for August. Major thanks to you helping me make this dream a reality!!
Thank you thank you thank you !
Applied, fingers crossed👍
You are welcome and good luck. I’ve heard from several viewers who were successful so far.
I just got accepted for a June 6 departure. I accepted, hoping to get a better date next week. This is better than my prior, May 29 date, which I will cancel once my new one is accepted. I have been watching the weather channel and would not be surprised if some part of the trail are under 10' of snow by now.
Thank you.
This is the best information out there.
Great job.
Because of you and your blog I have was awarded a permit for JMT in July of 2022. Out of Happy Isles.
With out your video this never would have happened for me.
Would you have any information on resupply at Onion Valley trail head parking lot bear boxes. I watch a video of hikers picking up their resupply buckets there
Thank you! Unfortunately I have not resupplied at Onion Valley and don’t know the details. However, I’m sure someone on the JMT Facebook group would know the answer.
Woohoo! I just got picked to hike out of Lyell on May 29th. Thanks for the tips. 😎
Nice! Enjoy the trip!
@@jonallenoutside Thanks. Maybe now I apply for a permit to hike from YV to Lyell for the prior 3 days?
@@lightwalker4558 I’ve done that trip before. Easy to get a permit and awesome scenery.
It appears the site has already progressed a week, making it impossible to get my second permit before leaving. I don't think I can accurately predict when I will be done. Hence, I will hope for a walkup permit a few days in advance so I can complete the whole trail in one shot.
@@lightwalker4558 Did you see my other JMT permit video? You can grab the other permit without using the lottery system.
Really great Jon! Nice work!
You made my day 💕
English is my second language and was about to give up. You made it possible for me to fill the application. Gracias amigo💛💛💛
Can you make for the Grand Canyon 🙏
Great information. Thank you for putting all of this information together
Thanks for putting out the information you get my sub
Thanks!!!
Thanks again for a very informative video! It really helps to “see” the entire process. Do you have any information about hiking NB using the JMT?
I was considering a video on that. We’ll see if people like this one.
@@jonallenoutside
For the Nov 9 PCTA permit lottery, there wasn’t any permits left once I got in. So I’ll try again during the Jan lottery. IF that is unsuccessful, then I’m going to look at what it takes to acquire all the separate permits needed for a thru-hike.
BTW, your PCTA video was very helpful in preparation for the lottery date.
Great video Jon!
Thanks for the great information
Fantastic overview Jon! I'm sure this will be very useful to many people. I still think you should have shown the credit card information. haha... 😉
Thank You Jon. Wondering where to park and parking limitations.
I parked at the movie museum in Lone Pine. There was a fee, but it was worth it.
Golden information! Thank you!
I'm thinking of getting a walk-up permit at Happy Isles. What can you tell me about the likelihood of that? I'm guessing that the permits that don't get picked up by 10am are up for grabs at 11?
There are permits reserved specifically for walk ups. I got one from Tuolumne Meadows in 2018 showing up at 10:30 a.m. but that was a unique situation due to the wildfires in Yosemite. I think it will vary a lot from day to day and being there early is a good idea.
Thank you very much!!
Would love you to do this for 2023!!❤
This first-night-only thing seems incorrect, maybe it works for coming out of YNP. But I'm planning to get onto the JMT by starting up Rush Creek, an easier permit to get, and I twice timed out because I couldn't complete the daily camping form in the allotted 15 minutes.
Fantastic! Jon do you know if you go up Half Dome whether you can then camp at Little Yosemite Valley? Otherwise it seems like a very very long day.
I don't believe that getting the Half Dome add-on to your permit will change the fact that you can't camp at LYV the first night. As long as you camp past the Half Dome turn-off you are legal, which may even be less walking than backtracking to LYV after you finish Half Dome. Either way, starting at Happy Isles and going all the way up Half Dome in one day would be a long day with all that climbing.
Hi John!! I followed your steps and applied for my permit today. Question Do I have to repeat the process each week until I get the permit? Thank You so much. I started following you. You have been a great help.
Yes, you need to keep going until you get the permit.
excellent video, thamks.
Glad it helped
This is a terrific step-by-step guide! Thanks so much. If you win the lottery for four permits and one of the four can't start on the official starting date, can that person join the other three somewhere past Donahue Pass or do all four people have to start on the same day? Also, if one of the original three has to hop off trail after Donahue Pass for a work commitment, can that person start back up where they left off a few weeks later?
You may want to call a ranger and ask these questions because I don't see them addressed specifically in the regs. My hunch is that it would not be allowed, but they may be willing to go with it.
So I just apply for leaving Yosemite valley from happy isles (in my case since I'm three months late, so I'm walking up), then saying I'm exiting from mount Whitney and it's all good if I get it? I was under the impression that there were many permits.
Thanks! This video has helped clear most of my confusion :)
When you talk to the ranger at the walk-up station just let them know what you want to do and they’ll make sure you have the appropriate permit.
Hey Jon-Great video with excellent advice! Thank you! Also, just thinking about the odds of getting a walk up permit at Happy Isles. Do they hand them out in the order of arrival?
Yes
Jon, will this step by step method work for 2023? Thank you for all your help! Happy Trails!
Yup!
Thank you for a very informative video. In the past there is been an option to request a larger group size but specify that you are willing to accept fewer slots if there are not enough available for your initial request. Has this option been eliminated?
I’m not sure. You may need to call and ask.
@@jonallenoutside Okay, thank you!
This is a great resource, do you have any insight on joining trail south or north of JMT. Seems like you can skip lottery this way?
As long as you don’t go over Donahue Pass you can skip the SOBO lottery. For example, get a permit for the Rush Creek trailhead and hike to the JMT south of Donahue.
@@jonallenoutside thanks for the info, will probably pursue both and hope for a lottery slot in my window.
Thank you!
Your video are great
Are you aware of any permit changes for 2023?
It’s always a good idea to check the website, but I did review the regulations a few months ago and saw no changes for 2023.
Hello, thank you for this helpful video. If starting from Lyell Canyon TH, where would you recommended camping the first night if trying to go 8-12 miles the first day?
The night before your hike or your first night on trail?
@@jonallenoutside First night on the trail.
@@brianmcleer Once the flat part ends and you start ascending you’ll see plenty of great spots.
Thanks man! I was going nuts trying to figure this out! BIG question!!! I WON the lottery but my trailhead is Illilouette. Does that mean they gave me a permit for a trailhead I can't use? I have until tomorrow to decide. Not sure what to do. Drat!
Unless they changed something very recently, you need Happy Isles or Lyell Canyon to go over Donohue pass. Not sure what happened.
Can you make a video about walk up permit. If I arrive in Yosemite at 8:30 pm, can I sleep in front of the visitor centre. If there is less than 6 persons. Am I then guaranteed a permit. What are the hours of the centre.
I’ll need to research this one. I do know that the number of people can vary a lot from day to day and by time of year.
If I want to just do a section hike, Happy Isles to Tuolemne Meadows, which dropdown permit should I choose?
After trial and error, I figured out that all the text in the Comments field cannot have any returns (Enters) in it. Otherwise, you will get an odd looking error. You also need to tell a bit more about your first night campsite than the name. Good luck!
If you start at Lyel, can you day hike the northern part the day before or after the hike to complete the entire trail?
People have done it, but it’s a very tough hike to do in one day. I did it over three days and two nights as a separately permitted hike the year after I did the JMT. The permit was easy to get.
Does anyone know if you max out your choices (8) and put LYV (Donahue Pass Eligible) for all 8 of those choices, will that help/hurt your chances?
Maybe I missed it, but what are the options for group size if any?
I’m not aware of any limit on group size (aside from total permits available on a given day) but as group size goes up, your chance of winning goes down.
So Jon, did you get a permit for PCT next year?
I did not apply. Planning on some other hikes instead.
Update: I re-applied and got picked for a June 19 date from Lyell. That may still be early for me so I entered the lotter again, this time w/ 8 entries, hoping to get a start date between June 26-July 2. Instead of submitting 2 date ranges (one from each start point), I entered 8 date ranges (5 from Happy Isles and 3 from Lyell), hoping to get picked again. Something tells me my luck is about to run out. 😉
You are on a roll!
Is there a way to contact you? I have some questions I'm hoping you could help me with re John Muir Trail.
13:19 👍🏼👍🏼
👍☮
wow so confusing
hi jon , isnt april-may a little too early to book the JMT trail? wudnt higher yosemite still be full of snow>????
If you are referring to my example, I just did that for purposes of this video and then immediately cancelled the permit. It would be highly dangerous to attempt the JMT in April.
@@jonallenoutside oh ok, thanks for clarifying that. Just as I suspected. But if i can ask your opinion on when is the earliest "safe" date to start the JMT or backpack a few nights in the high sierras?
@@solukhumbu911 That varies every year based on snowpack and weather. Bear in mind the weather can change quickly. In most years you can avoid snow with a start date in late July or early August.