John Muir Trail Gear List

Getting a JMT permit is among the most competitive permit processes in the US. The majority of permits are issued through a lottery on recreation.gov, typically opening in mid-March for summer start dates. To improve your odds, apply for multiple entry points — Happy Isles in Yosemite is the most competitive, while Tuolumne Meadows and Lyell Canyon are somewhat easier to draw. Flexibility on your start date dramatically increases your chances; applying for mid-week starts in early or late season (July or September) is much more likely to succeed than a late-July weekend date. An alternative approach is starting from the south at Whitney Portal and hiking north — this trailhead falls under a different permit system and is generally less competitive. Many successful JMT hikers secure their permit on a walk-up basis by showing up at the Yosemite Wilderness Center early in the morning, as a percentage of permits are held for same-day distribution. Plan to apply for your ideal date and simultaneously pursue the walk-up route as a backup.

Whether you need microspikes depends entirely on when you start. For trips beginning before July 15, expect significant snowpack on the high passes — Forester Pass, Pinchot Pass, Glen Pass, Mather Pass, and Muir Pass can all retain snow well into July in average or above-average snow years. Microspikes are strongly recommended for this window, and an ice axe is worth considering for Forester Pass in particular, which has a steep north-facing headwall that holds hard-packed snow. For trips starting in August, the vast majority of passes are snow-free in a typical year and microspikes can be left home. The best resource for current conditions is CalTopo, which aggregates snow sensor data and satellite imagery. Check it within one week of your start date and look at recent trip reports on platforms like JMT Hiker Community on Facebook. Even in late July, a late-season storm can deposit fresh snow on the passes, so carry at least traction devices until you have crossed all the major high passes.

Most JMT thru-hikers resupply at three to four points along the route, carrying five to eight days of food between each stop. The main resupply options are: Muir Trail Ranch (mile 114 from Happy Isles), where you can ship a resupply box in advance — it is the most expensive option but the only true on-trail resupply in the southern Sierra; Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR) near Edison Lake, accessible by ferry across the lake from a trail junction — VVR has a store with reasonable food selection and hot meals; Red's Meadow near Mammoth Lakes (mile 61 from Happy Isles), which has a store, cafe, and pack station and is the easiest resupply point to reach by bus from Mammoth. For a longer resupply break with a wider food selection, hikers can exit to the town of Bishop via the Pine Creek or Taboose Pass trails or take the bus from Red's Meadow into Mammoth Lakes, which has full grocery stores and gear shops. Build your resupply plan before your trip, ship boxes at least two weeks in advance to Muir Trail Ranch, and have a backup plan if a package is delayed.

The JMT is physically more demanding per mile than the Appalachian Trail, primarily due to sustained altitude. The trail averages around 11,000 feet of elevation and crosses multiple passes above 13,000 feet. Altitude affects your aerobic capacity, slows recovery, and can cause acute mountain sickness in hikers who ascend too quickly. The JMT also has less elevation loss between passes than the AT does between ridges, meaning there are fewer flat recovery miles. That said, the JMT is much shorter — 211 miles versus 2,190 for the AT — so the total physical commitment is significantly less. The JMT does not require the relentless daily mileage pressure of an AT thru-hike. Most JMT hikers complete the trail in 17 to 25 days at a comfortable pace. Logistically, the JMT is simpler: fewer resupply stops, predictable weather windows, and a clear season. The altitude is the primary challenge and is manageable with proper acclimatization. Spend one to two days in Yosemite Valley at 4,000 feet before climbing; many hikers also spend a night at Tuolumne Meadows at 8,600 feet before heading into the higher terrain. In terms of total gear investment, the JMT requires less than an AT thru-hike since you are only outfitting for three to four weeks rather than five to seven months.

Section hiking the JMT is popular and practical. The trail naturally breaks into logical sections based on resupply points and trailhead access. Common section hike lengths are five days (one pass-to-pass segment), ten days (covering roughly half the trail), or two week-long trips that together cover the full route. Permit requirements apply to section hikes the same way they apply to thru-hikes — you need a wilderness permit for your entry trailhead. The advantage of section hiking is that you can apply for less competitive entry points and trailheads without needing the full-route Happy Isles permit. The most stunning sections for first-timers are the Evolution Valley and Kings Canyon region (roughly between VVR and Muir Trail Ranch, accessible from North Lake or South Lake trailheads near Bishop) and the Whitney Portal area (the final 15 miles of the trail approaching Mount Whitney). Section hiking also eases the permit competition because you can exit at any of several trailheads — Pine Creek, Taboose Pass, Kearsarge Pass, Guitar Lake — which opens up more start points. If you complete the JMT in sections, keep a record of your entry permits as some hikers pursue an unofficial completion certificate through the JMT Association.