Hi Andrea,

Congrats on your JMT permit, that’s really hard to get these days. To answer your questions:

1) Your permit is to start backpacking from Lyell Canyon in Tuolumne, so that permit does not enable you to camp in the backcountry anywhere along the JMT between Yosemite Valley/Happy Isles Trailhead and Tuolumne Meadows. However, you don’t need a wilderness permit to dayhike that section, which is what friends and I did on our JMT thru-hike. Of course, it’s a tough day, 22 miles with a lot of uphill, and you’d need to figure out where you can leave your backpacking gear in Tuolumne to pick up when you get there by trail. Otherwise, you’ll need to get a separate Yosemite wilderness permit to backpack that section.

2) There is a hikers shuttle bus between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne. The PCTA website offers some JMT travel information.

3) Yes, the Tuolumne Meadows campground is closed until 2024 or 2025. But there are other backpackers campgrounds besides in Yosemite Valley; the nearest to Tuolumne is at White Wolf.

4) The above link makes clear that a backpacker can stay in one of the backpackers campgrounds in Yosemite only one night before and one night after a backpacking trip in the park. I’m sure it’s almost impossible to find lodging or a campsite in Yosemite Valley for this summer; they book months in advance.

Good luck with your JMT trip planning!

Michael,

Thank you very much for your reply!

I was lucky and got permit for JMT with a start in Lyell Canyon and exit at Whitney Portal.

I have several questions, all of them a bit specific, so I don’t know if you will be able to answer, but let’s try as I didn’t get answers from recreation.gov. 🙂

1) As I will start at Lyell Canyon (Tuolumne Meadows) and finish at Mt. Whitney, is there some possibility to hike also the first stage from Happy Isles to Lyell Canyon? I was only thinking to hike as permitted: Lyell C.-Mt Whitney and after finish use public transport, go back to Lyell Canyon and head to Happy Isles? Also – I believe the permit in this case will not be valid and it won’t be possible to sleep again in wilderness after exit at Mt. Whitney?

2) Do you know bus schedule from Yosemite Village to Tuolumne Meadows? I didnt find any schedule.

3) The problem is that campground at Tuolumne meadows (my starting point) will be closed during the whole 2022 season… at the website I only found info that in such case you are allowed to camp the night before your start at any other campground..this is kinda uncomfortable as the Yosemite Valley campground is far away and I would need to travel on the start day from the Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne meadows.. is there any other possibility?

4) I read that backpackers are allowed to stay one night prior their start and one night after finish at the campgrounds without reservation. Do you know if it’s possible to stay there longer? Cause I would like to stay in the Yosemite village for few days before my start, to explore the park and I heard that getting reservations to other campgrounds in Yosemite Village is real challenge and you might not be succesful in obtaining the reservation at all, so I am searching for alternatives and all hotels are fully booked for August.

Thank you very much for your help Michael!

Regards
Andrea

Hi Andrea,

You’re welcome to post a question or two here and I’ll try to respond. If you’re looking for more comprehensive help, I can give you a personalized trip plan for the John Muir Trail. See my Custom Trip Planning page to learn how I can help you plan your trip.

Thanks for asking.

I will hike the JMT in August, i have some questions, do you think it would be possible to ask you?

Thank you! 🙂
Regards
Andrea

Thanks, Joshua. I’m not a hammock camper (I don’t like the motion), but I’ve consistently been impressed with the ability of hammock campers to find appropriate sites even on trails where trees are more sparse. A reader who received my Custom Trip Planning told me later they were able to use their hammocks every night in Sequoia National Park, on a route in similar terrain and environs as virtually the entire JMT. The JMT certainly passes through alpine areas devoid of trees, where you would either have to sleep under the stars (hopefully, it’s a clear night), which is a great option, or you’d have to plan an itinerary with flexibility and be prepared to continue until you find a suitable campsite. With that in mind, I don’t see why you couldn’t do it.

Good luck with your JMT hike and let me know if you’d like my help planning it.

Good tip, Jeffrey, thanks.