Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Hiking to Mt Whitney on JMT

Wow - been gone from this board for a couple of years. Good to see its still around and even improved.

Anyway, on to our question. I know someone on here can help me get the right info.

We're trying to plan a hike of the John Muir trail this summer. I've been to the NPS website and its just a little vague on the permits. Our trip would begin at Yosemite and go south to Whitney. So I know I need an entry Wilderness permit at Yosemite. Do we also need a permit on the Whitney side, or just have them stamp the other permit? I find conflicting info on the web. If we need a Whitney permit, can it just be a Day Hike permit?

Thanks in advance for the help and good to see this site still here!

You can apply for your wilderness permit 24-weeks in advance.... either by phone (209-372-0740 or on-line:

www.yosemitesecure.org/wildpermit/

I sent my application on-line on the date of "24-weeks prior" and got an email confirmation a couple hours later. I received a Written confirmation the following week.

While filling out the on-line form it will ask your entry date and location, as well as exit date and location. Just scroll down to "Whitney Portal". You can pick up your permit the day before your entry date, and it will include a stamp for the "Whitney Zone".

Have a great hike!! When are you hoping to be on the trail?

Thanks Rosabella

We're looking at hiking it end of July early August, so we're right about at the 24 weeks right now.

As noted earlier, you do not need a separate permit for the main trail if your NPS permit is stamped for exit at Mount Whitney. See notes 3 and 4 in Wilderness Permit Options. Also look at the recent discussion on Hiking JMT.

I've done the JMT a few times now and––maybe, since I've been solo––I've never had a problem just showing up in Yosemite (via AMTRAK) and getting one for the very next day. And yes, A JMT permit is a "whitney permit" as long as you make it there.