John Muir Trail

[Novice]

Hi everyone, I'd like to hike part of the JMT within Yosemite, but was only able to get a permit starting from Murphy Creek. From there I can make it to Glen Aulin, but I was told that I can't take the road along the Tuolumne River to Tuolumne Meadows. My plan was to get to Tuolumne then follow the JMT to Red's Meadow, but it doesn't sound like that's an option for me this year. Can someone help?

[AlmostThere]

You're confusing me here.

It's true that you can't walk on the road and still have a valid wilderness permit. You can cross the road and continue hiking on a trail, but walking along it means you left the wilderness. The trail from Glen Aulin south crosses the road and continues to go south. Therefore you should be able to get a wilderness permit with a route that crosses the road.

And if the plan means you need a second wilderness permit, and it's just you, I'd bet you would be able to walk in and get one, particularly if it's not a weekend. People abandon their reserved permits often. There are also a percentage of permits held back for walk in hikers.

You can walk in and get a permit for Lyell Canyon, Lyell pass through, Cathedral trailhead, Sunrise trailhead, and connect to the JMT from any of them - if you are flexible on the number of days for your trip such that you could do the extra miles. You could also get a permit out of Inyo for Reds Meadow, Agnew Meadow, etc and do the trip in reverse coming out at Tuolumne Meadows. Between yarts and the shuttles for Reds Meadow and Mammoth, you should be able to get back to where you started.

[balzaccom]

AT is right. You don't have to walk along the road at all to do this hike---just cross over right at the Cathedral Lakes Trailhead, for example, and then head east (South on the JMT) all the way to Reds Meadow. Or you could hike from Glen Aulin through Tuolumne Meadows to Lembert Dome, and then cross the road there and hike up Lyell Canyon...