Here is an excerpt from the Yosemite National Park website:
Over the last several years, Yosemite National Park has noted a significant increase in demand for permits to hike the John Muir Trail (JMT). From 2011 to 2015, there has been a 100% increase in JMT permits requested. The trail’s rising popularity has strained the traditional methods that hikers use to access the JMT. The increased number of JMT hikers has made it difficult for non-JMT hikers to get wilderness permits for other trails within Yosemite National Park. Also during this same time, the NPS has noted an increase in the number of resource related impacts within the Sunrise Creek and Lyell Canyon areas. Finally, some wilderness campsites along the JMT in Yosemite have seen a sharp increase in overnight users, which negatively impacts the quality of the visitor experience.
To protect access for other hikers and preserve the quality of the JMT experience, Yosemite National Park is implementing an exit quota on an interim basis. The exit quota will help the park to address access and resource concerns until a comprehensive approach can be developed through the upcoming wilderness stewardship planning process. The interim quota will limit the number of hikers exiting the Yosemite Wilderness over Donohue Pass to 45 per day. The exit quota applies to all wilderness permits reserved or issued after February 2, 2015.
Wilderness trailhead quotas are not being reduced. The interim solution will help to restore traditional wilderness use patterns, balance access for JMT hikers with non-JMT hikers in the Yosemite Wilderness, and reduce physical and social impacts. Additionally, the interim quota will allow Yosemite National Park to collect visitor use and impact data along the JMT. Yosemite National Park anticipates launching a planning process to develop an updated wilderness management plan this spring and invites all to participate.
For more, click here.
Good hiking, Ray
The new Yosemite Web Page about this here:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/jmtfaq.htm (Ed. note: this is the same link as above)
The FAQ explains the Feb 2 date sentence better:
When will this interim exit quota begin?
The exit quota will begin February 2, 2015, and affect all reservations made after this date regardless of the hike’s start date. All reservations made prior to February 2, 2015 are still valid.
Ray,
can you explain what that means for folks who are in process of requesting permits now ( and might be past Feb 2nd)? do we need to do anything different or just stay the course?
If you are making a reservation BEFORE February 2, this has no impact (as written). Afterwards, the impact will be that there will be far fewer permits available to hike the true JMT. My recommendation is to stay the course until the 2nd. Once that day arrives you might consider a JMT alternate route that starts in the valley, ends at Whitney, but does NOT go over Donohue Pass. More to come. Thanks!
As I read the permit page, the new policy will not affect the likelihood of getting a reservation.
The 20 Yosemite Valley daily reservations + 15 Lyell = 35 maximum exiting via Donahue Pass each day. The 45 limit will not be reached until 10 walkin permits are issued this summer.
The limiting factor remains getting a permit to start your JMT hike in Yosemite NP.
Correct me if I have missed something.
I’m not sure if I would characterize it as “missed”, but here is what you may not be considering: last year people entered the wilderness on lots of different permits and hiked the JMT. This new policy means that, for example, HI-LYV permits (or GP-LYV, or GP-Illoutette) will not allow you to exit Donohue Pass, making that permit useless to a JMTer. Much of this will have to be worked out as the process details become apparent. Thanks for the comment.
“This new policy means that, for example, HI-LYV permits (or GP-LYV, or GP-Illoutette) will not allow you to exit Donohue Pass..”
HI to LYV
HI pass thru
GP to LYV
Sunrise
The above 4 trails and Lyell ARE the ONLY 4 trailheads where you can start in Yose and exit over Donohue Pass.
Not sure about the two permits that require you to stop in LYV…during my discussions with the park service they said they would not, but the FAQs do not make that clear. Thanks, Mike.
Hey Ray,
Thanks for your help on all this!
I hope I can make a trip work this year.
Question 7 on their FAQ says:
In order to receive a permit with Donohue Pass as your exit point, you MUST start at Lyell Canyon, Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley, Happy Isles pass-through, Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley, or Sunrise Lakes. Other entrance trailheads will not be approved.
Sure does. I guess that means that staying in LYV on night one does not necessarily disqualify you for an exit quota. We’ll see how it works. Thanks.
I’m not sure how you’re saying that it will not effect the ability to reserve a permit. Before the changes, there were 24 reservable permits available JUST for HI-LYV and HI- pass thru…that doesn’t even count GP-LYV, GP-Illilouette and HI-Illilouette (which had three reservable slots. It’s the permit I lucked out and got).
Thanks, Jill. That’s precisely right.
Thanks for the update and keeping us all in the loop. It’s very much appreciated. I was planning a 23 day thru hike from HI>Sunrise exit Whitney Portal, very similar itinerary as yours in your book starting Aug. 15.
Which means fax in after 5pm on Feb. 27. Now I’m thinking of possible route alternates that would still be doable by not doing Donohue Pass. I’m 100% committed to this journey as I even have the support of my wife and family. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks Jeffrey. More on alternatives to come as we see how this all shakes out. I intend to start on August 31st, so I, too, will be looking at alternatives.
There are so many beautiful hikes in the Sierra other than the JMT. It’s very sad to see so many people so singularly focused on it. I think the new interim regs are a good thing.
It’s a little early to tell what the intended and unintended consequences will be, Rick, but I think you may be right. Thanks for the comment!
Sorry for the confusion, but I’ve had a hard time understanding the permit process and this really threw me for a loop. With the new permit quota for Donahue Pass, which trailheads should I be applying for a reservation at if I want to stay on the JMT (I’ll be applying for a permit after Feb. 2)? Only Happy Isles pass thru (sunrise/merced) and Lyell Canyon? On my application will I need to indicate that I’m planning on doing the JMT in order to also get into the Donahue Pass quota?
Thanks so much for the comprehensive info you’ve already posted and any help is appreciated!
This is going to take a while to sort itself out, Caitlin, but I think what I might do is list HI-Pass-Through first, GP-Pass-Through second, and then a route that does not go over Donohue Pass third. I don’t really know what that route might be, yet. You may need to do some exploring on a good Sierra Nevada trial map. Hope this helps. More to come in the weeks ahead.
So if we decide to flip our 5 day hike on the JMT and go south to north exiting in Tuolumne Meadows, how would this change in permits apply to our new plan?
Thanks
Should have no effect, Carol. There is no “entrance” quota over Donohue. Thanks.
I feel a little torn about the idea of just avoiding Donahue as a solution to getting around the new permitting rules. Only because, wouldn’t that still mean that all that increased traffic is still happening after everyone rejoins the JMT? I can sort of see it both ways… I get that everyone has this on their bucket list at this point, but I also hate the idea of contributing to the mass crowds on the trail as a whole (not just in Yosemite and on Donahue pass). Just a thought 🙂
I don’t think that would be as much of an issue, since farther down the trail people tend to be spread out more. Most of the “clumping” tends to occur at the beginning and end of the trail: Sunrise & Lyell at the beginning, and Guitar Lake at the end. Thanks, Lindsey.
That actually makes sense! I’ve been studying some of my topo maps tonight and actually think the Isberg pass option looks pretty neat actually, assuming those trails are passable at this point in time 🙂
Great attitude!
So after a bit of map study, I’m wondering. Would one be allowed to leave out of Tuolumne, but instead of heading to Donahue, make that turn for Vogelsang and over Isberg? And then meet up with the JMT around Devil’s Post pile. (I’m still ever so slightly confused about what trail heads you’re allowed to pair with a Whitney exit).
I think the technical answer is, Yes, but I’m also worried about how the new policies will be applied. There is certainly no reason that is clearly stated in the new rules.
It’ll be interesting for sure. I’ll be curious to see how they deal with groups willing to take big detours and meet up with the trail after Yosemite. Speaking of which, I just did some calculations, and looks like going from TM over Isberg would be a pretty hefty detour (I think it’s about 20 miles MORE than taking the traditional JMT??). I still think it would be fun to explore those trails though, I’ve always wanted to.
So let’s say I get a permit from HI or GP. Will I have an assigned exit day if I want to use Donohue?
Great question, Paul. I think the answer is, “No.” When they say a daily exit quota I think they mean each day they will allot 45 exits, regardless of when you exit. That means–based on the speed of the hikers involved–some days more than 45 will exit and some days less will exit. If the system works, however, the average should be 45 (from the affected trailheads).
Hey Ray, any updates on possible way to avoid the Donohue exit while walking the JMT? I’m wondering, how difficult would it be to “sneak” around the exit? I’m afraid I’ve been denied a Donohue exit but am still committed to walking the JMT. I was thinking of applying for a permit for Happy Isles to Illilouette, making my way on to the JMT, and hopefully finding a way to avoid Donohue without making too big of a detour. Any thoughts on this?
Can’t recommend doing any “sneaking” around Donohue. There are a couple of alternatives. I am taking one over Isberg Pass. Yu might want to consider this. Thanks for the question.
Note: Due to high demand, approximately 90% to 95% of all John Muir Trail through-hike permit applications are denied. Please be aware of the new Donohue Pass exit quota in effect for John Muir Trail hikers for 2015. http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm
Its good but sad. I’ve planned for 2 years got all of August off and now i’ll be denied a permit. Just great!