For the 2019 JMT hiking season, you can now submit one application for a range of dates up to 21 days through an online form. Your permit application will be placed in the lottery each day during the date range you provided, and you will be notified of the lottery results each day by email. Your application will be entered into each day’s lottery (for the date range you specified) until:

You get a permit You cancel your permit application You fail to get a permit during the date range specified

You are able to rank the five entry trailheads based on your preference (you may choose up to five). You must also write your first night’s camp location. If you choose Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley or Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley, then you must camp at Little Yosemite Valley the first night. If you choose Happy Isles pass-through, then you cannot camp at Little Yosemite Valley and must camp at (or past) Sunrise Lakes. Also, be sure to choose “Whitney Portal” as your exit point.

Next, you must write the date range that you wish to enter the JMT permit lottery (a maximum of 21 days) as well as the number of days you wish to be on trail. Then, you need to specify the number of people in your group and the minimum number of permits you want to have (perhaps you want to have 3 people in your group but are willing to accept permits for just 2 people if that is all that is available). Also, you need to decide if you want to enter the lottery for Half Dome permits, and whether you are willing to hike the JMT if you don’t get Half Dome permits. Please note that only one application per group is allowed.

You will receive the following notifications via email from the permit office after you send your application: