H
31

Tried the classic John Muir Trail permit lottery versus a walk-up in the Ansel Adams Wilderness

The walk-up at the Agnew Meadows ranger station got me on a trail in 20 minutes, while my friend waited 6 months for a lottery denial. Anyone have a go-to backup route when the main permit doesn't work out?
2 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In
2 Comments
holly_gonzalez61
My backup is the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness north of Yosemite. Got a walk-up at the Ebbetts Pass trailhead last August, no line at all. The views are just as good as the JMT but with maybe one tenth of the people. It connects to some of the same Pacific Crest Trail sections if you want big miles.
4
taylor.jessica
Wait, is the lottery really that hard to beat? I just showed up at the Minaret Falls station on a Tuesday and got a permit for the next day.
4