The John Muir Trail (JMT) is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, spanning 211 miles from Yosemite Valley to Mt Whitney plus 11 more miles to Whitney Portal. Most of the JMT is shared with the longer Pacific Crest Trail.
Except for a few miles, the JMT stays above 8,000 feet (2,400 m) in elevation. Due to the high elevation, JMT hikers will have to time their hike to minimize snow depth. This often gives hikers a short window of travel in the late summer months, commencing in July or August and ending by November.
The typical JMT hiker travels southbound (SOBO), starting at Happy Isle in Yosemite and ending at the northern terminus of Mt. Whitney. The reason for starting at Yosemite is two-fold: hikers will start at the lowest altitude on the JMT 4,040 ft (1,230m), allowing for acclimation and easier exit from the trail if there is a problem (see altitude sickness). If a problem does arise, the northern section of the JMT has more convenient resupply opportunities (Tuolumne Meadows, Reds Meadow, Vermillion Valley Resort, Muir Trail Ranch) than the more remote section in the South.
A typical JMT itinerary ranges from 14 to 21 days, averaging 10 to 15 miles (16 to 24 km) per day. Consider the topography, your fitness level, and desired campsites or town visits when planning your resupply.
Bear Canister Requirements
Keep in mind that food must be carried in an approved bear-proof storage container when staying overnight in the National Parks — on the JMT, this involves Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks. Those canisters are bulky and heavy, so consider renting the canisters in areas where they are mandatory, rather than carrying the entire trip. If you rent, consider the size of the bear canister and how much food will fit inside. The most common rental canister you will encounter in the Sierra is the rigid and heavy black Garcia Backpacker Cache 812, which weighs 2.7lb (1.2kg), measures 8.8″ W x 12″ H (10L), and stores 5 – 6 days of food. Our 5-day combos and a few snacks fit well in these canisters.
More information about bear canister requirements is available at Yosemite National Park and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks.
Resupply by Mail: How to Send Packages to Yourself on the JMT
You will need to have a food resupply plan to hike the JMT as food supplies are limited, specifically in the southern section. Most hikers will need to mail food to one or more post office or business locations near the trail. Outdoor Herbivore can ship orders to any of these participating resupply locations. Here is a list of post office locations and local businesses that will accept mail drops for JMT hikers.
Post Offices
There is no pickup fee if you mail your order to a post office for pick-up. A photo ID is required that matches the name on your parcel. If you are not a U.S. resident, a passport or visa is sufficient.
Yosemite Valley Post Office (typical start of the JMT at Happy Isle)
Yosemite Valley is located in Yosemite National Park, and if you are headed Southbound on the JMT, you will likely start hiking here at Happy Isles. You can also have a mail resupply sent to the post office, which is ideal if you don’t want to travel with all of your food. Note: You must specify the 2nd line shipping street address as 9017 VILLAGE DR to distinguish this post office from the other post office in Tuolumne Meadows!
Address packages to:
Your Name
General Delivery
9017 Village Dr.
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389-9998
Outdoor Herbivore Customers: add “PCT Hiker ETA: MM/DD” in the order comments so we can schedule your delivery accordingly.
Tuolumne Meadows Post Office (about 1 mile from the JMT, 22 miles from Happy Isle, and 200 miles from Whitney Portal)
Tuolumne Meadows is also located in Yosemite. This is also a popular JMT start point for those that don’t want to deal with crowds at Happy Isle. The Post Office is located next to the general store (limited hours) where you can also pick up other supplies. Note: You must specify the 2nd line shipping street address as 14000 HIGHWAY 120 E or Tuolumne Meadows PO to distinguish this post office from the other Yosemite PO. Otherwise, you might have your box sitting at the main Yosemite NP post office 20 miles away!
Address packages to:
Your Name
General Delivery
14000 HIGHWAY 120 E or Tuolumne Meadows
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Outdoor Herbivore Customers: please add “PCT Hiker ETA: MM/DD” in the order comments so we can schedule your delivery accordingly. The order comments field will appear on the shipping address screen after you select the shipping method.
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Mammoth Lakes Post Office (8 miles from the JMT, 60 miles from Happy Isle, and 161 miles from Whitney Portal)
Mammoth Lakes is a pleasant town to visit, grab a beer and a bite to eat, and resupply. There are many restaurants and larger grocery stores where you can buy food. You can also receive resupply packages here. If you don’t want to deal with bussing to the city of Mammoth Lakes, consider the popular alternative resupply location – Red’s Meadow Resort.
Address packages to:
Your Name
General Delivery
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Outdoor Herbivore Customers: add “PCT Hiker ETA: MM/DD” in the order comments so we can schedule your delivery accordingly. The order comments field will appear on the shipping address screen after you select the shipping method.
Independence Post Office (20+ miles from the JMT, 174 miles from Happy Isle, and 47 miles from Whitney Portal)
The town of Independence requires hitching a ride or hiring a private shuttle from Onion Valley. A resupply package may be mailed to the post office. If you don’t want to deal with getting to Independence, consider the popular alternative resupply location – Mt. Williamson Motel.
Address packages to:
Your Name
General Delivery
Independence, CA 93526
Outdoor Herbivore Customers: add “PCT Hiker ETA: MM/DD” in the order comments so we can schedule your delivery accordingly. The order comments field will appear on the shipping address screen after you select the shipping method.
Non-Post Office Locations (Red’s, VVR, MTR, Williamson)
You can send resupply orders to several businesses, i.e., lodge/campground/store on the JMT. Please be aware that you must sign up and pay a separate fee to these businesses if you want them to receive and hold your order. Because these locations are remote, mail service is slow and limited. An employee must likely travel to the nearest town to fetch your package and transport it back to the lodge/store for storage. Your fee covers this process.
You must pay this fee several weeks ahead of your arrival, so please carefully plan accordingly by checking the links below for specific instructions and the most updated information. When you place an order with OH, we presume you have done your homework!
Red’s Meadow Resort (1 mile from the JMT, 60 miles from Happy Isle, and 161 miles from Whitney Portal)
Red’s Meadow is located near the trail and offers rooms or cabins as well as a restaurant. Grab a meal, ice cream, or drink at their Mule House Cafe or purchase supplies from the general store. You can also sign-up to receive mail delivery.
Red’s Meadow does not receive deliveries. For a fee, the resort will pick up your delivery at the Post Office in Mammoth Lakes and store it at the General Store until you arrive.
Red’s Meadow Resupply Instructions
- Signup Required: Yes
- Fee: Yes; $40 up to 25 lbs
- 5-Gallon Bucket Required: No
- Carrier: USPS Priority Mail
- Signup Form & Fees: See Red’s Meadow Resupply Info
Address packages to:
Your Name
Red’s Meadow Resort
P.O. Box 395
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
If placing an order from Outdoor Herbivore to Red’s Meadow, be sure to include the following:
- Please submit your order at least 10 days before your ETA, and let us know your estimated pick-up, “ETA MM/DD” in the order comments so we can schedule your delivery accordingly. The order comments field will appear on the shipping address screen after you select the shipping method.
- Choose ‘Best Rate’ shipping on our website, which will ship USPS Priority Mail.
Vermilion Valley Resort (5 miles from the JMT, 88 miles from Happy Isle, and 133 miles Whitney Portal)
Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR) is located on Edison Lake and is about 5 miles off the trail, or you can take a boat shuttle (seasonal). VVR has accommodations, showers, laundry and also operates a store and restaurant. You can also just sign-up to receive a delivery.
VVR does not receive deliveries. For a fee, the resort will pick up your delivery in the nearby town of Lakeshore and store it at the resort until you arrive.
Vermilion Valley Resupply Instructions
- Signup Required: No
- Fee: Yes; $30 (June – Oct) up to 25 lbs.
- 5-Gallon Bucket Required: No
- Carrier: FedEx/UPS Preferred; USPS Priority Mail must be sent General Delivery to the Post Office address.
- Signup Form & Fees: edisonlake.com
Address packages to:
Your Name
c/o VVR China Peak Landing
62311 Huntington Lake Road
Lakeshore, Ca. 93634
If placing an order from Outdoor Herbivore to send to VVR, include the following:
- Submit your order 14 days before your ETA and let us know your estimated pick-up, “ETA MM/DD” in the order comments, so we can schedule your delivery accordingly. The order comments field will appear on the shipping address screen after you select the shipping method.
- Choose FedEx shipping on our website (we do not use UPS), and VVR prefers packages to be sent via FedEx/UPS (rather than USPS).
Although VVR does not prefer you send packages to the post office, it is possible to send a mail drop General Delivery to the Lakeshore Post Office. Make sure to include ‘c/o VVR’ in the address line; otherwise, VVR will not know to pick up your order from the Post Office. If you want your Outdoor Herbivore order to ship here, choose ‘Best Rate’ shipping, which will ship USPS Priority Mail. Please submit your order at least 14 days before your ETA and let us know your estimated pick-up, “ETA MM/DD” in the order comments.
Address for ONLY USPS Priority boxes:
Your Name
General Delivery
c/o VVR
Lakeshore, California 93634
Muir Trail Ranch (2 miles from the JMT, 111 miles from Happy Isle, and 111 miles from Whitney Portal)
Muir Trail Ranch (MTR) is a popular resupply point since it is a short distance off the trail, plus there are no other resupply options nearby. MTR has a small store and offers food to those staying the night.
Muir Trail Ranch does not receive deliveries. For a fee, the ranch will pick up your delivery at the Lakeshore post office and store it at the ranch until you arrive. You must sign up for the resupply service on their website. Outdoor Herbivore will need a copy of your pick-up ticket to ship there. You must also purchase a 5-gallon sealed bucket from Outdoor Herbivore if you want us to send your food to MTR. MTR will only accept buckets (No Boxes). Cardboard shipping boxes aren’t durable enough for the long journey back to the ranch.
MTR Resupply Instructions
- Signup Required: Yes
- Fee: Yes; $95 per bucket, up to 25 lbs.
- 5-Gallon Bucket Required: Yes
- Carrier: USPS Priority Mail
- Signup Form & Fees: See MTR Resupply
Address packages to:
Your Name
Muir Trail Ranch
P.O. Box 176
Lakeshore, CA 93634
If placing an order from Outdoor Herbivore to send to MTR, include the following:
- Add a 5-gallon bucket to your cart.
- Choose ‘Best Rate’ shipping on our website. We’ll ship it USPS Priority Mail so it arrives correctly.
- Submit your order at least 21 days before your ETA and let us know your estimated pick-up, “ETA MM/DD” in the order comments so we can schedule your delivery accordingly. The order comments field will appear on the shipping address screen after you select the shipping method.
- Email us the pdf file of your pick-up ticket after you place your order. We need to tape your ticket when we ship your bucket, so it is identifiable by MTR personnel.
- If for some reason, you ordered more food than will fit in the bucket, we will contact you. Generally, you can fit 30 – 35 of our single-size meals (15 – 18 double-size meals) and a few snacks in a bucket. A 5-gallon bucket will hold more food than the largest bear canister. Any of our combo meals, including the 5-day, 7-day, and 10-day will fit fine with room to spare for a few more snacks or meals.
Mt. Williamson Motel (7 miles from the JMT, 173 miles from Happy Isle, and 47 miles from Whitney Portal)
Mt. Williamson Motel does not receive deliveries. For a fee, the motel will pick up your delivery and store it at the motel storeroom for your arrival. Similar to MTR, 5-gallon buckets are required for all orders (no Boxes). Please purchase your bucket when you place your order with Outdoor Herbivore. This hotel offers many hiker package deals that include accommodation and transportation from the Onion Valley Campground to the Motel. See their website for more information.
Mt. Williamson Motel Resupply Instructions
- Signup Required: Yes
- Fee: Yes; $75 for non-guests (see Hiker Extras section of the website)
- 5-Gallon Bucket Required: Yes
- Carrier: USPS Priority Mail
- Signup Form & Fees: mtwilliamson
Address packages to:
Your Name
Mt. Williamson Motel & Base Camp
P.O. Box 128
Independence, CA 93526-0128
If placing an order from Outdoor Herbivore to send to Mt. Williamson Motel, include the following:
- Add a 5-gallon bucket to your cart.
- Choose ‘Best Rate’ shipping on our website.
- Submit your order at least 21 days before your ETA and let us know your estimated pick-up, “ETA MM/DD” in the order comments so we can schedule your delivery accordingly. Please also tell us if you do or do not have reservations at the motel. The order comments field will appear on the shipping address screen after you select the shipping method. You can also email us your completed Williamson’s resupply form. If you do not send this to us, we’ll complete the form for you (using the info you tell us in your order comments) and tape it to your bucket when we ship it out. This information is required by Williamson Motel personnel to identify and store your resupply.
- If for some reason, you ordered more food than will fit in the bucket, we will contact you. Generally, you can fit 30 – 35 of our single-size meals (15 – 18 double-size meals) and a few snacks in a bucket. A 5-gallon bucket will hold more food than the largest bear canister. Any of our combo meals, including the 5-day, 7-day, and 10-day will fit fine with room to spare for a few more snacks or meals.
We are supplying JMT/PCT hikers for 2024. Have any other questions? Please ask us using our contact form.
Helpful JMT Resources:
Elizabeth Wenk’s Comprehensive John Muir Trail Guide – a comprehensive guidebook for planning a hike on the John Muir Trail.
Organizing your JMT Resupply – the Pacific Crest Trail Organization is a great starting point for planning your JMT hike.
John Muir Trail Maps by NatGeo – contains digital and physical maps.
JMT Pocket Atlas – “Erik the Black” pocket maps and helpful site.
PCT Resupply Points – GPS coordinates of resupply stops on the PCT/JMT.
A Complete Guide to Resupply on the John Muir Trail – The Trek has a wealth of information about the JMT.
Apply for Southbound JMT Permits in 2021 – a how-to guide on applying for your Southbound JMT permits in 2021 by Bearfoot Theory.
Official JMT website – this site contains useful information on the history of the JMT.
Halfmile’s PCT Notes – handy notes for hiking the PCT/JMT.