Access to JMT from Inyo NF overnight, not Mt. Whit o/night

Question

Hi,

In the lottery, for JMT but with 5 of us think our chances are slim to none. Tried for Inyo access to JMT and mistakenly put overnight not overnight Whitney.

1. Can you obtain a Whitney overnight exit permit inside the park while hiking to that area, instead of exiting at Cottonwood?

2. If you have a reservation that you did incorrectly, do you need to cancel that reservation before booking a new one?

Thanks,

Laurie

Answer

Hi Laurie,

Regarding your questions about accessing the John Muir Trail (JMT) from the Inyo National Forest and the Mt. Whitney area:

1. Obtaining a Whitney overnight exit permit inside the park: Unfortunately, you cannot generally obtain a Whitney overnight exit permit once you are already on the trail in the park. Permits for Mt. Whitney exits are strictly managed and are issued in advance through the official permit system. The typical exit points for a JMT hike with a Whitney exit are planned when you apply for your permit. Exiting at a different location than specified, such as trying to get a permit mid-trail, is not allowed. Most hikers must have arranged their exit point (e.g., Whitney Portal) ahead of time.

2. Handling a reservation you made incorrectly: If your current reservation was made for the wrong entry or exit point, it is generally required to cancel that reservation before booking a new, corrected one. However, the exact process depends on whether your reservation is through the Inyo National Forest system or the official Whitney lottery system. Typically:

If it’s an Inyo NF JMT permit, log into your permit account, cancel the incorrect reservation, and then submit a new request with the correct entry and exit points.
If the reservation is for a specific trailhead or overnight segment, make sure the new reservation doesn’t overlap with the old one to avoid duplicate bookings.
Be aware that peak season dates fill quickly, so canceling and rebooking should be done carefully to ensure you secure your preferred dates.

In summary, plan your exit points in advance, and if your current permit is incorrect, cancel it before applying for the correct one. There isn’t a way to adjust the Whitney exit mid-hike. For larger groups like five people, consider alternative trailheads or multiple permit requests, as availability is limited.

It may also help to call the Inyo NF permit office directly for clarification on your specific case—they can advise if there is any flexibility for your dates and group size.

Access to JMT from Inyo NF overnight, not Mt. Whit o/night

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