John Muir Trail Resupply: Plan Your Strategy

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Even though I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail before the John Muir Trail – and had already passed through these same mountains – planning my John Muir Trail resupply strategy still felt stressful and confusing. The shorter mileage, hiking with a partner who had never thru-hiked before, and isolation between access points meant I couldn’t just copy-paste what I’d done on the PCT.

When I finally thru-hiked the JMT, I realized just how different the logistics really are – and what I would’ve done differently if I could go back and plan again. Since I’ve now been through these resupply spots in different seasons and circumstances, I want to share everything I’ve learned: what works, what doesn’t, what I’d skip, and what I wish someone had told me the first time.

Whether you’re trying to shave pack weight, avoid stress, or just feel more confident about your resupply choices — this post has you covered.

woman wearing a backpacking pack looking out over a lake and mountain on the John muir trail

John Muir Trail Resupply Locations – Quick Guide

This is a quick list of resupply locations from north to south on the JMT. More details about each are down below!

  • Northern Terminus: Yosemite Valley – mile 0
  • Tuolumne Meadows – mile 23
  • Red’s Meadow/Mammoth Lakes – mile 59
  • Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR) – mile 88
  • Muir Trail Ranch (MTR) – mile 110
  • Kearsarge Pass Exit/ Mt. Williamson Motel – mile 180
  • Southern Terminus: Whitney Portal/Lone Pine – mile 211

Order of Resupply Locations & Trail Passes

Because the JMT is typically thought of in terms of passes and most thru-hikers hike one pass per day, I wanted to list the order of resupplies based on passes so you can see it more visually as it relates to the actual trail.

  • Yosemite Valley
  • Cathedral Pass
  • Tuolumne Meadows
  • Donohue Pass
  • Reds Meadow
  • Silver Pass
  • Vermilion Valley Resort
  • Selden Pass
  • Muir Trail Ranch
  • Muir Pass
  • Mather Pass
  • Pinchot Pass
  • Glen Pass
  • Kearsarge Pass/Mt. Williamson
  • Forester Pass
  • Mt. Whitney
  • Whitney Portal/Lone Pine
Hiker sorting through resupply box on the John Muir Trail
Resupply box sorting at the MTR tables

John Muir Trail Resupply Guide

Everyone’s resupply strategy will be different on the John Muir Trail, and it really depends on time of year hiking, hiking pace, direction, and amount of amenities wanted. Some people will stop at every resupply location, some will want to limit their time in “town” as much as possible.

On my hike, we did a full SOBO from Yosemite Valley to Whitney Portal, taking 25 days. We picked up resupply food at Tuolumne Meadows, Red’s Meadow, VVR, and MTR. Our longest carry was MTR to the finish line. I would definitely do the resupply differently in the future.

Lessons Learned From My JMT Resupply Strategy

Like most hikers, we packed too much food in our resupply. In fact, we were not originally planning to stop at VVR, but when we couldn’t fit 11 days of food for 2 people into our MTR bucket, we decided to ship the rest to VVR and figure it out on trail. This truly was a waste of money, but we liked VVR much better than MTR.

We made the right decision to not exit at Kearsarge Pass for resupply. I think 11 days was the absolute maximum amount of food we could handle from MTR – Whitney, and if it was going to take any longer, Kearsarge Pass would have been warranted.

If this is your first long hike, I truly believe that planning for a SOBO resupply is more difficult than a NOBO resupply because you have to make a lot of guesses about how your body will react and adapt (or not) to thru-hiking (in terms of resilience, hiker hunger, or lack of hunger), especially in the last 100 miles.

Image of Marie Lakes from Selden Pass on the JMT
Marie Lakes from Selden Pass. The climb felt hard with packs filled with resupply from VVR.

JMT Southbound Resupply Strategy: What I Would Do Next Time

  • Stop 1: Tuolumne Meadows
  • Stop 2: Red’s Meadow
  • Stop 3: Muir Trail Ranch (MTR)

I would not send a resupply package to VVR. This doesn’t mean you can’t go there – if you want to go for a shower, town food, etc. you still can – but you won’t feel tied down to going there and picking up a package. If we didn’t send a package there, we probably would not have gone because the ferry was not running. When the ferry is out, you have to hike 6.5 miles to VVR. If the ferry was running, I would probably go there, even if I didn’t send a package, because the hiker amenities are great!

Also, if you are not planning for a VVR stop, but realize you’re running out of food, VVR is the last place you can buy hiker snacks & meals before Kearsarge Pass, so it is a good contingency plan, and you should stay attuned to the ferry schedule in case you need to detour.

I would not plan to detour to Kearsarge Pass/ Independence going SOBO, unless you are planning to take more than 11-12 days from MTR to Whitney Portal. From the Kearsarge Pass junction, if you are an average hiker (~10 miles per day), you are only 3 more days from finishing the whole hike. Adding on this detour will add another 1 – 1.5 days to your trip.

JMT Northbound Resupply Strategy: Changes From My PCT Hike

  • Stop 1: Kearsarge Pass/ Independence/ Mt. Williamson Motel
  • Stop 2: Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR)
  • Stop 3: Red’s Meadow

This is essentially what I planned for when I was thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Except I ended up skipping VVR and going from Kearsarge Pass to Red’s Meadow/Mammoth Lakes on one resupply since my hiker legs were pretty strong.

I would 100% exit at Kearsarge Pass going NOBO if I was starting from Whitney Portal or Cottonwood Lakes/ Horseshoe Meadows. You’ll want to give yourself a break at the beginning of this hike if you’re going NOBO: plan for less miles and for your body to acclimate. Doing Mt. Whitney and Forester Pass, and then the climb from Vidette Meadow to the Kearsarge Pass intersection is a lot of climbing, and has the highest elevations of the trip!

The extra miles to Onion Valley is worth it, in this case. I would also skip MTR if going NOBO, since the amenities are so-so. Tuolumne Meadows can easily be skipped on a NOBO hike. If you are an average hiker, you can finish the trail to Yosemite Valley in 1 – 1.5 days from Tuolumne. If the store and grill are open, buy a yummy ice cream to celebrate your progress, and keep on going!

Northern Terminus: Yosemite Valley

Mileage: SOBO Mile: 0 / NOBO Mile: 211

Services

  • Restaurants
  • Grocery/ Convenience Store
  • Package Pick-Up
  • Showers ($)
  • Laundry (coin-operated)
  • Electrical Outlets
  • OK to Loiter
  • Lodging
  • Camping ($)
  • Trash dumping
  • Public Transportation

Resupply Packages

You are probably starting or finishing your hike here. Either way, you can pick-up a resupply box for FREE if you send General Delivery to the USPS (only for packages shipped via USPS). You can buy IsoPro fuel at the store, and if you are not a picky eater, would easily be able to find enough backpacking food to get you to Tuolumne Meadows or Red’s Meadow.

Mail your resupply via the United States Postal Service (best option: Flat Rate Priority Box) to:

(Your Name)

c/o General Delivery

Yosemite, CA 95389

Make sure to include “ETA: (your estimated arrival date)” on the package. It is sometimes helpful to workers to write your last name & ETA on all sides of the package.

My Experience

I began my JMT hike in Yosemite Valley. I’ve been to Yosemite Valley so many times that it kind of feels like a second home to me, so I enjoyed having a relaxing day before this thru-hike where I could just enjoy hanging out in the Valley!

The Curry Village Pizza Deck is my all-time favorite place to eat a meal in the Valley. The Half Dome Pizza is *chefs kiss*. Definitely grab it before or after your hike: you deserve it! I also hung out in the lounge around Curry Village. It’s pretty easy to buy an ice cream, loiter there, charge your electronics, and pick up last-minute snacks in the camp store. We also paid to take a shower here, our last one until Red’s Meadow!

I stayed in the backpackers campground before my hike. Since 2020 was a weird year with the pandemic, Yosemite actually had temporarily moved the backpackers campground from North Pines to Upper Pines. But know that you’re allowed to camp in the backpackers campground with your JMT permit!

author Emily standing under a sign reading "camp curry welcome"
Hanging out at Curry Village pre-thru hike!

Tuolumne Meadows

Mileage: SOBO Mile: 23 / NOBO Mile: 188

Services:

  • Hot Food
  • Grocery/ Convenience Store
  • Package Pick-Up
  • Hiker Box
  • Electrical Outlets
  • OK to Loiter
  • Lodging
  • Camping ($)
  • Trash dumping
  • Public Transportation
  • Facility website

Resupply Packages

You can pick-up a resupply box for FREE if you send General Delivery to the USPS (only for packages shipped via USPS).

IMPORTANT: If Tuolumne Meadows facilities are not open, your box will be delivered to the Yosemite Valley Post Office. Packages will be held for 14 days after the ETA date.

Mail your resupply via the United States Postal Service (best option: Flat Rate Priority Box) to:

(Your Name)

c/o General Delivery

Tuolumne Meadows, CA 95389

Make sure to include “ETA: (your estimated arrival date)” on the package. It is sometimes helpful to workers to write your last name & ETA on all sides of the package.

My Experience

Tuolumne Meadows was my first official resupply stop on the JMT! I did not mail a package because the store was closed in 2020.

Instead, I dropped off my resupply package in the bear lockers at the Wilderness Center. I put it in a cardboard box, taped it shut, and wrote in big sharpie all over the box that it was for JMT hikers with our ETA date on it. I also wrote “Do Not Touch” a bunch of times too, just for the effect haha. We sorted our resupply at the picnic tables by the wilderness center and I charged my power bank in the bathroom. We also had a bar of cell service on AT&T and called family.

My mom and I also actually had 2 permits for the JMT in order to hike the whole trail. We had one permit to hike from Happy Isles to Tuolumne Meadows, and another one to hike Lyell Canyon to Mt. Whitney. Because of this and our timing, we were allowed to spend the night at the backpackers campground in Tuolumne Meadows.

I’ve been to the Tuolumne Meadows store & grill a few other times during my trips to Yosemite. I’ve been able to buy small fuel canisters there, some yummy snacks like chips and candy, and get a decent hamburger lunch.

Alternative Option

You can take YARTS to Lee Vining, which has more lodging and grocery options, or even Mammoth Lakes, the largest town near the JMT. I would not do this unless you had an emergency. Note that if you have a permit issued by Yosemite National Park, if you get into a vehicle, your permit is voided. This is a huge technicality, but something to be aware of.

John muir trail resupply point Tuolumne meadows store and grill

Red’s Meadow Resort

Mileage: SOBO Mile: 59 | NOBO Mile: 152

Services

  • Restaurant
  • Convenience Store
  • Package Pick-Up ($)
  • Showers ($)
  • Laundry (coin-operated)
  • Hiker Box
  • Electrical Outlets
  • OK to Loiter
  • Lodging
  • Camping ($)
  • Trash dumping
  • Public Transportation
  • Facility Website
a sign reading "reds meadow resort Inyo national forest" leaning against 2 trees

Resupply Packages

You can ship a box or bucket to Red’s Meadow for $40, plus shipping costs. Or, you can drop off a resupply at the resort, which they will hold for $3/day. They ask you to ship via USPS in a flat-rate box.

You must follow the specific directions on Red’s Meadow’s website to send a resupply. Basically, confirm your arrival and pay via the online form, or mail in a form directly to them. There is a different mailing address for the package.

two small wooden cabins
Red’s Meadow hiker cabins

My Experience

I really liked resupplying at Red’s Meadow. We camped about 4 miles away so we arrived just in time to get breakfast – the pancakes were huge and delicious!

We decided to purchase a hiker cabin and treat ourselves. This ended up being a great idea since it was the last time we slept in a bed until we finished the trail! The cabins were sparse (no bathrooms or shower) but it was nice for charging electronics and just having space to reorganize.

I wish more things were included in the hiker bunk charge: we still had to use quarters to pay for a shower separately, and still had to pay for the resupply box hold. The current cost is $180 for 2 people for one night. Check their website for any updated costs.

I was able to find soap in the Hiker Box they have in the store – so that was nice to not have to pay for! There were some discarded meals and other toiletries in the box as well. Many people start dumping things in hiker boxes if they realize they don’t actually need the item on their thru-hike!

Otherwise, the set up at Reds is great. There were picnic tables outside to hang out at and an outdoor charging station. It’s very social and fun to meet up with and chat with other hikers!

You can’t camp overnight at Red’s Meadow Resort, but the forest service has a campground nearby, and apparently there are free hot springs in the area too! I did not go looking for them, but I’ve heard they’re ok but a little overused by campers. I saw the signs pointing to the forest service campground near the Red’s Meadow bathrooms.

Alternative Option

The Red’s Meadow/ Devils Postpile Shuttle runs on the Minaret Summit Road, and for $15, exact change, you can take it into Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Lakes has more lodging, food, and resupply options, and is easy to navigate around due to the free town trolley.

You could also hike 3.5 miles into the town by taking the Mammoth Pass Cutoff Trail south of Red’s Meadow. The trail ends at the Twin Lakes trailhead, where you can take the free shuttle into Mammoth Lakes proper. You have to hike this trail once the Red’s Meadow Resort closes for the winter and the road closes. That usually happens mid-late September every year.

a wooden signpost with "reds meadow resort" written

Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR)

Mileage: SOBO Mile: 88 | NOBO Mile: 123

Services

  • Restaurant
  • Convenience Store w/ Fuel
  • Package Pick-Up ($)
  • Showers ($)
  • Laundry ($)
  • Hiker Box
  • Electrical Outlets
  • OK to Loiter
  • Lodging
  • Satellite Internet ($)
  • Camping (free!)
  • Trash dumping
  • Shuttles to get to the resort ($)
  • FREE first drink for thru-hikers
  • Facility Website
huge pancakes, scrambled eggs, toast on a plate with orange juice in a glass
Selden Pass breakfast: pancakes, eggs, toast, sausage, bacon, and potatoes. Perfect for a hungry hiker.

Resupply Packages

VVR accepts resupply boxes/ buckets for a $40 fee, paid when you arrive at the resort. Follow the directions on their website to a T in order for everything to be good when you arrive. You need to ship your package early – they recommend having it arrive at least 2 weeks before your estimated arrival date.

There are two different addresses for shipping depending on if you are using for UPS/FedEx or USPS. USPS Flat Rate Boxes are usually the most economical option for shipping.

My Experience

I loved my time at VVR, even though the lake levels were too low for the ferry to run and we had to hike an extra 6 miles to get there.

I think it gets some undue flack from some members of the hiking community. No, it’s not a 5-star resort so don’t expect that. You’re not going to have good cell service or internet, even if they do sell satellite internet. This is a rustic place that cooks up amazing food that any hiker is going to be craving (omg we need to talk about the fish tacos & the Selden Pass breakfast).

The free camping in “Mushroom City” was great. I personally didn’t like the options in the store for resupplying – its typical hiker fare and there were some items approaching the expiration date. There is ice cream and soda though, and I love the opportunity for a cold treat when thru-hiking! We also did our laundry here and took showers, our last showers until we got home from the trail! We were able to use leftover shampoo and soap from previous hikers and didn’t need to buy any.

The resort has a tab system for hikers. This was convenient for us. If you are buying things here, I would just keep track of what you buy and make sure the tab is accurate.

fish tacos on a plate with Arizona iced tea and a hat on a table at VVR
VVR’s legendary fish tacos.

Muir Trail Ranch (MTR)

Mileage: SOBO Mile: 110 | NOBO Mile: 101

Services

  • Convenience Store (minimal – does have fuel)
  • Package Pick-Up ($)
  • Electrical Outlets
  • Camping (free)
  • Trash dumping
  • Facility Website

Resupply Packages

There are very specific directions to follow to resupply at MTR. It costs $95 to pick up your package here, and it must be shipped in a hard-sided bucket via USPS. You must read their website & pay in advance.

My Experience

We arrived at MTR a little earlier than expected, but right before they closed their hiker area for the day, so we were incredibly rushed to do all of our hiker chores, and they were adamant that we leave the area upon closing.

Our resupply bucket was in good condition and we were able to use the shaded area and tables to organize our resupply. I noticed that the tiny store really only has postcards, some first aid supplies, and things like sunscreen. It was so hot that day and all I could think about was I would pay $5 for a ice cold soda – they could make a killing on hikers buying that!

We decided to camp nearby on forest service land. There was a map near the hiker area explaining how to get to the free camping. I also crossed the river and hiked to Blayney Hot Springs, which is open to the public, while we were there! It was a nice little hot spring. I wouldn’t recommend doing this unless the river is super low. It’s a long crossing and can be rough.

In the morning, we went back to the hiker area to finish culling some of our resupply that we overpacked and we finished charging our electronics at the provided outlets.

Muir Trail Ranch hiker area. a covered zone with trans cans, a welcome sign, power outlets, and a small building/ store

Mt. Williamson Motel & Basecamp

Mileage: SOBO Mile: 180 | NOBO Mile: 31

Services

  • Breakfast
  • Fuel for purchase
  • Package Pick-Up ($)
  • Showers ($)
  • Laundry ($)
  • Hiker Box
  • Electrical Outlets
  • Lodging
  • Trash dumping
  • Shuttles to get to the motel ($)
  • Facility Website

Resupply Packages

Mt. Williamson operates on a combo of services, their most popular being hiker lodging and the resupply package hold service. They also offer packages where they give you a round-trip ride to the Onion Valley Trailhead and hold your resupply OR they can hold your resupply and then drop it off in the bear boxes at Onion Valley. Resupply-only is a $75 fee per package hold. You must ship your resupply in a 5 gallon bucket.

Read their website about their service packages and costs.

My Experience

I did not use the services at Mt. Williamson. But this really looks like an awesome service and place to stay, as long as you don’t mind the 14 mile round trip hike to get to Onion Valley, which easily adds an extra day to your hike. If this existed when I was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, I probably would have used it!

Alternative Options

The motel is located in the town of Independence, where there are other motels, some restaurants, and a gas station to resupply. You could also hitchhike or take the ESTA to Bishop, a large town to the north with hotels, motels, restaurants, grocery stores, and gear shops.

author Emily standing on the summit of mt Whitney holding a sign reading mt Whitney 14,505 feet

Southern Terminus: Lone Pine

Mileage: SOBO Mile: 211 | NOBO Mile: 0

Services

  • Restaurants
  • Grocery/ Convenience Store
  • Lodging, Laundromat ($)
  • Camping ($)
  • Trash dumping
  • Public Transportation

Resupply Packages

There is a US Post Office in Lone Pine that packages can be sent to for general delivery.

Mail your resupply via the United States Postal Service (best option: Flat Rate Priority Box) to:

(Your Name)

c/o General Delivery

Lone Pine, CA 93545

My Experience

I finished my hike at Whitney Portal before the Portal restaurant opened, so we went down to Lone Pine and ate at the Alabama Hills Cafe – it was such a tasty breakfast and I highly recommend it! But if you arrive when the store is open at the Portal, get yourself a cheeseburger – they’re the best! I got one after I finished hiking the High Sierra Trail. It was amazing.

I’ve been to Lone Pine a few different times for general visiting and driving through on my way to other Sierra destinations. It’s a relatively walk-able resupply town and is very hiker friendly. The town sees a ton of tourism from Death Valley, the JMT, PCT, rock climbers, and of course, Mt. Whitney hikers.

If you’re doing a northbound JMT hike, it’s a good spot to stay before you start your hike. It’s just a bit of a ways from Whitney Portal, though there is so much hiker traffic, you could probably get a hitch hike to the portal pretty quickly!

Your JMT Resupply: Next Steps

Ok, you’ve got the bones now for figuring out a resupply strategy for your JMT thru-hike! Now you just need to actually plan and pack your food and hit the trail!

Remember when you’re planning your own strategy to check the operating dates of each spot. They change year-to-year and prices also increase over time (I noticed ~$10 increase every 5 years when updating this guide) and services offered can change too!

If you have questions or want to share advice about your own JMT resupply experiences, please put them down in the comments below!

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