Pre-Hike Logistics

The John Muir Trail is over 230 miles of strenuous hiking through the Sierra Nevada wilderness. Unless someone can drop you off/pick you up at the beginning/end of your hike, you will need to arrange transportation to get to your designated trailhead(s).

Since I hiked the John Muir Trail solo, I had to make arrangements to get from Yosemite National Park, where I parked my car during my hike, to the Cottonwood Pass trailhead. These were my pre-hike logistics:

1) Car Drop Off at Yosemite National Park

I arrived at Yosemite National Park the day before my adventure began to park my car at the Happy Isles trailhead, the terminus of my hike. I parked at Curry Village, which has a large parking lot located approximately 1 mile from the Happy Isles trailhead. From Curry Village, I took the free shuttle to Yosemite Village where I planned to take the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) bus to Mammoth, CA.

Important Note: Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the United States. As a result, it can get very crowded, especially during the summer months which is when you will most likely be hiking the JMT. Recently, Yosemite imposed a reservation system to enter the park during the peak summer season. You will need to plan for this to ensure that you are able to enter the park on your designated start date. Also, once in the park, you will need to pack some patience as there may be long lines and waits for park entry, shuttles, restaurants, and other services. I recommend visiting Yosemite’s website for more information on the reservation system during the peak season and wilderness permits for the JMT.

2) YARTS Bus to Mammoth, CA

I purchased a ticket to take the YARTS bus from Yosemite Village to Mammoth, CA. The fare was $30.50 one way.

At 5:15pm, I boarded my bus for the 3.5 hours bus ride to Mammoth, CA. This was the only pick up time available from Yosemite Village. Knowing that I would be arriving in Mammoth pretty late in the day, I made lodging arrangements for one night. The bus ride was very comfortable and the driver was very friendly. The bus makes several stops along Tioga Road and the Eastern Sierra, so I recommend packing some snacks or dinner as it will be a long ride. The YARTS bus arrived in Mammoth at around 9pm. The bus stop was conveniently located a few steps from Shiloh Inn, where I had booked a room for the evening.

3) ESTA to Bishop and Lone Pine

The following morning, I took the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA) shuttle from Mammoth, CA to Bishop, CA. The ESTA stop in Mammoth is only a ½ mile from Shiloh Inn. Due to its convenient proximity to the YARTS and ESTA bus stops, I recommend Shiloh Inn if you plan to stay overnight in Mammoth.

The ESTA shuttle picked me up from Mammoth and dropped me off at the Vons parking lot in Bishop. From Bishop, I took another ESTA shuttle to Lone Pine, CA where I was dropped off in front of the McDonald’s. The fare from Mammoth, CA to Lone Pine, CA was $14.25.

4) Private Car from Lone Pine to Cottonwood Pass

From Lone Pine, I arranged a private car to take me to the Cottonwood Pass Trailhead. It is 22-miles to the trailhead from Lone Pine. I used this website to find a ride to the trailhead. I booked a ride through the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce. A very nice woman named Kathleen picked me up at our designated time and drove me up Horseshoe Meadows Rd. to the Cottonwood Pass Trailhead. The cost of the private car was $75.00 one way.