Agnew Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows

[amigo]

Hello.
I have a Shadow Creek permit for the end of the summer. My friend and I would like to leave our car in Tuolumne Meadows (TM), take the YART bus to Mammoth Lakes (ML) and hike Agnew Meadows (AM) back to Tuolumne Meadows.

I already have an annual NP pass. Where can I park my car for a few days in TM?
When does the YART bus leave TM and where does it drop you off in ML?
I'm assuming we'll have to pick up our permit somewhere in ML. Any idea where?
If we arrive in ML in the morning, we can probably time it so we leave TM on the day of our permit and make our way to AM trailhead upon arrival and start the hike.
If the YART bus leaves late in the day, then I'm assuming we'll have to camp somewhere in ML (can one camp at AM?) or stay one night in a motel the day before the date on the permit.
How would we get from where we get the permit in ML to the AM trailhead? Does it pick people up in several places in town or do we somehow have to make our way somewhere specific?

I believe the Shadow Creek permit requires us to take the JMT via Shadow Lake & Garnet Lake and not up the River Trail to Garnet or Thousand Island Lakes, right?
Is this trek a 4-5 day trip?

Thank you.

[Schleppy]

There are a great many parking lots in Tuolumne Meadows where you can leave your car while on a multi-day trip. Choose the one that's best for you.

The YART has two stops at Tuolumne Meadows. Good descriptions are on YART's web page.

YART Drops you off at ML Adventure Station, where you grab a shuttle to Agnew Meadows. Agnew meadows has a campground. Reserve online or first come first serve, which you may not get if using the shuttle. Check rec.gov. Or you can hike in and camp on trail your first night.

Permits out of Agnew Meadows are printable, from what I remember. Check rec.gov.

Recommend checking Rec.gov for trailhead permit permit stipulations. Pretty specific because of JMT gridlock. Generally you can decipher if you read them carefully. Usually Donahue Pass is the thing they care about you crossing. Call them if you have questions. They change the rules a lot.

4/5 days should be plenty, but you know you. Some people can make it over Donahue in one day. Some four. Personally, I like Thousand Island Lk as a camp before crossing into Yosemite. That's about 10 miles from Agnew.

[FrankPS]

Is the Shadow Creek trail the correct one for going over Donohue Pass? From Recreation.gov - "This permit does not include entry on the River Trail beyond the Shadow Creek junction." It's a bit confusing.

[amigo]

I could be wrong but I think it means that at the junction of the River Trail and the Shadow Creek trail, I must take the Shadow Creek trail. I can't just decide to hike the River Trail towards Thousand Island Lake. I was planning taking the Shadow Creek trail to Garnet, Thousand Island Lakes and continue towards Donahue Pass. If I'm mistaken, please let me know.

[kpeter]

The High Trail, River Trail, and Shadow Creek trail all come together by the outlet of Thousand Island Lake before heading over to Donahue Pass, so all three can get you there. The High Trail is technically the PCT through this area, and the Shadow Creek trail is technically the JMT through this area, if the official designations matter to you. The Shadow Creek/JMT gives you views of Garnet, Ruby, and Emerald Lakes while the River Trail gives you views of...the river. If you are passing through one way only I would recommend the Shadow Creek/JMT for the views, although it is a little bit longer and has a little more elevation gain/loss.

[Schleppy]

Just read the rec.gov description for the Shaddow Creek trail permit. Seems pretty straight forward.

I could be wrong but I think it means that at the junction of the River Trail and the Shadow Creek trail, I must take the Shadow Creek trail. I can't just decide to hike the River Trail towards Thousand Island Lake. I was planning taking the Shadow Creek trail to Garnet, Thousand Island Lakes and continue towards Donahue Pass. If I'm mistaken, please let me know.

This^^. You're good. Interpreting it correctly, not mistaken. Only thing I'd say is that the Shaddow Creek trail goes to Ediza after Shaddow Lake. The JMT is what takes you north to Garnet and Thousand Island.

[amigo]

This^^. You're good. Interpreting it correctly, not mistaken. Only thing I'd say is that the Shaddow Creek trail goes to Ediza after Shaddow Lake. The JMT is what takes you north to Garnet and Thousand Island.

But I'm not required to camp at Ediza, right? I can hike to Garnet the first day and camp there, as long as I hike along the Shadow Creek trail and JMT?
Thanks!

[Schleppy]

But I'm not required to camp at Ediza, right? I can hike to Garnet the first day and camp there, as long as I hike along the Shadow Creek trail and JMT?
Thanks!

"Continue up the Shadow Creek trail to Ediza and Iceberg Lakes or you may go north or south on the John Muir Trail."

You should intend to camp where you say you'll camp on that first night, as you list on your permit. Garnet lake is one of the listed options.

Have you met wilderness rangers? Great people, afforded discretion on the ground. They want to know you're trying to get it right. Lots of folks out there don't care at all, and some even treat them with contempt. If you're over the hill and don't make it to your stated night-1 destination, they're not going to arrest you.

Also, Ediza is beautiful. A very nice place to camp on that first night. Seven miles, +1500'. Not bad after YART and a shuttle.

I'm not a ranger. Call them, please! You've got time. Have fun!

[Midnight Sun]

Are permits out of the Agnew Meadows trailheads only available some days this year? The available permits show an odd pattern on Recreation.gov, where many days Shadow Creek, River Trail, and High Trail are showing 0 instead of NR. Does this mean that no permits were made available?



Been trying for a while for permits here, and they seem to go to "0" immediately. Thanks for any info.

[c9h13no3]

My guess is there's construction planned during the week, and they'll close Reds Meadow Rd.