Ultimate Resupply Location Guide on the John Muir Trail (JMT)

For many people, us included, the John Muir Trail is their first long-distance thru-hike and thus involves the process of resupplying. As we started dialing in our backcountry gear and food, it was time to plan the logistics of our resupply.

For a relatively short thru-hike like the John Muir Trail, I believe it's worth putting some time and thought into your resupply strategy.

Your strategy is dependent on your preferences, hiking pace, and caloric needs. A spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets is your friend here.

If you're hiking outside of peak JMT hiking season (which occurs roughly between July to September), you may have to plan around the constraints of seasonal closures and hours.

Planning our resupplies felt overwhelming at first, but it comes together quickly once you get started.

The locations below are listed from north to south. The approximate mile markers are for the southbound hiker starting from the Happy Isles Trailhead in Yosemite Valley.

Tuolumne Meadows (TM)

Most SOBO hikers don't need to resupply here. Most hikers will be here around midday on day 3. We used it as a first psychological boost. A cheeseburger, fried potatoes, and a cold soda after a couple of days on trail feels like a five-star meal. That's 1000 fewer calories I have to pack in my bear can 😄

The prices here were reasonable ($8.25 for a cheeseburger!) and about the same as what you'd find in Yosemite Valley. Fast service and tasty food. We went back for ice cream.

Unfortunately, the general store was rather barren when we arrived the day before U.S. Independence Day. There were no more freeze dried meals and all the popular candy and snacks were gone. I couldn't find a single can of recognizable soda. The Grill only offered apple and orange juice.

There were at least a couple of dozen hikers when we got there at noon. Lots of PCT hikers at this time of the year, mixed in with some JMT hikers and a handful of shorter-distance hikers waiting for a bus to take them back to Yosemite Valley.

We spent about 1.5 hours here. Just remember you have to hike at least 4 miles out from Tuolumne Meadows before you can camp again. Luckily, it's the flattest section you'll encounter on the entire trail. 500 feet of elevation over 8 miles going southbound on nice soft dirt.

You can ship a resupply here. We saw a massive shelf of USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate medium boxes expertly and clearly labeled with hiker names while we were there. We assumed most of these are for Pacific Crest Trail hikers. Buckets aren't required since they store them indoors.

Red's Meadow (Mammoth Lakes)

34 miles (about a 2-3 day hike for most) after Tuolumne Meadows, you'll hit the Red's Meadow junction at mile 58. This is a logical place to top off your food for the southbound hiker.

Mule House Cafe, their restaurant, offers the typical assortment of burgers, milkshakes, and drinks. No french fries, but we were offered a choice between fruit salad or a bag of chips. We opted for the fresh fruit—the watermelon tasted heavenly. The prices are in the $15-$20 range for an entree & side, and $10+ for a milkshake.

There were easily over 100 people milling about the area, mostly day hikers who took the ESTA bus from Mammoth. The service was great and the food came out quickly despite the weekend Fourth of July crowds. We were very happy.

The general store is well-stocked and is mostly oriented for backpackers and campers. They've got backpacking food and snacks dialed-in well, with lots of (pricey) freeze-dried meals and candy bars. We left with about 2000 calories of snacks and candy to supplement our 2-day journey to Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR).

You can ship a resupply here for $40 either in a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate box or in a 5-gallon bucket. More information here.

You can also drop-off your resupply and they'll hold it for $3 per day. Even if you are a local, the drop-off option likely does not make sense, logistically or financially. It's out of the way, the roads may be completely closed for construction (2025), and almost everyone is mandated to take the ESTA shuttle bus.

We spent about 2 hours here and camped near Deer Creek at southbound mile 63 (5 miles with 1500 feet of elevation gain from the Reds Meadow junction) right before sunset. I considered taking a shower here but was happy with my cadence of swimming in lakes and streams.

If you are in need of a zero day, the ESTA shuttle bus will also take you into the town of Mammoth Lakes. It's $15 for an adult day pass. There's a free and robust transit system once you're in Mammoth Lakes that can take you just anywhere you need to go. Mammoth is a full-service mountain town with plentiful grocery stores, restaurants, and lodging options.

Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR)

Everyone is always talking about VVR. Online or on the trail. People say it's a quintessential part of the John Muir Trail experience. I wanted to skip it because we could shave a day off our hike by resupplying at the more convenient Muir Trail Ranch instead. But I wanted to visit the legendary resort.

I am glad we stayed here for a night in the campground. It was everything I hoped for and more.

We shipped our full 5-gallon resupply bucket here (about $22 through USPS from Los Angeles), and you pay the $40 resupply fee on pickup. A single 5-gallon bucket held a perfect 7 days of food for 2 people, enough to get us to Onion Valley.

The VVR trail junction at mile 86 going southbound, and it's an additional 1.5 miles (one-way) to the ferry pickup dock on Lake Edison.

The ferry pickup times were updated in 2025 to 9:45 AM and 3:45 PM. There were about 30 hikers waiting when the afternoon ferry arrived. Captain Paint can take about 18-20 people each trip, and he will make multiple trips until all hikers are transported. It's about a 45-minute journey over 5 miles to the resort.

• $20 for a one-way ticket, per person.
• Like everything else at VVR, everything is on a tab system and you settle at the end. They have a modern Square POS system and you can pay with credit card and mobile contactless payments.
• You can skip the ferry by hiking the additional 5 miles by the lake. There's a couple of blue blazes on FarOut too.

VVR is less a resort and more a sanctuary for the trail-weary. The entire operation runs with a seamless, effortless rhythm, promoting both community and relaxation. It reminded me of the first day of freshman orientation.

We were met with a quick orientation, a free drink in hand, and quickly found a spot for our tent in nearby 'Mushroom City' campground next to one of the hammocks—all within minutes of arrival.

Soon after, the welcome clang of a dinner bell cut through the quiet, calling everyone to the kitchen for a hot meal.

Note: If you plan to depart in the morning, make sure to reserve a ride on the morning ferry right as you check in.

We were fully aware of the dangers of the VVR and the tendency to spend an exorbitant amount of money, especially if you indulge in their wide alcoholic beverage selection.

I thought the price was reasonably inflated given the remoteness of the location, and entirely justified by the quality, care, and hospitality.

The tab accumulation over a couple of days may lead to sticker shock. We ordered way too much food for breakfast and ended up with 4 plates of food between the two of us. We packed out the breakfast burrito (which certainly weighed over a pound) and enjoyed it during our lunch break later that day.

Some quick thoughts on the food entrees we ordered:

• Breakfast Burrito — massive, delicious with cheese and guacamole, great value, 10/10
• Chicken Gloria — rich in flavor and felt nutritious, 9/10
• The Lumberjack — biggest breakfast entree with two plates, massive and thick pancakes, 8/10
• Biscuits and Gravy — full order comes with 4 biscuits, 7/10

Our receipt for full transparency.

Muir Trail Ranch (MTR)

Muir Trail Ranch (MTR) is a logical resupply stop for both southbound and northbound hikers. It marks the halfway point for the John Muir Trail.

This is the last convenient resupply stop for the southbound hiker. Many will resupply at MTR until they finish the trail in Whitney Portal.

Make sure to follow their resupply instructions carefully to secure your resupply bucket. The biggest downside is the cost ($95) and timing. There are no roads to MTR and they recommend shipping your bucket at least 3 weeks before your anticipated pick-up.

Despite not resupplying here, we felt welcomed here. We reunited with some early trail friends and stuck around for a couple of hours while raiding the amazing hiker boxes overflowing with food.

The amenities are minimal if you're not staying in their cabins. No public restrooms, no food or drink, no showers, no laundry, etc. However, they do have:

• Free charging station open to all hikers
• Potable water
• Handwashing station
• Hiker buckets overflowing with food, toiletries, gas, and other supplies

Onion Valley (Independence, CA)

Onion Valley is a popular trailhead about 20 minutes from the small town of Independence, CA. It provides easy access to the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. You'll find many hiking the 39mi Rae Lakes Loop.

You exit the wilderness via Kearsarge Pass. You'll find the junction approximately mile 176 mile southbound, and then it's another 7.5 miles to Onion Valley. It's a beautiful pass and not too difficult. The trails are very well maintained.

Onion Valley is just a trailhead, campground, and parking lot. That's it. The car access makes this a flexible place to resupply with numerous options.

You are reliant on yourself or a third-party to help you here. You have a few primary options.

One: Hitch a ride into Independence

The Onion Valley Road takes you into the small town of Independence.

Independence is not a full-service town, but has a handful of small food trucks, a couple of restaurants, and an ice cream shop. You can attempt to purchase a resupply at one of the few gas station convenience stores in town.

You can mail a resupply to the USPS post office in Independence. You may be constrained by the limited opening hours but otherwise an economic option.

Independence is along the US Highway 395, a major north-south highway that parallels the Eastern Sierras. You can hitch or take transit to the nearby full-service towns of Bishop (45 minutes north) or Lone Pine (15 minutes south)

Two: Have a third-party bring your resupply

Perhaps you have supportive friends and family that are willing to bring your resupply to you on trail or meet you somewhere in between. This may take extra coordination and flexibility as your hiking pace may differ from your original expectations.

There are also third-party services.

The Mt. Williamson Motel dropped off our resupply (courtesy of Lone Pine Kurt). We opted for the $120 "resupply hold and delivery" package in the interest of optimizing our time. They were flexible too. We were ahead of schedule and they delivered our resupply a day early. We coordinated by texting them with our Garmin inReach.

The Motel also offers a resupply package that includes a ride into town, a night in their motel, laundry, breakfast, and more.

There are also pack stations, like Rainbow Pack Outfitters, that can deliver your resupply with pack animals on trail. This is a pricey option. However, if you have a larger group or coordinate with other hikers, it may be a viable decision.

Three: Drop off your own resupply in the bear box

There are bear boxes near the restroom in Onion Valley for overnight backpackers and day hikers temporarily storing food outside of their car.

Label your materials with your name and the date of anticipated pickup. Otherwise, your items may be confiscated by a ranger.

Whitney Portal -> Lone Pine

This isn't a resupply stop since you're finished with the trail at this point, but the Whitney Portal Store was an unexpected find!

They had fresh food including burgers, fries, sodas, ice cream, and more. The store was well-stocked and they even had free watermelon for their customers.

We were ecstatic to eat here and have the chance to reconnect with some hikers and share a final meal before we departed.

Their Google Maps listing has some photos of the menu.