Camping along the John Muir Trail
Backpackers leaving Tuolumne Meadows and heading up Lyell Canyon must hike at least 4 miles before setting up camp. Sites can be found back among the trees here and there along the valley all the way the foot of the earnest climbing up Donohue Pass. Many hikers like to push on to the area around the footbridge to set up their camp, giving them a good head-start on the next day's climb up the pass.
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Once across Donohue Pass, good campsites become scarce for 2½ miles until the trail joins Rush Creek. There, good campsites can be found among the trees. Farther down the trail climbing over Island Pass trees are sparse and running water is often not available.
Beautiful Thousand Island Lake is naturally a popular camping spot. No camping is permitted within a quarter mile of the outflow of Thousand Island Lake and its neighbor, Garnet Lake. Campfires are not allowed. The best campsites are on the southwest side of Thousand Island Lake. Other nice camps can be found along the north shore. Camping is also available at Garnet Lake. Fishing is good in the lakes for brook and rainbow trout.
No camping is permitted at Shadow Lake, so the next best spot is up at Rosalie Lake. Nice campsites are near the lake along the eastern shore. If you follow the outlet stream down a short distance to an overlook of Agnew Meadow you can see all the way south to Mammoth Mountain. Cell reception is possible there. Find more camping opportunities at nearby Gladys Lake. Beyond Gladys, the trail soon begins the long descent to Devils Postpile.