JMT campsite that sticks in the mind: what was it for you?

How many miles per day are you doing? The less ambitious your mileage, the easier it will be to target a specific campsite. And/or: be willing to hike 6 miles one day, and 14 miles the next.

I tended to like the high-altitude lakes. Assuming a good weather forecast, next time I might attempt to time my camps for: Lyell Glacier (a little off-trail just before Donahue Pass); one of the gorgeous lakes atop Silver Pass; Selden Pass (ideally Marie Lakes); Evolution Basin (any lake between Evolution and Wanda Lakes); tarns in Upper Basin (south side of Mather Pass, right as it flattens out after the steep descent); anywhere in Rae Lakes Basin (Dollar Lake or above); the tarns above Guitar Lake (for an early Whitney start).

Of those, an Evolution Basin campsite would be my top "Can't Miss."

For some reason I have not had good luck locating a campsite that really impressed me anywhere between Forester Pass and Guitar Lake, at least not strictly along the JMT. Maybe someone here can fill you in. Wallace Lake (a couple of miles on a use trail to the east of the JMT) is a stunning location, and I might try that next time.

Great camping with good water access can be had for just about the entire length of the trail. So an argument can be made to not overthink it, and just camp wherever you find yourself at end of day.

– Elizabeth

I camped a 100 ft or so above forester pass to the right of the sign when looking southbound. There was a nice open area that fit my three man tent! great view for sunrise!

There are many nice camps north of Forester once you hit the treeline. Great views down Bubbs Creek and water a plenty. The camps are on the left side of the trail. You cannot miss them as they are right next to the trail.

As tough as it may be to pick a favorite I would have to say evolution Lake. It is the only place in the Sierra that I have stayed more than once. But one I haven't stayed at that would certainly be on a JMT agenda is just off trail at Darwin Bench just west of evolution lake.