Wilderness Permits & Reservations

Franklin Lake at sunset.

Photo by N. Ver

 

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GENERAL PERMIT INFORMATION

• Wilderness permits are required for all overnight camping outside designated car campgrounds. Day hikes do not require permits. .

OUTSIDE THE QUOTA PERIOD: September 23, 2012 to May 23, 2013
Wilderness permits are NOT limited to daily entry quotas and are free. For the purpose of Search and Rescue incidents, permits must be obtained at the proper issuing locations listed below. The information you provide on your permit may be vital in assisting us during an emergency incident.

• At the Lodgepole Visitor Center, the self-issue station is to the left of the front doors (available 24 hours a day).
  
• At the Foothills Visitor Center, the self-issue station is near the restrooms (available 24 hours a day).
  
• Permits are available inside the Kings Canyon Visitor Center (in Grant Grove) when it is open.
  
• At the Roads End Permit Station, the self-issue station is on the porch (available 24 hours a day). The road to the area usually closes sometime at the end of October, weather depending.
  
• At the Mineral King Ranger Station, the self-issue station is on the porch (available 24 hours a day). The Mineral King Road usually closes in early November.

INSIDE THE QUOTA PERIOD: May 24, 2013 to September 28, 2013
Quotas limit the number of people entering each trail on a single day. During this quota season, there is a $15 wilderness permit fee for overnight trips per group. The permits are issued for the trailhead where you begin your trip and must be obtained from the permit station closest to your trailhead. Important: ALL permits must be obtained during opening hours at the permit stations. NO night drops are permitted. NO Exceptions.

Permits for trails entering Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks from the north, south, and east boundaries are issued by other agencies. This will be the only permit you need when starting from Inyo, Sierra, and Sequoia National Forests Service lands and hiking into the national parks.

Approximately three-quarters of the daily trail quota (see trail descriptions) may be reserved in advance. Wilderness permits for unreserved spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. They may be obtained beginning 1:00 pm the day before the start of your trip at the permit station closest to the trailhead. More openings may be available after 9:00 the morning of the trip if any reservations are unclaimed.

Hours listed below are tentative for the 2013 permit season.

• Roads End Permit Station Hours: 7am to 2:45pm
  
• Kings Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Permit Hours (Grant Grove): 8am to 4pm
  
• Lodgepole Wilderness Permit Desk: 7am to 3:30pm
  
• Ash Mountain Wilderness Office (near Foothills Visitor Center): 8am to 4pm
  
• Mineral King Ranger Station: 8am to 3:45 pm

RESERVATIONS
Reservations are available at least two weeks in advance for trips within the quota period. Applications for reservations are accepted by fax or US mail from March 1 through September 14, 2013. The $15.00 wilderness permit fee must be submitted with the reservation application.

Reserved permits may be obtained beginning 1:00 pm the day before your planned hike and will be held until 9:00 the morning of the hike. If you know you will be delayed, call the Wilderness Office by 8:30 am to hold your reserved permit. NO night drops will be allowed. NO exceptions.

Complete details and instructions can be read in the application form below. Applications for the 2013 summer season will be accepted starting Friday, March 1, 2013, 12:01am - Pacific Standard Time. In order to fully process your request, applications must be received a minimum of 14 days before the date you start your hike. The last day to submit an application for the 2013 season is Saturday, September 14, 2013. Walk-up permits will continue to be available through September 28, 2013, when the Quota Season ends. Self-Issue permits will be available beginning on September 29, 2013.

If you are unable to view the pdf file below, please download the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

• Application form and instructions for a wilderness permit reservation (828 KB pdf)
• Application form (389 KB jpg) and instructions (505 KB jpg) for a wilderness permit reservation

TRAIL HEAD AVAILABILITY: once we start processing reservations on March 1st, you can check which dates are fully booked and almost booked by clicking here.

No Reservations for the Lakes Trail: The Lakes Trail (toward Pear Lake, Emerald Lake, and the Tablelands) is the only trail in these parks not open to reservations. This trail does maintain a daily quota of 25 people and is managed by the Lodgepole Wilderness Permit Desk. All wilderness permits for this trail are issued on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Permit Information for Bearpaw and Sequoia High Sierra Camp Guests: With a reservation to stay at a High Sierra Camp, you are not subject to the daily trail quota or a permit fee. However, you must obtain a wilderness permit from the Lodgepole Visitor Center. If you extend your trip and spend additional nights away from a High Sierra Camp (e.g., continuing on the High Sierra Trail to Mount Whitney), you are subject to the daily entry quota and wilderness permit fee.

Mt. Whitney Information

blank Anyone hiking the High Sierra Trail or Mineral King area to the summit of Mt. Whitney and exiting Whitney Portal, the only permit you need is from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. See the reservation section of this page for more information.

For information regarding Mt. Whitney and Inyo National Forest Permits, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5150055

Important Links:

2013 Minimum Impact Restrictions