Getting backpacking permits for popular spots like Yosemite, Eastern Sierra, or other parks and areas can sometimes be the hardest part about backpacking.
It’s become increasingly difficult to get wilderness permits over the years, with more people wanting to get out and hike while the quota restrictions remaining the same. Plus, each area has their own system and permit deadlines for when to apply.
I’ve compiled an updated guide so you can start understanding local regulations and not miss an important date in the overnight permit booking process.
How to be successful
I keep an updated Google Calendar (preview it at the end of this post) that is publicly shared so you can also add it to use as a guide for any upcoming deadlines.
I also like to follow parks that I’m interested in on social media like Facebook and Instagram, as they will often post any relevant updates to those accounts.
It’s very possible you won’t get your desired trail or hike dates. Don’t worry, the mountains aren’t going anywhere! Try to be more flexible and opt for shoulder season, mid-week hikes, and smaller groups. When planning any trip, try to also find several backup trailheads and start dates.
Click here for my complete weekend backpacking pack list
Can’t find permits?
Instead of manually checking each day for any cancellations, Outdoor Status actually provides a service where you can sign up to be notified via text when there are any cancellations for a permit and date of your choice!
Why even have permits?
These permit restrictions are actually a good thing for us hikers - limiting the number of people on the trails keeps the impact of human activity to a minimum in an attempt to keep these areas as pristine as possible! No one wants to hike or experience nature in a zoo, we’re all out there to enjoy the calm and peacefulness of the outdoors.
COVID-19 & wildfires
COVID-19 has meant serious changes to recreation opportunities over the past few years. Plus now with larger and more frequent wildfires, smoke and closures have become a real concern.
This last season each week brought unpredictable news on closures and permit cancellations due to COVID and wildfires, so anything can really happen. Always check your destination for travel restrictions, as these can vary by county. Also be considerate of emergency responders by limiting the risks you choose to take in the outdoors during these times.
Updated: June 23, 2022
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI)
Permit quota season: May 28 - Sep 18
When you can book: 6 months before your trip, starting Nov 27, 2021
Wilderness permit instructions
Permits are available 6 months before your trip date, so you’ll want to be logged onto Recreation.gov to try to snag your permit. The earliest reservable trip start date is May 21, 2022, which will be available to book on Nov 21, 2021 - six months in advance.
The Pear Lake via the Lakes Trail overnight permits are exempt from the online reservation system and are limited to walk up only.
SEKI will offer walk up permits like normal that can be picked up starting at 1pm the day before your trip. Of course all of this can change depending on the currently evolving COVID-19 situation and wildfires. Always check the website for the most up to date information.
Don’t forget to do
Be sure to coordinate your permit pick up times with the wilderness desk operating hours. You can pick up your permit as early as 1pm the day before your trip.
If you’re picking up your permit after 9am the day of entry, you’ll need to contact the wilderness office either by phone or email so they don’t mark it as a no show and give it away to someone else.
Cancellations
You can cancel your reservation up to 7 days before your trip and get the 5$ per person fee refunded back.
Sequoia/Kings Canyon backpacking trip ideas
Eastern Sierra
Permit quota season: May 1 - Nov 1
When you can book: Six months before your hike in date, beginning as early as November 1, 2020
Wilderness permit information
Wilderness permit office locations (or see map below)
Eastern Sierra offers the most trailheads and variety of trips in all of California!
When to book
Reservations will become available exactly six months before your hike in date. Popular trailheads can book up minutes after release at 7am, so I like to set a calendar reminder for each permit I am trying to book.
Cancellations
Plans change, especially these days when so much can change in 6 months! Inyo National Forest allows you to cancel up to 22 days before your hike - you only forfeit the $6 non-refundable reservation fee.
This also means there will be cancellations, so keep an eye on the availability calendar for any last minute trips. One thing you can change online after you book is the group size, given availability.
Listing trip alternates
Since these reservations are non-transferrable, you’ll probably want to at least put down one alternate trip leader - these are people that can be issued the permit if you can’t go. You’ll need to have the email of each alternate trip leader, as well as requiring each person to log in and confirm their status as an alternate to utilize this feature.
Don’t forget to do
Be sure to read your permit confirmation email for instructions and check the website for the most up to date information as things can change.
Walk up permits
Normally for walk up permits, you can come the day before at 11am for a permit for the next day. In recent years due to COVID, the remaining 40% of permits usually reserved for walkups were released online instead. Seems like this season walkups will be released two weeks before your trip date.
Here is a PDF of trail quotas I like to use to determine my chances of getting a walk up permit based on my group size.
Eastern Sierra backpacking trip ideas
Mt. Whitney
Permit quota season: May 1 - Nov 1
When you can enter the lottery: Feb 1 - Mar 15
Second chance to snag unclaimed permits: Apr 1
Permit information
Mt. Whitney, the tallest point in the contiguous US, is such a highly-sought after hike that it gets its own special lottery and permit system! You can do this as a long 22 mile day hike (100 spots per day) or as an overnight backpacking trip (60 spots per day). I personally would prefer the latter, as 6,200 feet of elevation is no joke, and it is very possible that someone in your group would experience altitude sickness.
You can submit to enter the lottery anytime between Feb 1 and Mar 15, but no need to rush as these are processed at random, so entering first doesn’t improve your chances of being drawn. To maximize your chances, I recommend picking hiking dates in the middle of the week and going with smaller groups.
You’ll find out on March 24th if you won a permit or not. If you didn’t win, don’t despair, as the unclaimed permits are put back up for grabs online on April 1st.
Related trip reports
Desolation Wilderness
Permit quota season: May 27 - Sep 30
When you can book: Six months before your hike in date, first available Nov 27
Book wilderness permits
Map of numbered permit zones
Wilderness office locations (check online for which offices are open, subject to the pandemic)
Desolation Wilderness has quickly become a popular destination being so close to urban areas like the Bay Area and Sacramento, offering a quick escape into the wilderness. It’s also become an area that I can’t wait to explore more of.
Cancellation policies are lenient - you can cancel up to 8 days before your trip for a refund minus the $6 non-refundable reservation fee. I also love that you can select to print your permit at home instead of having to factor in logistics to stop by the permit office before your hike in.
NEW: The wildfires in 2021 had a huge impact to the Tahoe area and surrounding forests. Double check conditions and closures when planning your trip.
Don’t forget to do
Don’t forget to log in starting 7 days before your trip to print your permit to bring with you!
Walk up permits
70% of permits are available to be reserved online up to the day before your trip. The remaining 30% will be available for same day walk-ins at the Placerville Ranger Station or LTBMU Supervisor’s Office.
Desolation backpacking trip ideas
Yosemite National Park Backpacking
Permit quota season: May 1 - Oct 31
When you can book: 24 weeks in advance, beginning as early as Nov 14, 2021
Book on Recreation.gov
How to book
NEW! Yosemite will be moving to Recreation.gov for the first time for the 2022 season and is implementing a lottery system.
60% of overnight wilderness permits are available by lottery 24 weeks in advance. Once you know your hiking dates, use this table here to determine what week to submit for the lottery. You’ll find out the following Monday if you were successful. If you weren’t, any remaining unclaimed reservations will be released on the following Friday at 9am.
The remaining 40% of permits are available as walk up permits. They seem to be planning for a normal in person walk up system where you can queue up at 11am the day before your hike at one of the wilderness permit stations.
In 2021, they were not offering any permits in person and instead these last minute permits were reservable online two weeks in advance. It seems for 2022 they do plan for walk up permits as normal.
Things to keep in mind
These permits are nonrefundable.
Don’t forget that some trailheads will be inaccessible or do not allow overnight parking in the colder months. For example, Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road do not allow any sort of overnight parking from October 15th till when the roads open in the spring, and road closing/opening dates can be unpredictable because they are weather dependent. Click here for current road conditions.
Plan to pick up your permit by 10am on the entry date or they’ll give it away.
Improve your chances
Yosemite permits are difficult to get, but don’t forget to look into alternate routes like one-way trips utilizing any available shuttles, or setup your own. For example you could take a shuttle from the valley to Tenaya Lake on the Highway 120 and hike down into the valley where your car is.
Yosemite backpacking trip reports
Lost Coast Trail
Permit quota season: Year-round for all overnight trips
When you can book: Permits for the entire year get released at 7am PST Oct 1 the year before
Wilderness permit information
How to book
The Lost Coast requires you to book quite far in advance compared to other backcountry areas, and you can be sure that weekends will mostly book out for the year. From May 15 - September 15 60 people are allowed to start, whereas only 30 are allowed outside of this period.
Cancellations
Unfortunately, there are no walk-in permits and the $6 reservation fee is non-refundable, but you do get to print your permit at home instead of going into a ranger station!
My Lost Coast Trail trip report
Outside of California
Havasu Falls, AZ
Permit quota season: Year round
When you can book: Feb 1 8AM AZ time
Permit information here
As of May 2022, Havasupai tourism remains suspended until Dec 31, 2022. They are rescheduling reservations for 2023, but you should keep checking their website for updates.
Normally these permits are released all on one day at 8AM Arizona time, so 7AM Pacific time. You’ll need an online account, so be sure to make one beforehand on their website here. Also reservations are transferrable now with potential alternate trip leaders (PATL).
Normally you can check 8AM Arizona time each day for cancellations.
Grand Teton National Park, WY
Permit quota season: Year round
When you can book: Jan 6 - May 15
Permit information here
Backpacking permits for the Tetons are available online at Recreation.gov and are booked in real time, so be sure to set your alarm for 8AM Mountain Time, or 7AM Pacific on January 6th. After May 15th, any remaining permits will be available for walk up.
Subscribing to my Google Calendar below will keep you updated on these deadlines!
North Cascades National Park, WA
Advanced permits available for: May 15 - Sep 30
When you can book: Mar 15 to Apr 15
Reservations & lottery entry here
Permit information here
New! North Cascades now implements an early access lottery from March 3 - March 15. If you win a slot, you make your reservation during your time slot between March 21 and April 19.
The remainder of reservations are released at 7am on April 26.
Don’t forget to do
Pick up your permit before 11am on your trip start date, or you’ll lose your permit
Glacier National Park, MT
Advanced permits available for: Jun 15 - Sep 30
When you can book: Beginning Mar 15 (March 1 for groups of 9 or more)
Permit information here
On March 15, you can submit an online application paying via Pay.gov for groups of eight of less. No need to set an alarm, since any application received on this opening day’s will be processed as a lottery. Anything submitted March 16 or later will be in that order.
If you’re a group of nine or more, you’ll want to submit on March 1st for the highest chances of getting a backpacking permit for Glacier National Park.
A challenging thing about getting permits at Glacier is that you might not hear back about the results of your application for over a month. Also know that there are no refunds if you want to cancel your permit!
On their site they state that they plan to resume back to normal activities, so keep an eye on their site for any changes.
The Wave, AZ
Permit quota season: Year round
When you can book: Year round
Permit information here
The Wave, located in Coyote Buttes North in Arizona, requires permits just to day hike. These permits are notoriously hard to get and have now updated to a lottery system via Recreation.gov, only allowing 48 people or 12 groups to enter per day.
You can enter the lottery four months before your target month, and you’ll have to pay a 9$ fee just to enter the lottery. To increase your chances of winning, pick three days, favor weekdays over weekends, and keep as small a group size as possible.
My entire Calendar of important backcountry permit dates
Or click here for a Google Calendar that you can add to your own calendar
Hope this was useful for all of your summer adventures, happy hiking!
