Detail from Obata's Evening Moon

Planning Ahead

Your Choice:

Option #1: Sleeping in an overpriced motel after duct-taping your rear window where a bear pulled out your food after you didn’t get the permit you wanted and tried to reach a different lake but forgot your stove and mole skin so had to crawl back to the car.
Option #2: Watching the sun set from your ridge-top campsite as you sip hot chocolate and plan out your next day’s journey knowing you’ve got three more days of food in the bear can, not to mention the fish you plan to catch at that lake the ranger recommended.

Let’s face it, planning a wilderness trip can sometimes feel like a maze of bureaucratic hoops and logistical headaches. Our goal is to solve this by providing all the resources you need to get current, accurate, comprehensive information about the wilderness area you’d like to visit before you take off on your adventure. If you’re reading this site you’re already ahead of the game.

Planning a trip to the Sierra can involve months of preparation for epic hikes like the John Muir Trail or be a spur of the moment decision after a long week at work. Either way, planning is what will make the difference between an idyllic wilderness adventure and a frustrating vacation disaster.

how to use these resources:

If you know the wilderness are you’d like to visit, go directly to that area by clicking on the Wilderness Areas Section of this site and selecting your destination by name from the list of Sierra Nevada Wilderness areas. If you’re just looking for general wilderness information in preparation for your trip, use the subject headings on the right to answer your wilderness questions.

Some General Planning Tips:

Research the area you plan to visit: do I need a permit? What about bears and food storage? Where can I leave my car? Are there group size limits? How about horses?
As you research, make sure the area fits your needs: oops, can’t bring your dog… is it too challenging a trip? Are the permits already full?
Expect the unexpected: the weather will change, someone forgot their boots, a fire closed the area you planned to visit…
Be flexible: have a backup option in case the area you planned for doesn’t work out. There are endless great wilderness trips in the Sierra; don’t get too obsessed about the one trip you planned.
If possible, schedule your trip for midweek and avoid busy holidays. During the off-peak-season popular trails can be almost deserted.
Pick your gear carefully with safety and Leave No Trace principles in mind. Double check our Backpacking Gear List as a starting point.
Plan your food with bears and food storage in mind: reduce weight and waste by repackaging food when appropriate.

Confused by something on this site? SierraNevadaWild wants your help. Go to the Contact page to contact us with your feedback, and help us make this an even better source for Sierra Wilderness information.