Passes & Permits - Obtaining a Wilderness Permit
OBTAINING A WILDERNESS PERMIT
When Is A Wilderness Permit Required?
Wilderness permits are required year-round
on the Sierra National Forest for all
overnight trips into the John Muir,
Ansel Adams Dinkey
and Kaiser Wildernesses. Day-use wilderness
permits are not required.
Are Wilderness Permits Limited?
Trailhead quotas are in place year round.
Can I Reserve A Permit?
For all trails, 60% of the trailhead
quota is available through advanced
reservations, and 40% is available
on a walk-in basis. For
these trails, you can reserve a permit
by submitting a wilderness permit application
to the reservation office following
the wilderness
permit procedures outlined on the application
form. Applications for advanced reservations
will be accepted up to one year in advance
of your planned trip.
Are Reservations And Permits Transferable?
No. Once the forest has issued an advanced
reservation for a wilderness permit
to the leader of the party, it is valid
only for that person
or any of the listed alternate leaders.
The permit authorizes the permit holder
to enter into the wilderness with a
specific number
of people.
What If I Want To Hike Starting In One Of The National
Parks?
For trips that originate in Yosemite
National Park (209-372-0740) or Sequoia/Kings
Canyon National Park (559-565-3766),
you must obtain
a permit from the appropriate park office.
The permit you will receive is good for
travel in designated wilderness on other
National Forests
on that trip. If a permit is issued for
entry at a Sierra National Forest trailhead,
it is valid for travel into the National
Parks
only if the Park is listed on your itinerary.
What If I Want To Go On Several Different Trips During
The Quota Season?
If you want advanced reservations for
several trips, you must submit a separate
application for each trip request. An
application for
an advanced reservation can have alternate
date requests and/or alternate trailhead
requests. Alternate dates must be listed
by
priority.
RESERVATIONS AND FEES FOR WILDERNESS PERMITS
Fees are charged for reservations only,
walk-in permits are free. Reservation
fees are not refundable once your reservation
is processed.
There is a $5.00 per person reservation
fee.
- Reservations Will Be Confirmed in Writing - You
will receive by mail a confirmation
letter of your reservation. Fees will
not be refunded once the reservation
has been confirmed. If your request
cannot be filled, your application
and fees will be returned. It is a
good idea to apply for alternate dates,
or trailheads.
- Reserved Permits-
Permits may be picked up 48 hours before
the day of departure at the location
indicated
on your confirmation letter. Permits
must be picked up in person by noon
of the departure day, or will be re-issued
to another
party. Permits will not be
issued by mail.
- Processing Fee for Changing Wilderness Permit Reservations
- If you need to change the entry
date or entry trailhead of your confirmed
reservation, and quota space is available,
there is
a processing fee of $10.00. Contact
the office where you made your reservation.
- Payment -Your payment
for reservation can be made by check
or money order. All checks and money
orders must
be in US funds and made payable to: USDA
Forest Service. Fees are due
when the reservation is made.
- Phone Reservations - No phone reservations
are accepted.
- How Close to my trip can
I make a reservation?
Reservations must be made 21 days in
advance of your planned entry into
the wilderness.
WALK-IN PERMITS
Walk-in permits are available 24 hours
prior to the day of your planned departure.
They can be obtained at Forest
Service Offices. Walk-in permits
are free of charge.
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