Sierra National Forest

Passes & Permits - Wilderness Permit Reservation Form

Please follow this link for a Wilderness Permit Reservation Form

For the Ansel Adams, John Muir, Dinkey Lakes and Kaiser trail head quotas are in effect from May 1st through November 1st. Reservations may be made by mail or in person one year in advance of the wilderness entry date.

Mail-in reservations should be made at least three weeks in advance of the trip, and will be processed as they are received.

Fees for reservations are:

$5.00 per person (if there are 4 people in your party the total fee would be $20.00) and must be paid by check or money order, payable to: USDA Forest Service. A $10.00 change fee will be charged for any changes made to a confirmed reservation. Cash will only be accepted for in-person applications. Please follow this link for a permit reservation form (PDF format).

WILDERNESS CAMPFIRES

It is not necessary to obtain a separate campfire permit since your wilderness permit includes a one time campfire permit for your visit.

Today, backpackers into wilderness areas are urged to use Leave No Trace ethics which encourages cooking on camp stoves and avoiding building campfires. Backpacking stoves are economical and lightweight and provide fast, clean cooking. In some heavily used areas, fires are not permitted. In fragile environments, such as alpine meadows, fires leave scars for many years and deplete wood supplies. Campfires are discouraged anywhere above 9,000 feet.

WOOD BURNING

Burning small sticks gathered from the ground is the best source of wood. Use only down, dead wood. Never cut green trees or branches; they won't burn. Standing dead trees will burn, but are valuable for cavity-nesting birds and aesthetics so don't cut them. Small wood will burn completely, providing good coals for cooking. The remaining white ash is easier to dispose of than partially burned logs.

PORTABLE FIRE PANS

An innovative method for building a Leave No Trace fire is the portable fire pan (simply a metal tray with rigid sides at least three inches high). Fire pans were first used by river guides to minimize the impact of their fires, but they are becoming increasingly popular with backpackers and horse packers. Metal oil drain pans and the pans from backyard barbecue grills make effective and inexpensive fire pans, though a few outdoor companies are beginning to market lightweight versions.

Remember:

• Use a lightweight stove rather than building a fire.
• Check local ranger stations for fire regulations
• Use existing fire circles in heavy-use areas.
• Build fires away from trees, shrubs, rocks and meadows.
• Burn only small sticks.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Make sure that fire is DEAD OUT!
• Scatter the ashes and naturalize the area.

Due to the scarcity of wood and small woody material the following restrictions apply to campfires in the wilderness:

Ansel Adams Wilderness

• No fires above 10,000 feet.

John Muir & Dinkey Lakes Wilderness

• No fires above 10,000 feet north of Mt. Shinn, and no fires above 10,400 feet south of Mt. Shinn.
• ONLY portable stoves that use gas, jelled, petroleum or liquid fuel may be used in the areas closed to fires. Building, maintaining, attending or using or any fire, campfire or natural fuel stove (i.e. 'Zip' stove) is prohibited within the elevation closures. This prohibition includes use of fire pans and/or wood or charcoal brought in from outside the closure area.

Please contact our wilderness permit issuing offices for further details. Violations of regulations under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 36, may result in a citation and fine. Official orders authorizing regulation enforcement are available in the Forest and District Offices.