Sierra Nevada Wilderness Permit Info

An easy to use resource listing all the wilderness areas in the entire Sierra Nevada range that require permits for overnight camping. Each area has it’s own permit process and quotas, but a permit is required ONLY from the agency where you enter. Some can be completed online while others are strictly US mail and/or FAX and/or Walk-Up. Day-use permits are required for the Mt. Whitney Zone and the Desolation Wilderness near Lake Tahoe.

Campfire Permits are required for dispersed camping in all the National Forests and BLM, including wilderness areas that don’t require a permit.

Check out our Southern Sierra Trail Map to help you find and explore these areas.

Permits help the Forest Service to manage wilderness by tracking visitor use patterns. In some areas visitor quotas and trailhead quotas are in effect to protect the wildernesses from visitor impact and over use. Wilderness permits are issued to anyone who will follow certain rules intended to protect both the visitor and the wilderness resource.

** You can sort by Wilderness Area or Land Manager, or use the Search function to help find the area you are looking for.

Wilderness Area	Land Manager	Contact Phone	Reservation system	Permit Info
Desolation Wilderness	Eldorado NF	530-644-2324	Recreation.gov	Desolation (Eldorado)
Desolation Wilderness	Lake Tahoe Basin	530-543-2674	Recreation.gov	Desolation (Tahoe)
Hoover Wilderness	Humboldt-Toiyabe NF	760-932-7070	Mail, pick up in person	Hoover (Humboldt)
Golden Trout Wilderness	Inyo NF	760-873-2483	Recreation.gov	Golden Trout (Inyo)
Hoover Wilderness	Inyo NF	760-873-2483	Recreation.gov	Hoover (Inyo)
John Muir Wilderness	Inyo NF	760-873-2483	Recreation.gov	John Muir (Inyo)
Ansel Adams Wilderness	Inyo NF	760-873-2483	Recreation.gov	Ansel Adams (Inyo)
Golden Trout Wilderness	Sequoia NF	559-784-1500	Mail or FAX. Will Mail Permit back to you	Golden Trout (Sequoia)
Jennie Lakes Wilderness	Sequoia NF	559-784-1500	Self-Registration at Trailhead. Permit required if entering SEKI	Jennie Lakes
Sequoia-Kings National Park	Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP	559-565-3341	Email. Self issue outside of quota period	Sequoia-Kings Canyon
John Muir Wilderness	Sierra NF	559-297-0706	Mail, pick up in person	John Muir (Sierra)
Kaiser Wilderness	Sierra NF	559-297-0706	Mail, pick up in person	Kaiser
Monarch Wilderness	Sierra NF	559-297-0706	Mail, pick up in person	Monarch
Ansel Adams Wilderness	Sierra NF	559-297-0706	Mail, pick up in person	Ansel Adams (Sierra)
Dinkey Lakes Wilderness	Sierra NF	559-297-0706	Mail, pick up in person	Dinkey Lakes
Emmigrant Wilderness	Stanislaus NF	209-532-3673	Call 48 hours in advance	Emmigrant
Mokelumne Wilderness	Stanislaus NF	209-532-3674	Call 48 hours in advance	Mokelumne
Carson-Iceburg Wilderness	Stanislaus NF	209-532-3672	Call 48 hours in advance	Carson-Iceburg
Yosemite National Park	Yosemite NP	209-372-0740	Mail or FAX	Yosemite

The following Areas do NOT require a Wilderness Permit:

Ishi Wilderness, Caribou Wilderness, Thousand Lakes Wilderness, Bucks Lake Wilderness, Mt. Rose Wilderness, Granite Chief Wilderness, Bright Star Wilderness, Kiavah Wilderness, Owens Peak Wilderness, Domeland Wilderness, Chimney Peak Wilderness, Sacatar Trail Wilderness

Good Links for Sierra Nevada Wilderness Permits:

CALIF Campfire Permit: http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit/

https://www.sierrawild.gov/wilderness/

https://www.backcountrycow.com/blog/2019-california-backpacking-permit-dates

http://discoverechosummit.com/activities/desolation_wilderness_permits.html

http://www.mammothlakes.us/activities/wilderness-permits.shtml

Wilderness Permits

Permit directory: Wilderness & backcountry camping in the Sierra Nevada

National Forests and attached Wilderness Areas: