Skip to content
Desolation Wilderness Permit — Gilmore permit area in Desolation Wilderness - backcountry hiking destination
Each entry point carries its own quota

Desolation Wilderness Permit — Gilmore

Desolation Wilderness · California

Overnight permit for the Gilmore zone in Desolation Wilderness, Lake Tahoe area.

Get an alert when Gilmore opens on your dates.

Get alerts for your Gilmore dates

A Gilmore permit is booked by the day you start. Tell us every date you'd go and we'll ping you the second one of them opens up.

Leave the second date blank if only one day works. A wider window catches more openings.

Party

70% of the openings our scanner caught on Gilmore were gone within 10 minutes.

Gilmore reservation dates

max group size
12people

How to get a Gilmore permit

As of September 2026, Gilmore in Desolation Wilderness, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Gilmore rates 5/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Gilmore permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens.

Type
Overnight
Location
CA

  1. Step 1: Create a U.S. Forest Service account

    Sign up at U.S. Forest Service if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

  2. Step 2: Know the release schedule

    Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.

  3. Step 3: Be ready when permits drop

    Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

  4. Step 4: Monitor for cancellations

    If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Book at U.S. Forest Service
Learn more:
Best booking timesCancellation hunting

More on Gilmore: Live availability activityWhen Gilmore permits open up

When to hike Gilmore

Gilmore rules, gear and safety

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Gilmore.

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Gilmore · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides

Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.

Gilmore FAQ

How do I get a Gilmore permit?

PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Gilmore cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Gilmore permits use a reservation system.

When is the best time to visit Gilmore?

Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.

How competitive is the Gilmore permit?

This permit has a demand score of 5/10, making it moderately competitive.

What if I can't get a Gilmore permit?

Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.

Gilmore trail conditions and trip reports

Trail Conditions

No active conditions reported

Sign in to report trail conditions.

Questions

No questions yet

Be the first to ask about Gilmore.

Trip Reports

Write Report

No trip reports yet

Be the first to share your experience at Gilmore.

Write the First Report

Alternatives to a Gilmore permit

Plan the full trip, not just the permit

Build your full itinerary start to finish

Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.

Plan a trip here

No permit needed to start

One tick helps us more than you’d think

Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.

Add PermitSnag in Google

Takes less than a minute.