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

Desolation Wilderness Permit — Susie

Desolation Wilderness · California

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

Get an alert when Susie opens on your dates.

Get alerts for your Susie dates

A Susie 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 Susie were gone within 10 minutes.

Susie reservation dates

max group size
12people

How to get a Susie permit

As of September 2026, Susie in Desolation Wilderness, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Susie rates 6/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Susie 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 Susie: Live availability activityWhen Susie permits open up

When to hike Susie

Susie rules, gear and safety

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

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

Food Storage

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

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Susie · 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.

Susie FAQ

How do I get a Susie permit?

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

When is the best time to visit Susie?

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

How competitive is the Susie permit?

This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.

What if I can't get a Susie 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.

Susie 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 Susie.

Trip Reports

Write Report

No trip reports yet

Be the first to share your experience at Susie.

Write the First Report

Alternatives to a Susie 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.