Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Cottonwood Lakes
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Cottonwood Lakes in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Cottonwood Lakes opens on your dates.
When it opens
- 6 months
- First come, first served from six months before your entry date, at 7 am Pacific60% of quotaYou book on Recreation.gov.
- 2 weeks
- First come, first served from two weeks before your entry date, at 7 am Pacific40% of quotaYou book on Recreation.gov.
Source: recreation.gov
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Cottonwood Lakes were gone within 10 minutes.
Cottonwood Lakes reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Cottonwood Lakes permit
As of September 2026, Cottonwood Lakes in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Cottonwood Lakes is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Cottonwood Lakes permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Cottonwood Lakes runs May 1 through November 1.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Eastern Sierra, CA
Step 1: Create an account before permits drop
Find this permit on the managing agency's booking system and set up an account with your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Cottonwood Lakes pro tips
- Sleep at Horseshoe Meadows the night before, because this trailhead starts high
- Check which lake you are fishing. Lakes 1 to 4 are closed until September 1
- Carry a stove, since fires are banned throughout the basin
- This and Cottonwood Pass are different permits from the same road, so read the name twice
- Camp at Muir Lake or the South Fork Lakes if the main basin is busy
More on Cottonwood Lakes: Live availability activityWhen Cottonwood Lakes permits open upChance of an opening
How much a Cottonwood Lakes permit costs
Cottonwood Lakes permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
The Cottonwood Lakes hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 2-4 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Cottonwood Lakes landmarks
- 1Cottonwood Lakes Basin
Between Mount Langley and Cirque Peak, home to California's state fish.
- 2Long Lake and High Lake
Two of the named side-trail destinations in the basin.
- 3New Army Pass
The crossing into the southern portion of Sequoia National Park.
- 4Mount Langley
Reached from the basin. Sequoia and Kings Canyon set a group size limit of eight to hike it.
A basin of golden trout lakes between Mount Langley and Cirque Peak, and the standard back door to a 14,000-foot summit.
About this permit
Cottonwood Lakes is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point near Horseshoe Meadows above Lone Pine, opening the Cottonwood Lakes Basin, New Army Pass and the Mount Langley approach.
Inyo's quota season runs May 1 to November 1 in 2026, with reservations opening six months in advance at 7 am Pacific and additional permits released two weeks ahead. Outside that window the trailhead is non-quota with a two-week booking window.
Inyo confirms this permit may continue over Army Pass and on the Pacific Crest Trail. It is a different reservation from Cottonwood Pass, which leaves from the same road.
The route
From near Horseshoe Meadows the trail climbs gently into the Cottonwood Lakes Basin. Inyo lists side trails to Muir Lake, Hidden Lake, South Fork Lakes, Cirque Lake, Long Lake and High Lake.
Climbing over New Army Pass crosses into the southern portion of Sequoia National Park, and Inyo confirms a Cottonwood Lakes permit may continue over Army Pass and on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Fishing here has its own rules. Inyo states only artificial lures may be used, with a limit of two trout. For Lakes 1 through 4 and their tributaries the season is open September 1 through November 30 with a minimum size limit of 14 inches, and other lakes in the basin are open all year.
Why it matters
Inyo National Forest describes the Cottonwood Lakes as home to California's state fish, the golden trout, in a basin of pristine lakes and creeks located between Mount Langley and Cirque Peak. It is also the approach to New Army Pass and the southern portion of Sequoia National Park, and the standard route up Mount Langley.
The feeling
The trailhead is already high, so the walking is gentle and the air is thin from the first step. The basin opens into a scatter of lakes with Langley's south slope rising behind, and the water is full of small bright fish nobody is allowed to keep more than two of.
Cottonwood Lakes hike highlights
- A gentle climb from an already-high trailhead into the lakes basin
- Side trails to Muir Lake, Hidden Lake, South Fork Lakes, Cirque Lake, Long Lake and High Lake
- A permit that may continue over Army Pass and on to the Pacific Crest Trail
- Special fishing regulations for the golden trout
- A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
How hard the Cottonwood Lakes hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required3/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5
Best for: Parties heading for Mount Langley, anglers after golden trout, and backpackers who want alpine country without a hard climb.
Recommended experience: A night at altitude before starting.
Not recommended for: Unacclimatized hikers, since the basin sits high and the trailhead is higher than most Sierra summits people have walked.
When to hike Cottonwood Lakes
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. July through September is the reliable window. September also opens the Lakes 1 through 4 fishing season, which runs to November 30.
- Peak
- July through September
- Shoulder
- Late June and October
Summer
Warm days, cold nights, storms most afternoons.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Gentle grade from a high trailhead
- Advantage: New Army Pass and Mount Langley both accessible
- Advantage: Whole basin snow-free from July
- Challenge: A busy basin in July and August
- Challenge: Storm exposure on the pass
- Challenge: Lakes 1 through 4 are closed to fishing until September
Fall
Cold and stable, with the quota season to November 1.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Fishing opens on Lakes 1 through 4 from September 1
- Advantage: Quiet basin
- Advantage: Best light on Langley
- Challenge: Hard freezes above 11,000 feet
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Early snow on New Army Pass
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Windy conditions: Bring wind-resistant shelter if camping.
Today
76°
58°
Wed
85°
63°
Thu
88°
65°
Fri
90°
63°
Sat
89°
64°
Sun
89°
65°
Mon
87°
66°
Cottonwood Lakes photography guide
Golden Hour
Evening on Mount Langley's south face from Long Lake.
Best Light
Early morning across the basin, when the lakes go flat and Cirque Peak lights up.
Beat the Crowds
Most parties camp at Lakes 1 through 3. Muir Lake and the South Fork Lakes are far quieter.
Classic Shots
- Golden trout in the shallows at the lake edges
- Mount Langley over Cottonwood Lake 3
- New Army Pass from the basin floor
Cottonwood Lakes rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear canister: Inyo requires containers for food and trash here
- A stove, since fires are banned in the basin and above 10,400 feet
- Warm layers for camps above 11,000 feet
- Water treatment
Rules & regulations
- 01No campfires in the Cottonwood Lakes Basin or above 10,400 feet
- 02Bear containers are required for storage of food and trash
- 03Only artificial lures may be used, with a limit of two trout
- 04For Lakes 1 through 4 and their tributaries the fishing season is September 1 through November 30, with a minimum size limit of 14 inches. Other lakes in the basin are open all year
- 05Maximum group size is 15
- 06Not recommended for stock between Lakes 1 and 2, or on the South Fork of Cottonwood Creek
- 07Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness regulations apply if you enter the park, including no pets, a group size limit of eight to hike Mount Langley, and a three-night limit at Soldier Lakes
Hazards & considerations
- Altitude from the first step, since the trailhead is already high
- Afternoon thunderstorms on an open basin and on New Army Pass
- Cold nights year-round in the basin
- Snow on New Army Pass into early summer
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Cottonwood Lakes.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Cottonwood Lakes · 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.
Cottonwood Lakes FAQ
Can I climb Mount Langley on a Cottonwood Lakes permit?
Yes, and Inyo notes the permit may continue over Army Pass and onto the Pacific Crest Trail. Sequoia and Kings Canyon set a group size limit of eight to hike Mount Langley.
What are the fishing rules at Cottonwood Lakes?
Inyo states only artificial lures may be used, with a limit of two trout. Lakes 1 through 4 and their tributaries are open September 1 through November 30 with a 14-inch minimum size, and other lakes in the basin are open all year.
Is Cottonwood Lakes the same permit as Cottonwood Pass?
No. They leave from the same road but Inyo issues them as separate reservations, and the Cottonwood Pass permit states it does not go to Cottonwood Lakes.
Are campfires allowed at Cottonwood Lakes?
No. Inyo prohibits campfires in the Cottonwood Lakes Basin and above 10,400 feet.
Cottonwood Lakes trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions(1)
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Cottonwood Lakes.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Cottonwood Lakes permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Cottonwood Pass
The neighbouring trailhead onto the Pacific Crest Trail and into the Golden Trout Wilderness.
Tradeoffs
A shorter quota season of June 30 to September 15, and no Mount Langley approach.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Mount Langley via Cottonwood Lakes
The Sequoia and Kings Canyon side of the same objective.
Tradeoffs
Framed around the summit rather than the basin.
- Same AreaPermit required
Meysan Lake
A steep Whitney Portal-area climb to an alpine lake below Mount Irvine.
Tradeoffs
Far harder walking and no basin, but a very quiet trailhead.
Where to stay near Cottonwood Lakes
- Chuchupate CampgroundLos Padres National Forest
- Fort Tejon Shp Fort Tejon Group SiteFort Tejon SHP
- Pyramid Lake - Emigrant Landing Day Use AreaAngeles National Forest
- All California campgrounds
Trip planning
Articles that plan a trip around this 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.
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.
Takes less than a minute.