Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley)
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) 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 Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) were gone within 10 minutes.
Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) permit
As of September 2026, Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) 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.
Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) pro tips
- This is the Onion Valley permit that is still available when Kearsarge is gone
- Arrive early for parking, because the lot fills with Kearsarge Pass traffic
- Bring a map: Inyo says the trail is sometimes difficult to follow
- Carry a stove, since fires are banned here
- Do not book this if your route goes over the crest, which needs the Kearsarge permit
More on Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley): Live availability activityWhen Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) permits open up
How much a Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) permit costs
Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
The Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) hike
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 1-2 days
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) landmarks
- 1Onion Valley trailhead
Shared parking with Kearsarge Pass, but a different permit and a different direction.
- 2Golden Trout Lakes basin
High alpine basins that Inyo says the rough trail climbs into.
The trail out of Onion Valley that nobody takes, into a high basin that does not cross the crest and does not connect to anything.
About this permit
Golden Trout Lakes is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point at Onion Valley above Independence, climbing north into a high alpine basin.
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 is explicit that this permit does not include the Kearsarge Pass area and that the trail does not cross the Sierra Crest. It is a short, steep, self-contained trip, and it is by far the easiest permit to get at the most contested trailhead on the east side.
The route
From Onion Valley the trail climbs north into the high basins holding the Golden Trout Lakes. Inyo warns it is rough and sometimes difficult to follow.
This is a dead end by design. Inyo states the trail does not cross the Sierra Crest, and that a permit for the Golden Trout Lakes trail does not include Kearsarge Pass. If your route continues west over the crest, you need the Kearsarge Pass permit instead.
Campfires are prohibited, the trail is not recommended for stock, and special approval is required for commercial use.
Why it matters
Onion Valley is the busiest trailhead in the eastern Sierra because of Kearsarge Pass. Golden Trout Lakes leaves from the same parking lot and goes the other way. Inyo National Forest describes the trail as rough and sometimes difficult to follow as it climbs high alpine basins containing the Golden Trout Lakes, and states plainly that it does not cross the Sierra Crest.
The feeling
You climb steeply out of the same lot everyone else uses and within twenty minutes the noise is behind you. The trail is rough and vague in places, the basin is bare and cold, and the lakes sit in it with nobody around them.
Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) hike highlights
- A rough trail that Inyo says is sometimes difficult to follow
- High alpine basins containing the Golden Trout Lakes
- No crest crossing and no Kearsarge Pass access on this permit
- A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
- Shared parking with the Kearsarge Pass trailhead at Onion Valley
How hard the Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity3/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route2/5
Best for: Parties who want a night above Onion Valley without competing for Kearsarge Pass, and who are comfortable on a faint trail.
Recommended experience: Some route-finding experience and a steep climb at altitude.
Not recommended for: Anyone planning to cross the crest, stock parties, and hikers who need a clear tread.
When to hike Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley)
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. July through September is the reliable window. It is a good option when Kearsarge Pass permits are gone and you still want a night out of Onion Valley.
- Peak
- July through September
- Shoulder
- Late June and October
Summer
Clear basin from July, warm days, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Solitude from the busiest trailhead on the east side
- Advantage: Short enough for a single night
- Advantage: Permits usually available
- Challenge: Rough, vague trail
- Challenge: Onion Valley parking fills early with Kearsarge traffic
- Challenge: Exposed basin in storms
Fall
Cold and clear, quota season running to November 1.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Empty basin
- Advantage: Best air of the year
- Advantage: Easy permits
- Challenge: Hard freezes
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Snow makes the faint trail harder to follow
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
73°
55°
Tue
81°
50°
Wed
87°
56°
Thu
90°
62°
Fri
90°
64°
Sat
89°
67°
Sun
88°
66°
Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) photography guide
Golden Hour
Sunrise over the Inyo Mountains from the basin rim, with the Owens Valley below.
Best Light
Late afternoon in the basin, when the west wall takes the light.
Beat the Crowds
The whole trail is the crowd avoidance. Nobody comes here.
Classic Shots
- Onion Valley and the Kearsarge Pinnacles from the climb
- The Golden Trout Lakes basin
- Independence Peak from the north side
Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup
- A stove, since campfires are prohibited
- A map and the willingness to route-find on a rough trail
- Warm layers for a high, bare basin
Rules & regulations
- 01This permit does not include the Kearsarge Pass area
- 02Campfires are prohibited
- 03Food and refuse must be stored in a container designed to prevent access by bears, or counter-balanced at least 15 feet above the ground and 10 feet horizontally from a tree trunk where containers are not required
- 04The trail is not recommended for stock
- 05Special approval is required for commercial use
- 06Maximum group size is 15
- 07John Muir Wilderness regulations apply
Hazards & considerations
- Route-finding on a trail Inyo describes as sometimes difficult to follow
- A steep climb from a trailhead already near 9,200 feet
- Afternoon storms in an open basin
- Snow lingering in the basin into summer
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley).
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) · 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.
Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) FAQ
Does a Golden Trout Lakes permit include Kearsarge Pass?
No. Inyo National Forest states that a permit for the Golden Trout Lakes trail does not include the Kearsarge Pass area, and that this trail does not cross the Sierra Crest.
How hard is the Golden Trout Lakes trail?
Inyo describes it as rough and sometimes difficult to follow as it climbs high alpine basins. Bring a map and expect to route-find.
Are campfires allowed at Golden Trout Lakes?
No. Inyo prohibits campfires on this entry point.
Can I take stock on the Golden Trout Lakes trail?
Inyo states the trail is not recommended for stock.
Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) 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 Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley).
Trip Reports
Write ReportNo trip reports yet
Be the first to share your experience at Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley).
Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Kearsarge Pass
The main crossing from Onion Valley into the Rae Lakes and Bullfrog country.
Tradeoffs
The scenic centre of the eastern Sierra, and the hardest Inyo permit to get.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Baxter Pass
A far bigger climb to the crest just north, reaching the JMT at 13 miles.
Tradeoffs
Much more effort, but it actually crosses into Kings Canyon.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Treasure Lakes - South Lake
Another short, quiet basin trip that branches off a busy trailhead.
Tradeoffs
A clearer trail in a similar situation, further north above Bishop.
Where to stay near Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley)
- Pleasant Valley Pit CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Horton Creek CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Four Jeffrey campgroundInyo 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.