Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Little Lakes Valley
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Little Lakes Valley in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Little Lakes 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 Little Lakes Valley were gone within 10 minutes.
Little Lakes Valley reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Little Lakes Valley permit
As of September 2026, Little Lakes Valley in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Little Lakes Valley is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Little Lakes Valley permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Little Lakes 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.
Little Lakes Valley pro tips
- Use the 10 trailhead walk-in sites the night before. It is the cheapest acclimatization there is
- Arrive very early for parking, because Mosquito Flat is small and popular
- Carry a stove, since fires are banned the length of the valley
- Do not plan a Pine Creek exit, which has been impassable since the rock slide
- Camp at the upper lakes if you want quiet, since day hikers turn around low
More on Little Lakes Valley: Live availability activityWhen Little Lakes Valley permits open upChance of an opening
How much a Little Lakes Valley permit costs
Little Lakes Valley permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
The Little Lakes Valley hike
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 1-3 days
- Difficulty
- Easy
Little Lakes Valley landmarks
- 1Mosquito Flat trailhead
Ten walk-in sites where backpackers may camp the night before their trip.
- 2The lake chain
Glacially carved lakes running up the valley floor.
- 3Morgan Pass
Old mining road bed at the head of the valley. No through exit to Pine Creek.
The easiest first backpacking trip in the Sierra: a nearly flat chain of lakes under four 13,000-foot peaks.
About this permit
Little Lakes Valley is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point at Mosquito Flat in Rock Creek canyon, one of the highest road-accessible trailheads in the Sierra.
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 allows backpackers starting on this trail to camp at the trailhead the night before their trip, at 10 walk-in sites. The permit does not include Ruby Lake or Mono Pass, and there is no exit to Pine Creek because the old mine road is impassable after a rock slide.
The route
The trail runs south from Mosquito Flat up the valley past the lake chain toward Morgan Pass. Inyo notes evidence of historical mining equipment along the way, along with an old road bed at Morgan Pass.
One useful piece of logistics from Inyo: backpackers starting on this trail are allowed to camp at the trailhead the night before their trip, at 10 walk-in sites. At this elevation that is a real acclimatization advantage.
Two boundaries to know. The Little Lakes Valley trail does not include Ruby Lake or Mono Pass, which are separate reservations, and Inyo states the old mine road between Morgan Lakes and Pine Creek is not passable after a massive rock slide caused significant irreparable damage. There is no exit to Pine Creek.
Why it matters
Inyo National Forest calls this an easy hike to a beautiful chain of lakes, popular for fishing, day hikes and beginning backpackers. Glaciers carved the chain, and the valley is framed by the 13,000-foot peaks of Bear Creek Spire, Mt Dade, Mt. Abbot and Mt. Mills. Nowhere else on the east side gives that much alpine scenery for that little climbing.
The feeling
You step out of the car at over 10,000 feet and walk a valley floor with lakes in a row and big serious peaks at the far end. There is old mining equipment along the way and an abandoned road bed at Morgan Pass, and the whole thing feels bigger than the effort it takes.
Little Lakes Valley hike highlights
- Nearly flat walking on a valley floor above 10,000 feet
- A chain of glacially carved lakes under Bear Creek Spire, Mt Dade, Mt. Abbot and Mt. Mills
- Ten walk-in sites at the trailhead where permit holders may camp the night before
- No Ruby Lake or Mono Pass on this permit
- No through route to Pine Creek
How hard the Little Lakes Valley hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required2/5
- 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-route2/5
Best for: First-time backpackers, families and anglers, and anyone acclimatizing before a harder Sierra trip.
Recommended experience: None beyond carrying a pack. The altitude is the only demand.
Not recommended for: Parties wanting a through-hike, since there is no exit to Pine Creek.
When to hike Little Lakes Valley
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1, and the Rock Creek road governs early access. July through September is the reliable window, with wildflowers at their best in July.
- Peak
- July and August
- Shoulder
- Late June and late September
Summer
Wildflowers in July, warm days, cold nights, afternoon storms.
Crowd level · extreme
- Advantage: Easiest alpine backpacking on the east side
- Advantage: Wildflowers through the valley
- Advantage: Trailhead camping the night before
- Challenge: Extremely popular with day hikers and anglers
- Challenge: Small trailhead parking area
- Challenge: Storm exposure in an open valley
Fall
Cold and clear, quota season running to November 1.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Quiet valley
- Advantage: Sharp light on the peaks
- Advantage: Easier permits
- Challenge: Hard freezes at 10,000 feet
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: The Rock Creek road closes with snow
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°
Little Lakes Valley photography guide
Golden Hour
First light on Bear Creek Spire from the lower lakes, when the valley is still.
Best Light
Evening at the upper lakes, with Mt. Abbot and Mt. Mills catching last sun.
Beat the Crowds
Day hikers fill the first two lakes. Walk to the upper end of the valley and the numbers drop sharply.
Classic Shots
- The lake chain in a row with the 13,000-foot peaks behind
- Old mining equipment along the trail
- Morgan Pass and the abandoned road bed
Little Lakes Valley rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear canister: Inyo requires containers for food and trash here
- A stove, since campfires are banned throughout the valley
- Warm layers, because camp is above 10,000 feet even on the easiest night
- Water treatment
Rules & regulations
- 01No campfires anywhere in this valley
- 02Bear containers are required for storage of food and trash
- 03This permit does not include Ruby Lake or Mono Pass
- 04There is no exit to Pine Creek. The old mine road is not passable after a major rock slide
- 05Maximum group size is 15
- 06John Muir Wilderness regulations apply
Hazards & considerations
- Altitude, which is the one real risk on an otherwise gentle trail
- Afternoon thunderstorms over an open valley
- Cold nights year-round
- Snow lingering at the head of the valley into early summer
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Little Lakes Valley.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Little Lakes Valley · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Little Lakes Valley FAQ
Can I camp at the Little Lakes Valley trailhead the night before?
Yes. Inyo states backpackers starting on this trail are allowed to camp at the trailhead the night before their trip, at 10 walk-in sites.
Does a Little Lakes Valley permit include Mono Pass or Ruby Lake?
No. Inyo states the Little Lakes Valley trail does not include Ruby Lake or Mono Pass. Those are separate reservations.
Can I hike from Little Lakes Valley out to Pine Creek?
No. Inyo states the old mine road between Morgan Lakes and Pine Creek is not passable after a massive rock slide caused significant irreparable damage, and there is no exit to Pine Creek.
Are campfires allowed in Little Lakes Valley?
No. Inyo prohibits campfires anywhere in this valley.
Little Lakes Valley trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Trip Reports
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Little Lakes Valley permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Mono Pass (Rock Creek)
The climb west out of the same trailhead area over Mono Pass toward Pioneer Basin.
Tradeoffs
A real climb and a separate reservation, but far fewer people.
- Same AreaPermit required
Hilton Lakes
A quieter Rock Creek-area basin north of Little Lakes Valley.
Tradeoffs
Much less traffic, with more climbing to reach the lakes.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Treasure Lakes - South Lake
A short trip to a quiet granite basin above Bishop.
Tradeoffs
Similar effort in a less-visited basin, without the peak wall at the end.
Where to stay near Little Lakes Valley
- Pleasant Valley Pit CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Horton Creek CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Four Jeffrey campgroundInyo National Forest
- All California campgrounds
Trip planning
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