Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Piute Pass (North Lake)
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Piute Pass (North Lake) in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Piute Pass (North Lake) 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 Piute Pass (North Lake) were gone within 10 minutes.
Piute Pass (North Lake) reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Piute Pass (North Lake) permit
As of September 2026, Piute Pass (North Lake) in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Piute Pass (North Lake) is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Piute Pass (North Lake) permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Piute Pass (North Lake) 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.
Piute Pass (North Lake) pro tips
- Park at North Lake early, because the lot is small and fills
- Camp in Humphreys Basin rather than at Piute Lake for real solitude
- Fires are out from the trailhead to the pass, so carry a stove
- This is one end of the North Lake to South Lake Loop, with Bishop Pass at the other
- Late September is the aspen window in the lower canyon
More on Piute Pass (North Lake): Live availability activityWhen Piute Pass (North Lake) permits open upChance of an opening
How much a Piute Pass (North Lake) permit costs
Piute Pass (North Lake) permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
The Piute Pass (North Lake) hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 2-5 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Piute Pass (North Lake) landmarks
- 1North Lake
Trailhead near the Piute Crags. Park at North Lake, not in the campground.
- 2Loch Leven
The first lake on the climb.
- 3Piute Pass
Inyo's stated pass elevation.
- 4Hutchinson Meadow and Piute Creek
The descent west to the John Muir Trail junction.
Aspens at the trailhead, an 11,420-foot pass at the top, and Humphreys Basin spread out behind it.
About this permit
Piute Pass at North Lake is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point above Bishop, climbing the North Fork of Bishop Creek into the John Muir Wilderness and over Piute Pass into Humphreys 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.
The permit may continue on the John Muir Trail, and it is one end of the North Lake to South Lake Loop. It does not include Lamarck Lakes, which is a separate reservation from the same road.
The route
From North Lake the trail climbs the North Fork of Bishop Creek past Loch Leven and Piute Lake to Piute Pass at 11,420 feet.
Beyond the pass you can wander Humphreys Basin, which is open enough to camp almost anywhere legal, or drop west to Hutchinson Meadow and the John Muir Trail junction at Piute Creek. Inyo confirms a Piute Pass permit may continue on the John Muir Trail.
Inyo also names this as one end of the popular North Lake to South Lake Loop, paired with the Bishop Pass trail. The permit does not include Lamarck Lakes, and there is no parking in the campground. Park at North Lake.
Why it matters
Inyo National Forest describes the Piute Pass trail beginning near North Lake and the colorful Piute Crags, starting in pine and quaking aspen and climbing steadily up a glacier carved canyon along the North Fork of Bishop Creek past Loch Leven and Piute Lake. From Piute Pass at 11,420 feet you can explore Humphreys Basin with its high alpine lakes and tarns bordered by Glacier Divide and Mt. Humphreys, or descend to Hutchinson Meadow and the John Muir Trail junction at Piute Creek.
The feeling
The lower canyon in autumn is the best aspen display on the east side. Higher up it is all rock and water, and at the pass the ground simply opens: Humphreys Basin is a mile-wide shelf of tundra and tarns with the Glacier Divide across it.
Piute Pass (North Lake) hike highlights
- A steady climb past Loch Leven and Piute Lake to an 11,420-foot pass
- Humphreys Basin beyond the pass, bordered by Glacier Divide and Mt. Humphreys
- A permit that may continue on the John Muir Trail
- One end of the North Lake to South Lake Loop
- Parking at North Lake, not in the campground
How hard the Piute Pass (North Lake) hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required3/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5
Best for: Backpackers who want open alpine country fast, and parties walking the North Lake to South Lake Loop.
Recommended experience: A previous night above 10,000 feet.
Not recommended for: Anyone uneasy camping above treeline with no shelter from weather.
When to hike Piute Pass (North Lake)
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. July through September is the reliable window for the pass and the basin. Late September and early October bring the aspen colour in the lower canyon.
- Peak
- July through September
- Shoulder
- Late June and early October
Summer
Snow off the pass by mid-July most years, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Humphreys Basin fully open
- Advantage: Direct connection to the John Muir Trail
- Advantage: North Lake to South Lake Loop is walkable
- Challenge: A busy Bishop-area trailhead
- Challenge: No shelter in the basin during storms
- Challenge: Limited parking at North Lake
Fall
Cold, dry and clear, with aspen colour low in the canyon. Quota season to November 1.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: The best aspen display on the east side
- Advantage: Quiet basin
- Advantage: Easier permits
- Challenge: Hard freezes above 11,000 feet
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Early snow closes the pass
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°
Piute Pass (North Lake) photography guide
Golden Hour
Late September evening on the aspens below Loch Leven.
Best Light
Sunrise on Mt. Humphreys from the tarns in the basin.
Beat the Crowds
Traffic concentrates on the trail to the pass. Walk a mile off it in Humphreys Basin and you will be alone.
Classic Shots
- The Piute Crags from the lower canyon
- Piute Lake below the final switchbacks
- Mt. Humphreys across the open basin
Piute Pass (North Lake) rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup
- A stove, since fires are banned from the trailhead to the pass
- Wind shell for an exposed basin above the pass
- Water treatment
Rules & regulations
- 01No campfires from the trailhead to Piute Pass, or above 10,000 feet north of Glacier Divide
- 02Food 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 from a tree trunk where containers are not required
- 03No parking in the campground: park at North Lake
- 04Maximum group size is 15
- 05This permit does not include Lamarck Lakes
- 06Sequoia and Kings Canyon regulations apply if you enter the park, including no pets, no bear spray, a group size limit of 8 in Darwin Canyon or Dusy Basin, and a two-night camping limit in Dusy Basin
Hazards & considerations
- Storm exposure in Humphreys Basin, which has no shelter at all
- Snow on the pass into early summer
- Cold nights above 11,000 feet in any month
- Bears in the lower canyon
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Piute Pass (North Lake).
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Piute Pass (North Lake) · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Piute Pass (North Lake) FAQ
How high is Piute Pass?
Inyo National Forest gives Piute Pass as 11,420 feet.
Can I hike the John Muir Trail on a Piute Pass permit?
Yes. Inyo states a Piute Pass permit may continue on the John Muir Trail, which it reaches at Piute Creek below Hutchinson Meadow.
Does a Piute Pass permit include Lamarck Lakes?
No. Inyo states the Piute Pass trail does not include Lamarck Lakes, which is a separate reservation.
Where do I park for the Piute Pass trailhead?
At North Lake. Inyo states there is no parking in the campground.
Piute Pass (North Lake) trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Piute Pass (North Lake) permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Bishop Pass -South Lake
The other end of the North Lake to South Lake Loop, over Bishop Pass into Dusy Basin.
Tradeoffs
Higher, rockier and more contested, with the JMT reached at LeConte Canyon.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Pine Creek Pass
The long way into the same Humphreys Basin country from Pine Creek canyon.
Tradeoffs
Twenty miles to the JMT instead of a short crossing, but easy permits.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Lamarck Lakes
A short climb from the same road to the Lamarck Lakes basin.
Tradeoffs
Much less mileage, on a separate reservation.
Where to stay near Piute Pass (North Lake)
- Pleasant Valley Pit CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Horton Creek CampgroundAlabama Hills
- Four Jeffrey campgroundInyo National Forest
- All California campgrounds
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