Inyo NF Wilderness Permit — Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow)
Inyo National Forest · California
Wilderness permit for entry via Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) in Inyo National Forest. Access to John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Get an alert when Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) 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 Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) were gone within 10 minutes.
Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) reservation dates
- Season
- May 1 to November 1
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) permit
As of September 2026, Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) in Inyo National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) 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.
Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) pro tips
- Camp back from Ediza's east shore, which is closed, and walk to Iceberg at first light
- Never leave food in your car at Reds Meadow. Inyo reports bears breaking into vehicles there in 2026
- Fires are out at all three lakes, so a stove is mandatory
- Enter on Shadow Creek and exit on the High Trail for two different days
- Build day one and the last day around the shuttle schedule
More on Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow): Live availability activityWhen Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) permits open upChance of an opening
How much a Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) permit costs
Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee. Every visitor to Reds Meadow Valley also pays a transportation fee that covers the mandatory shuttle bus.
The Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 2-4 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) landmarks
- 1Agnew Meadows
Shuttle stop number 1. Shadow Creek and River trails share the first three miles.
- 2Olaine Lake junction
Where the Shadow Creek trail splits from the River Trail.
- 3Shadow Lake
No camping here or along Shadow Creek.
- 4Ediza Lake
Under the Minarets. No camping on the east side, no campfires.
Ediza Lake sits directly under the Minarets, and this is the permit that gets you there.
About this permit
Shadow Creek is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point at Agnew Meadows in Reds Meadow Valley, leading to Shadow, Ediza and Iceberg Lakes under the Minarets and Mount Ritter.
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. The Reds Meadow road and shuttle set the practical season.
This permit does not include entry on the River Trail beyond the Shadow Creek junction, though Inyo notes it may include exit on the River or High Trail. Check the area map before booking, because three different permits leave from Agnew Meadows.
The route
Starting from Agnew Meadows, shuttle bus stop number 1, the Shadow Creek and River trails are combined for the first three miles. At the trail junction near Olaine Lake you follow the Shadow Creek trail past Shadow Lake to join the John Muir Trail.
From there you can continue up Shadow Creek to Ediza and Iceberg Lakes, or turn north or south on the John Muir Trail.
Camping is tightly restricted where the pressure is highest: no camping at Shadow Lake, along Shadow Creek, or on the east side of Ediza Lake. Campfires are prohibited at Shadow, Ediza and Iceberg Lakes and above 10,000 feet. The permit does not include entry on the River Trail beyond the Shadow Creek junction, though it may include exit on the River or High Trail.
Why it matters
Inyo National Forest describes this trail following Shadow Creek to glacier fed lakes at the base of the Minarets and Mount Ritter. Ediza and Iceberg Lakes are two of the most photographed places in the Sierra, and Shadow Creek is the entry point that reaches them.
The feeling
The first three miles along the valley are easy and shaded. Then the trail turns up Shadow Creek and climbs beside a cascade to Shadow Lake, and from there the Minarets appear and keep getting bigger until you are camped under them at Ediza.
Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) hike highlights
- A start at Agnew Meadows, shuttle stop number 1, with a mandatory shuttle into Reds Meadow Valley
- Three shared miles with the River Trail before the Olaine Lake junction
- Ediza and Iceberg Lakes under the Minarets and Mount Ritter
- No camping at Shadow Lake, along Shadow Creek, or on the east side of Ediza Lake
- A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
How hard the Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) 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 clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5
Best for: Backpackers and photographers who want to camp under the Minarets, on a short approach.
Recommended experience: A previous overnight at altitude.
Not recommended for: Parties expecting to enter on the River Trail past the Shadow Creek junction, which this permit does not allow.
When to hike Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow)
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1, but the road and shuttle govern access. Mid-July through September is the reliable window, and September gives the sharpest light on the Minarets.
- Peak
- Mid-July through September
- Shoulder
- Early July and early October
Summer
Warm valley walking, cold nights at the lakes, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd level · extreme
- Advantage: The best Minaret views on the east side
- Advantage: Ediza and Iceberg both reachable
- Advantage: JMT connection north or south
- Challenge: One of the most-visited basins in the range
- Challenge: Tight camping restrictions around the lakes
- Challenge: Mosquitoes at Ediza in early summer
Fall
Cold and clear, with the quota season running to November 1 and the shuttle winding down.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Best light of the year on the Minarets
- Advantage: Quieter lakes
- Advantage: Easier permits
- Challenge: Road and shuttle close before the quota season ends
- Challenge: Hard freezes at the lakes
- Challenge: Short days
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Tomorrow: Extreme heat (95°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 4: Extreme heat (97°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 5: Extreme heat (98°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
Today
92°
71°
26%
Wed
95°
74°
Thu
94°
74°
Fri
97°
83°
Sat
98°
86°
Sun
100°
86°
Mon
96°
87°
Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) photography guide
Golden Hour
Sunrise on Banner Peak and Mount Ritter from Ediza Lake.
Best Light
Late afternoon at Iceberg Lake, when the Minarets go into full relief.
Beat the Crowds
Camp legally back from Ediza's east shore and walk up to Iceberg at dawn, before the day traffic arrives from Agnew Meadows.
Classic Shots
- The Minarets reflected in Ediza Lake
- Iceberg Lake below the Minaret headwall
- Shadow Lake with Volcanic Ridge behind
Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear canister: Inyo requires containers for food and trash here
- A stove, since fires are banned at all three lakes and above 10,000 feet
- Water treatment
- Warm layers for camps under the Minarets, which stay cold
Rules & regulations
- 01No campfires at Shadow, Ediza or Iceberg Lakes, and no campfires above 10,000 feet
- 02No camping at Shadow Lake, Shadow Creek, or the east side of Ediza Lake
- 03Bear containers are required for storage of food and trash
- 04This permit does not include entry on the River Trail beyond the Shadow Creek junction
- 05Maximum group size is 15
- 06Not recommended for stock beyond Ediza Lake
- 07Ansel Adams Wilderness regulations apply, and Yosemite wilderness regulations apply if you enter the park
- 08All visitors to Reds Meadow Valley pay a transportation fee that allows use of the mandatory shuttle bus
Hazards & considerations
- Bears in the Reds Meadow backpacker parking, where Inyo reports vehicle break-ins for food in 2026
- Afternoon thunderstorms in an exposed basin under the Minarets
- Snow lingering above Ediza into midsummer
- Shuttle timing at the start and end of the trip
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow).
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) FAQ
Can I camp at Ediza Lake on a Shadow Creek permit?
Yes, but not on the east side of the lake, and not at Shadow Lake or along Shadow Creek. Inyo also prohibits campfires at Shadow, Ediza and Iceberg Lakes.
Can I start on the River Trail with a Shadow Creek permit?
Not beyond the Shadow Creek junction. Inyo states this permit does not include entry on the River Trail past that junction, though it may include exit on the River or High Trail.
How do I get to the Shadow Creek trailhead?
Agnew Meadows is shuttle stop number 1 in Reds Meadow Valley. Inyo states all visitors to Reds Meadow Valley pay a transportation fee that allows use of the mandatory shuttle bus.
Can I join the John Muir Trail from Shadow Creek?
Yes. Inyo says the Shadow Creek trail passes Shadow Lake to join the John Muir Trail, from where you may go north or south.
Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow) permit
- Same AreaPermit required
High Trail
The PCT high line from the same trailhead, joining the JMT near Thousand Island Lake.
Tradeoffs
Bigger views on the approach, but it does not reach Ediza directly.
- Same AreaPermit required
River Trail (Agnew Meadow)
The valley-floor route up the San Joaquin from the same trailhead.
Tradeoffs
Easier walking and a separate reservation, with fewer people.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Minaret Lake
The other lake directly under the Minarets, reached from Devils Postpile.
Tradeoffs
A steeper approach and a separate permit, with far fewer people at the lake.
Where to stay near Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadow)
- Salton Sea Sra New Camp (sites 26-50) campgroundSalton Sea SRA
- Salton Sea Sra Mecca Beach Campground (sites 106-159)Salton Sea SRA
- Cottonwood Campground (Ca)Joshua Tree National Park
- All California campgrounds
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