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Sierra National Forest Wilderness Permit permit area in Sierra National Forest - backcountry hiking destination
Each entry point carries its own quota

Sierra National Forest Wilderness Permit

Sierra National Forest · California

One overnight permit covering 55 entry trails into the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Dinkey Lakes and Kaiser Wildernesses. You reserve a trailhead and a start date, then walk where you like.

Get an alert when a spot opens in your Sierra NF Wilderness zone.

Pick the zone you need

Sierra NF Wilderness sells by zone. Pick the one you need and we'll scan just that zone for openings, so you don't hear about areas you can't use.

Party

When it opens

6 months
First come, first served from six months before your entry dateYou book on Recreation.gov.
2 weeks
First come, first served from 14 days before your entry datewalk-up quotaYou book on Recreation.gov.

Source: recreation.gov

70% of the openings our scanner caught on Sierra NF Wilderness were gone within 10 minutes.

Sierra NF Wilderness reservation dates

Season
Year-round
max group size
15people

How to get a Sierra NF Wilderness permit

As of September 2026, Sierra NF Wilderness in Sierra National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Sierra NF Wilderness is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Sierra NF Wilderness permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens.

Type
Overnight
Location
Sierra Nevada, CA

  1. Step 1: Create a Recreation.gov account

    Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

  2. Step 2: Know the release schedule

    Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.

  3. Step 3: Be ready when permits drop

    Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

  4. Step 4: Monitor for cancellations

    If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Book at Recreation.gov
Learn more:
Best booking timesCancellation huntingRecreation.gov tips

Sierra NF Wilderness pro tips

  1. Quota is only on your entry date and entry trail: once you are in, you can move between the four wildernesses and on into Yosemite, SEKI or Inyo on the same permit
  2. Walk-up spaces are released online 14 days out and only online; USFS says "We do not create walk-up permits at the Stations"
  3. If your trip exits over Mt. Whitney you must pick that option when you book, and the per-person fee triples
  4. Call the issuing office three days before your start date to confirm and get the permit printed, or the reservation is voided as a no-show
  5. Changing entry trail or entry date means a brand-new reservation and a second set of fees, so get the trailhead right the first time

More on Sierra NF Wilderness: Live availability activityWhen Sierra NF Wilderness permits open upDo I need a Sierra National Forest Wilderness permit?

How much a Sierra NF Wilderness permit costs

Sierra NF Wilderness permit fee: $6 reservation + $5/person ($15/person if exiting Mt. Whitney).

The Sierra NF Wilderness hike

Route Type
Varies
Duration
2-14 days
Difficulty
Strenuous
Elevation Range
5,000 - 13,000 ft

Sierra NF Wilderness landmarks

  1. 1Florence Lake Trailhead

    John Muir Wilderness entry and the classic western approach to the JMT over Selden Pass.

  2. 2Mono Creek

    John Muir Wilderness entry into the upper Mono Creek drainage and the JMT/PCT corridor.

  3. 3Maxson (Courtright)

    John Muir Wilderness entry from Courtright Reservoir, with outfitter and pack-stock variants of the same quota.

  4. 4Isberg Trailhead

    Ansel Adams Wilderness entry from the Bass Lake district, with a route into Yosemite Wilderness.

  5. 5Fernandez Trailhead

    Ansel Adams Wilderness entry, another Yosemite-boundary approach from the west.

  6. 6Potter Pass

    Kaiser Wilderness entry, one of the short weekend options near Huntington Lake.

  7. 7Willow Meadow / Dinkey Lake

    Dinkey Lakes Wilderness entry into a compact basin of granite lakes.

The quiet side of the John Muir Wilderness: the same lakes and passes as the Whitney corridor, entered from the west where nobody queues.

About this permit

One Recreation.gov permit covers overnight travel into four wildernesses on the west side of the Sierra crest: the John Muir, the Ansel Adams, Dinkey Lakes and Kaiser. USFS sells it as 55 separate entry trails, each with its own daily quota, spread across the High Sierra and Bass Lake ranger districts.

What you reserve is a start date and an entry trail, nothing more. Once you are through, the permit is good for continuous travel (including across the boundary into Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon or Inyo) for up to 14 days in one area. Reservations open six months ahead on a rolling basis, with a January release for the start of the season and a walk-up quota that goes online 14 days before each arrival date.

The route

The permit is a single product covering four wildernesses, and which one you get depends entirely on the trailhead you reserve.

The Ansel Adams entries (Isberg, Fernandez, Walton, Chiquito, Mammoth) climb out of the Bass Lake district in the north toward the Ritter Range and the Yosemite boundary. Several of them cross into Yosemite Wilderness on the same permit.

The John Muir entries run out of the High Sierra district in the middle: Florence, Bear Ridge, Mono Creek, Devils/Graveyard and Maxson from Courtright. This is the JMT and PCT corridor, and Florence Lake is the classic western resupply approach for hikers coming over Selden Pass.

Dinkey Lakes and Kaiser are the smaller, closer-in wildernesses, with short entries like Cliff Lake, Nelson, Potter Pass and Sample Meadow that make a weekend rather than an expedition.

Why it matters

Almost everyone who plans a High Sierra trip plans it from the east side, out of Inyo National Forest, and competes for the same handful of famous trailheads. Sierra National Forest holds the western half of the same country: the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wildernesses, plus Dinkey Lakes and Kaiser, reached from Florence Lake, Courtright, Huntington and the Bass Lake district. USFS calls it "the longest roadless section of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range," and several of these 55 entry trails put you on the JMT or the PCT within a day.

The feeling

The drive up is long and the ranger station is in a town most people have never heard of. Then the road ends at a reservoir at 7,000 feet, the pack goes on, and within a few hours the granite starts. Lakes appear one after another with nobody at them. There is no queue for a permit here and no crowd at the pass, which is exactly why people who know the range keep coming back to this side of it.

Sierra NF Wilderness hike highlights

  1. A trailhead-and-date reservation, not a site or an itinerary
  2. Quota only on your entry date; no exit quota anywhere on the Sierra
  3. Granite lake basins between roughly 7,000 and 12,000 feet
  4. Long, slow mountain driving to most trailheads
  5. In-person permit pickup at Prather or North Fork, after a phone call three days out

How hard the Sierra NF Wilderness hike is

  • Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
  • Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
  • NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity3/5
  • CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5

Best for: Backpackers ready for multi-day trips at altitude who would rather drive further than compete for an east-side trailhead.

Recommended experience: Prior multi-day backpacking. Snow travel skills for anything before mid-July.

Not recommended for: Anyone relying on a phone for navigation or rescue, and first-time backpackers going straight to the high passes.

Trailhead information

Florence Lake

Primary

John Muir Wilderness entry and the standard western approach to the JMT and PCT corridor.

  • Restrooms
  • No water
  • No Service

Before you rely on this water

Treat everything. There is no potable supply at the trailhead and USFS expects you to be self-sufficient.

Parking

Trailhead parking at the reservoir. A ferry across the lake shortcuts several miles when it is running.

Getting There

Long paved and single-lane approach from Highway 168 past Huntington Lake and Kaiser Pass. Slow going and not suitable for large vehicles.

Nearest Services

Lakeshore and Huntington Lake. Full services in Fresno or Prather.

Trailhead information

Maxson (Courtright)

Alternate

John Muir Wilderness entry from Courtright Reservoir, with separate outfitter and pack-stock quota variants.

  • Restrooms
  • No water
  • No Service

Before you rely on this water

No potable water. Filter or treat from the reservoir and creeks.

Getting There

Paved most of the way from Shaver Lake via Dinkey Creek Road, then reservoir access roads.

Nearest Services

Shaver Lake.

Trailhead information

Isberg

Alternate

Ansel Adams Wilderness entry from the Bass Lake district with a route through to Yosemite Wilderness.

  • No restrooms
  • No water
  • No Service

Before you rely on this water

No trailhead water. Carry what you need for the climb.

Getting There

Forest roads from the Bass Lake district. USFS flagged bridge construction near Hemlock Crossing from July 6 to August 15, 2026, with camping closed at Hemlock Crossing during that period.

Nearest Services

North Fork, where the Bass Lake Ranger District office is.

Trailhead information

Potter Pass

Alternate

Kaiser Wilderness entry near Huntington Lake, one of the short weekend options.

  • No restrooms
  • No water
  • Weak Signal

Before you rely on this water

No trailhead water.

Getting There

Off Kaiser Pass Road above Huntington Lake, paved to the turnoff.

Nearest Services

Lakeshore, Huntington Lake.

When to hike Sierra NF Wilderness

Best time to visit

Mid-July through September, once the passes clear and creek crossings drop. Permits are required and available year-round, but the high country is under snow well into summer in a big year, and the forest roads to several trailheads close in winter.

Peak
July-September
Shoulder
Late June and October

  • Spring

    Snow still on the passes and creeks running high with melt. Many access roads not yet open.

    Crowd level · low

    • Advantage: Empty quotas
    • Advantage: Waterfalls and full creeks
    • Advantage: Wildflowers at lower elevations
    • Challenge: Snow-covered passes
    • Challenge: Dangerous creek crossings
    • Challenge: Road closures to high trailheads
    • Challenge: Mosquitoes as the snow goes

  • Summer

    The main season. Passes clear, roads open, warm days and cold nights.

    Crowd level · moderate

    • Advantage: Everything open
    • Advantage: Long daylight
    • Advantage: Warmest lake swimming in the range
    • Challenge: Afternoon thunderstorms
    • Challenge: Peak quota competition on the popular entries
    • Challenge: Fire closures and smoke in a bad year

  • Fall

    The best walking of the year: settled weather, no bugs, gold aspens in the lower canyons.

    Crowd level · low

    • Advantage: Stable weather
    • Advantage: No mosquitoes
    • Advantage: Easy quota availability
    • Advantage: Autumn colour in the aspen
    • Challenge: Cold nights well below freezing
    • Challenge: Short days
    • Challenge: Early storms can arrive without much warning

  • Winter

    Deep snow, most trailheads unreachable by road.

    Crowd level · low

    • Advantage: Complete solitude
    • Advantage: Permits trivially available
    • Challenge: Avalanche terrain
    • Challenge: Road closures
    • Challenge: Full winter mountaineering skills required

Weather Forecast

Trailhead (5,000 ft)

⚠️

Backcountry Tips

  • Today: Expect 28°F colder at summit. Layer up.
  • Today: Freezing temps at elevation. Bring insulation even if warm below.
  • Tomorrow: Expect 28°F colder at summit. Layer up.

Today

☀️

60°

34°

Wed

☀️

61°

46°

Thu

☀️

64°

48°

Fri

☁️

70°

46°

Sat

☁️

69°

46°

Sun

☁️

67°

45°

Mon

☀️

65°

45°

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

Sierra NF Wilderness photography guide

Golden Hour

Late light on the Silver Divide and the Ritter Range from the lake basins. West-side entries put the peaks in front of you at sunset rather than behind you.

Best Light

First and last hour. Midday at 10,000 feet flattens granite completely.

Beat the Crowds

Quota is per entry trail, and there are 55 of them. Pick anything other than the two or three obvious ones and you will have the first day mostly to yourself.

Classic Shots

  1. The Silver Divide across Lake Thomas A. Edison
  2. Granite lake basins in the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness
  3. The Ritter Range from the Ansel Adams entries above Isberg
  4. Reflections in the Kaiser Wilderness lakes at dawn

Sierra NF Wilderness rules, gear and safety

Gear checklist

Required
  • Bear-resistant food canister for the areas that require it
  • Map and compass or a downloaded offline map: most of the area has no cell service
  • Water treatment
  • Photo ID matching the permit for pickup
  • Layers for high-elevation weather in any month

Recommended gear

  • Satellite messenger for a range with no coverage
  • Microspikes and an ice axe for early-season passes
  • A trowel and the discipline to bury waste 6 to 8 inches deep and 100 feet from water
  • Mesh strainer and a plan for grey water

Rules & regulations

  1. 01Permit required year-round for overnight trips in all four wildernesses
  2. 02Maximum group size 15, and separate groups may not combine past 15
  3. 03Every person counts for group size, quota and fees, regardless of age
  4. 04The signed permit must be in the group leader's possession and shown to rangers on request
  5. 05The whole group must start on the entry date and at the entry trail named on the permit
  6. 06Permits are not issued for stays longer than 14 days in one area
  7. 07Only the group leader or the listed alternate may pick up or use the permit; names cannot be changed or added
  8. 08Bear-resistant food storage is required in specific areas and recommended everywhere
  9. 09No drones: they are prohibited in wilderness
  10. 10Pack out all trash; do not burn or bury food or rubbish

Hazards & considerations

  • Altitude: USFS tells permit holders outright to "learn symptoms of altitude sickness"
  • No cell service across most of the forest; do not plan to navigate or call for help by phone
  • Bears, and vehicle break-ins at trailheads where food is left in cars
  • Early-season snow on passes and high creek crossings from snowmelt
  • Afternoon thunderstorms on exposed granite in summer
  • Fire restrictions that change through the season and can close areas outright

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Sierra NF Wilderness.

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Sierra NF Wilderness · 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.

Sierra NF Wilderness FAQ

Do I need a Sierra National Forest wilderness permit?

For any overnight trip, yes, year-round. USFS: "A permit is required year-round for overnight trips into John Muir, Ansel Adams, Dinkey Lakes and Kaiser Wildernesses." Day hiking on Sierra NF trails does not need one.

When do Sierra National Forest wilderness permits become available?

Six months ahead of your start date, on a rolling basis: "Each year quota season permits become available for advanced reservations six months in advance of your trip start day. Permits are released during the first week of January and then 6 months in advance of the start date." There is no lottery.

How does the Sierra National Forest permit quota work?

Per entry trail, per start date only. USFS: "When selecting quota, you are reserving a specific start date and entry trail. You only need space on the entry date … No trail exit quota applies on the Sierra." Anyone joining you later on a different trail or date needs their own permit and their own quota space.

How many people can be on one Sierra National Forest wilderness permit?

Fifteen. USFS: "Max group size is 15 people" and "Groups cannot combine if they would exceed 15 people." Note that Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon cap some areas at 8 to 12, so a 15-person group cannot simply cross over.

Are there walk-up Sierra National Forest wilderness permits?

Yes, but only online. "Walk-up Quota is only available on line at recreation.gov, 14 days in advance of an arrival date. We do not create walk-up permits at the Stations." That 14-day release is one of the best moments to have an alert on a full trailhead.

Can I use a Sierra National Forest permit to hike the JMT or PCT?

Yes, from this side. Several Sierra NF trailheads feed the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails, and the permit is "valid for continuous wilderness travel, including across the boundary of adjacent wilderness areas in our neighboring parks or forests." Leaving the trail to re-enter somewhere else voids it.

Sierra NF Wilderness trail conditions and trip reports

Trail Conditions

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Trip Reports

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Alternatives to a Sierra NF Wilderness permit

  • Similar ExperiencePermit required

    Inyo NF — Piute Pass (North Lake)

    An east-side entry into the same John Muir Wilderness, from Bishop rather than from Fresno.

    Tradeoffs

    A much shorter approach to the crest, and far better known, which is exactly why the Inyo quotas are harder. Sierra NF is the quieter half of the same country.

  • Same AreaPermit required

    John Muir Trail (Yosemite)

    Several Sierra NF entries put you on the JMT within a day, and Yosemite runs its own lottery for trips that start inside the park.

    Tradeoffs

    Yosemite's permit is a lottery with much heavier demand. Entering from the Sierra NF side is a way onto the same trail without it.

  • Similar ExperiencePermit required

    High Sierra Trail

    Sequoia's classic west-to-east crossing, on the same granite and the same crest immediately to the south.

    Tradeoffs

    A different quota system and stricter group-size limits in places, though continuous travel from a Sierra NF entry into SEKI is allowed on this permit.

Where to stay near Sierra NF Wilderness

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