California Backpacking Permits: Important 2024 Dates
So, you’re trying to plan a backcountry trip in California? So are lots of other people. Don’t let that get you down though. There is plenty of wilderness out there for all of us! Of course, the most popular places are going to have the most competitive permit process. And the reason these places are the most popular is due to how amazingly beautiful they are! So, if you’re looking to score permits at the most iconic places in California, be sure to keep reading, and mark these dates down in your calendar! Happy permit hunting!
Why Are Permits & Quotas Necessary?
In the most popular places, there are thousands of people wanting to backpack and get out into the wilderness. And most of them want to go at the most popular time of the year (usually summertime). And on the most sought-after, Instagram-ready trails (yes, it’s OK to admit it). There is a difference between permits and quotas, though. Let’s break it down.
A permit is essentially a piece of paper that acts like an admission ticket. Having a permit to wilderness camp is required in some places, and not required in others. Permits are issued by the land management agency that oversees the place you want to hike in. Sometimes you self-register by filling one out at a visitor center or even trailhead, and other times you need to call in advance, reserve one online, or enter a lottery. You usually need to give some identifying information and indicate the trailhead you are starting from and where you intend on camping.
Permits are important because it allows the land management agency to track the use of an area or trailhead. Permit data can be critical for agencies to get more funding to maintain trails, build campsites, etc.
Quotas, on the other hand, are usually what people are the most saddened by. If there are trailhead or campsite quotas, there will definitely be permits required for your trip. Quotas limit the number of people who can start hiking a trail on a given day, or dictate if you can camp at a certain site or backcountry camping zone on a given night.
Quotas sound evil, but they’re really not. They’re a critical tool for reducing human impact at the most popular and sought-after backcountry locations. Could you imagine hiking out to a beautiful lake and finding 50 other people camped there? Where would those 50 people do their potty business all day? Would you have to pitch your tent right next to a dozen other strangers? It’s probably not the peaceful backcountry experience you were expecting, right?
Each park, forest, wilderness area, etc. does permits and quotas a little differently, so it’s important to do your research on the rules.
A Chronological List of Permit Dates for Popular California Backpacking Destinations
Note: If a quota date is listed, that indicates that dates outside of that time frame are not subject to a quota, but still require a permit. These permits are typically issued immediately online, or in person at ranger stations near the trailhead. Each land agency does non-quota period permits differently, please read the “fine print” on each website.
King Range Wilderness (Lost Coast Trail)
Permits available: October 1, 2023.
Type of availability: Daily release on a rolling 3-month basis at 7:00 am PT (i.e. January 1, 2024 permits released on October 1, 2023; Jan 2, 2024 permits released on Oct. 2, 2023, etc.)
Popularity: High for spring, summer, and early fall. Moderate for late fall and winter.
Permit fee: $6.00 per group.
Permits available in person? No.
Website for permit reservations.
Read my Lost Coast Trail guide!
Inyo National Forest
Permits available: November 1, 2023.
Type of availability: Daily release on a rolling 6-month basis at 7:00 am PT (i.e. May 1, 2024 permits released on Nov. 1, 2023; May 2, 2024 permits released on Nov. 2, 2023, etc.).
Quota period: May 1, 2024 - November 1, 2024.
Popularity: High for most trails.
Permit fee: $6/ permit, plus $5/ person, or $15/ person if the trip includes entry or exit of the Mt. Whitney zone.
Permits available in person? No.
Other info: 60% of permits are available with the 6-month reservation. 40% are released 2 weeks before the start of the trip. You can book available spots online up to the day of wilderness entry.
Sierra National Forest
Permits available: First week of January 2024.
Type of availability: Daily release on a rolling 6-month basis at 7:00 am PT. The initial release of permits during the first week of January would include all of May and June.
Popularity: Low - moderate.
Permit fee: $6/ permit, plus $5/ person, or $15/ person if the trip exits in the Mt. Whitney zone.
Permits available in person? No. The previous “walk-up” permits are online, though the Sierra NF doesn’t indicate when these become available on their website.
Other info: You can start in the Sierra National Forest and continue into any adjacent wilderness area, including Yosemite National Park, Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, and Inyo National Forest. Travel must be continuous.
Website for permit reservations.
Find backpacking trip inspiration:
Yosemite National Park
Permits available: November 12, 2023.
Type of availability: Weekly lottery on a rolling 24-week basis (i.e. lottery is open from January 8th - 14th, 2023 for hiking dates beginning June 25th - July 1st, 2023). See the full chart here.
Quota period: April 26, 2024 - October 20, 2024.
Popularity: High for the summer season, moderate-high for spring and fall. Most trails are extremely popular.
Permit fee: $10 per lottery entry. $5 additional per person once a successful permit is booked.
Permits available in person? In-person walk-ups are available at certain locations from October 23rd, 2023 - April 25th, 2024.
Other info: Once the lottery for the week has run, any leftover permits will be released for general sale and ready to book immediately. They will remain available until 3 days before the trip start date.
Website for permit reservations.
*60% of permits are booked in advance through the lottery. The remaining 40% are available as “walk-ups” on recreation.gov, which are released 1 week before a trip and bookable until 3 days before the start of a trip. Any spots still available between 2-0 days before a trip can be claimed in-person at a wilderness center in the park.
Find backpacking trip inspiration:
North Dome Overnighter
Evelyn Lake & Vogelsang
Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne
Upper Cathedral Lake
Upper Yosemite Falls Trail
Lake Vernon in Hetch Hetchy
The John Muir Trail
Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park
Permits available: November 24, 2023.
Type of availability: Daily release on a rolling 6-month basis at 7:00 am PT (i.e. May 26, 2024 permits released on Nov. 26, 2023; May 27, 2024 permits released on Nov. 27, 2023, etc.).
Quota period: May 24, 2024 - September 28, 2024.
Popularity: Moderate - high.
Permit fee: $15/ permit, plus $5/ person.
Permits available in person? Yes. A small portion of permits are available at the ranger station closest to your desired starting trailhead beginning at 1:00 pm the day before wilderness entry. Read more here.
Other info: Online reservations will stop one week prior to wilderness entry date. All unreserved permits will become eligible for in-person walk-ups. During the non-quota dates (September 24, 2023 - May 23, 2024), all permits are obtained in-person only.
Website for permit reservations.
Find backpacking trip inspiration:
The High Sierra Trail
The John Muir Trail
Desolation Wilderness
Permits available: November 24, 2023.
Type of availability: Daily release on a rolling 6-month basis at 7:00 am PT (i.e. May 26, 2024 permits released on Nov. 26, 2023; May 27, 2024 permits released on Nov. 27, 2023, etc.).
Quota period: May 24, 2024 - September 30, 2024.
Popularity: Moderate - high.
Permit fee: $6/ permit, plus $5/ person for one night stays, or $10/ person for stays of 2-14 nights.
Permits available in person? Yes. A small portion of permits are available on the day of wilderness entry. You’ll pick them up at the Placerville Ranger Station or Lake Tahoe Basin Supervisor’s Office. The stations open at 8:00 am. You should anticipate getting there earlier for popular spots (between 6-7 am).
Website for permit reservations.
Find backpacking trip inspiration:
Humboldt - Toiyabe National Forest
Permits available: December 15, 2023.
Type of availability: Daily release on a rolling 6-month basis at 7:00 am PT (i.e. June 15, 2024 permits released on Dec. 15, 2023; June 16, 2024 permits released on Dec. 16, 2023, etc.).
Quota period: June 15, 2024 - October 15, 2024.
Popularity: Low - moderate.
Permit fee: $6/ permit, plus $3/ person.
Permits available in person? No, not during the quota season. Yes during the non-quota season at the Bridgeport Ranger Station.*
Other info: 50% of permits are available 6 months in advance, the remaining 50% are available online 3 days prior to wilderness entry.
Website for permit reservations.
*The National Forest website explicitly states that advanced & “late” reservations of permits must happen online at recreation.gov. However, it also talks about obtaining permits in person at the ranger station. I always err on the side of caution, especially with under-funded government agencies. I would book online.
Catalina Island (Trans-Catalina Trail)
Permits available: January 1, 2024.
Type of availability: All campsites for the entire calendar year are released on 1/1/2024 at 12:00 am PT.
Popularity: High for all seasons.
Permit fee: Each campsite has a different cost, but the permit itself is free.
Permits available in person? No. But you can try calling the Catalina Island Conservancy for booking help.
Read my Trans-Catalina Trail guide!
Lassen Volcanic National Park - *NEW*
Permits available: Ongoing.
Type of availability: Daily release on a rolling 90-day basis at 7:00 am PT (i.e. March 17, 2024 permits released on Jan. 17, 2024, April 1, 2024 permits released on February 1, 2024, etc.).
Popularity: Low.
Permit fee: $6/ permit.
Permits available in person? No.
Other info: There is currently no quota for wilderness permits in Lassen National Park, but beginning in 2024, all permit reservations must be made online. Permits are required year-round.
Joshua Tree National Park - *NEW*
Permits available: Ongoing.
Type of availability: Daily release on a rolling 6-month basis at 7:00 am PT (i.e. June 15, 2024 permits released on Dec. 15, 2023; June 16, 2024 permits released on Dec. 16, 2023, etc.).
Popularity: Moderate.
Permit fee: $6/ permit.
Permits available in person? Yes, at Park Headquarters.
Other info: This is a semi-new system for Joshua Tree. There are quotas for certain areas of the park in very popular spots, and no quotas in others.
Mt. Whitney
Permits available: February 1 - March 1, 2024
Type of availability: Lottery system. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm PT on March 1, 2024.
Quota period: May 1, 2024 - November 1, 2024.
Popularity: High.
Permit fee: $6/ entry, plus $15/ person.
Permits available in person? No.
Other info: The lottery is for overnight and day hiking trips into the Mt. Whitney zone. This lottery is not for Mountaineer’s Route trips. Read the extensive information about the lottery here. All unclaimed lottery permits will be released on April 20, 2024 at 7:00 am PT if you are not successful in the lottery. Trips into the Whitney zone can be booked same-day if there are cancellations during the quota period.
Point Reyes National Seashore
Permits available: Every single day - there is no special quota or open period.
Type of availability: Varies per campsite. There are 3-month rolling releases, 14-day rolling releases, and same-day campsite releases at 7:00 am PT.
Popularity: High
Campsite fee: $30/ site (max 6 people)
Permits available in person? No.
Other info: Due to the specific nature of the campsite reservations and which ones are available on shorter notice, please read all of the information on the “Facility Information” tab here. You don’t need to clarify at booking which trails you decide to hike to get to your campground, but you should plan this out in advance. Every campsite is hike-in only.
Questions about wilderness permits in California? Drop them down below and I’ll do my best to help you out!