Inyo National Forest

Recreational Activities - How to Obtain a Wilderness Permit for Inyo National Forest

When is a Wilderness Permit Required? Wilderness permits are required year-round for all overnight trips into the Golden Trout, John Muir, Ansel Adams and Hoover Wilderness areas. Day Use wilderness permits are required year-round to access the Mt. Whitney Zone. If your trip will start from an Inyo National Forest trailhead, you must obtain a wilderness permit through the procedures listed below.

How do I get a permit to start in Inyo National Forest? Wilderness permits are issued at each of our visitor center permit issuing locations. Permits are issued shortly before the trip, to insure the most current information is available. Walk in permits are available."first come first serve" to visitors starting at 11a.m. on the day before your entry date. Demand for walk-in wilderness permits is high on weekends, holidays and during the months of July and August. Reserved permits can be picked up one or two days before the trip. Reserved space that is unclaimed will be made available for walk in requests. Because quotas are based on the number of people starting at that trail each day, your party must enter the back country on the entry date and trail indicated on your reservation / permit and you cannot have more people than indicated.

Are Wilderness Permits Limited? Yes, seasonal quotas limit the number of people allowed to enter daily on most trails.

Non- quota means there is no limit on how many people will be issued permits. For individual trail quotas, view a list of Inyo National Forest trail quotas. Self-issue permit forms are available during the non quota season. Trips accessing Mt. Williamson via George Creek cannot use self issue permits due to Bighorn Sheep seasonal closures.

What is the difference between a day use permit and an overnight? Day use is for hiking on a single day. You can start a day hike before dawn but you will not sleep or camp along the trail. Overnight permits are for backpacking where you will stay in the wilderness for one or more nights. A day use permit cannot be used as part of an overnight trip. If you have an overnight permit for entering the Mt. Whitney zone you do not need a day use permit.

What if my trip will include travel in one of the National Parks? Wilderness permits are valid for the duration of the trip, including travel to adjoining National Parks and National Forests.You do not need multiple permits for a continuous trip. If your trip will begin in a National Park you would obtain your permit from the park. For trips that originate in Sequoia/Kings Canyons National Park call (559) 565-3766, for Yosemite National Park call (209) 372-0740. If you exit the wilderness for more than 24 hours or if you exit and then re-enter the wilderness at a different trailhead, then a trip is not considered continuous, and a new permit would be required. If your trip includes travel in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park you must pick up the permit in person during visitor center open hours, night-drop box service will not be available.

Are there regulations I should know about while planning my trip? Many Inyo National Forest trails require bear resistant canisters for food storage. Some areas have regulations affecting visitors with dogs or pack goats in order to protect Bighorn Sheep. In addition, there are campfire closures based on elevation and specific area resources. National Park regulations apply if you will enter park boundaries. Please contact the visitor center nearest the trail you plan to visit, or explore the Wilderness section of Inyo National Forest web site for additional information.

Can I Reserve A Permit? Reservations can be made for trips that begin during the quota period. Non quota trails do not require reservations. If space is available, reservations can be made up until two days before the trip.

Mt. Whitney permits are reserved by lottery due to the high demand for permits.
For other trails not included in the lottery, up to 60% of the quota space can be reserved. Use the general application form. Reservation requests are accepted by phone, fax or mail starting six months before the trip entry date. Reservations are based on space availability when your application is received. All unreserved and cancelled space will be made available. for walk-in permits.

Reservation topics:
My overnight trip is going to Mt. Whitney, but we are starting on a different trail.
What is Trail Crest Exit?
Can I reserve a permit to day hike on the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek trail?
What if I want to reserve several different trips during the quota season?
What are the reservation fees?
What types of payment are accepted?
Are refunds available for reservation fees?
Can reservations be changed?
Are reservations and permits transferable?
How soon can I reserve a permit?
How close to my trip can I make a reservation?
Who do I contact to make a reservation for a wilderness permit?
Reserving a trip that will have commercial service?
When is the deadline for picking up reserved permits?
Where can I pick up my wilderness permit?

The Mt. Whitney lottery in the month of February is the first opportunity to reserve a wilderness permit for Mt. Whitney Zone Day Use, or for Overnight Use starting on the Mt. Whitney trail. Dates with space remaining after the lottery are available to reserve up until two days before the trip entry date. All of the space for Mt Whitney can be reserved. Space is not saved for walk in requests. Any unreserved or cancelled space will be made available for walk in permits.

For overnight trips going to Mt. Whitney, but starting on a different trail you are not included in the lottery. This includes starting on the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek trail (access to the Mountaineers Route, East Face/ East Buttress, Mt Russell, etc). 40% of the quota will be set aside for walk in permits. For reservations, you can reserve six months in advance of your entry date. The $15.00 per person reservation fee will apply instead of the $5.00 per person fee because you are entering the Mt Whitney Zone. If you will exit or descend along the Mt. Whitney trail an exit quota will apply, called Trail Crest exit.

What is Trail Crest? If your trip to Mt .Whitney will begin on some other trail on Inyo National Forest, and you will exit the Mt Whitney Zone along the Mt Whitney trail, your exit point will be called “Trail Crest”. This is the only exit point on the Inyo National Forest with an exit quota. From May 1 to November 1 the Trail Crest exit quota is 25 people per day; 40% will be set aside for walk in permits and 60% can be reserved.You do not apply for the Mt. Whitney Lottery. Reservations for Trail Crest exit can be made up to six months in advance of your entry date along with your entry trail. When using Trail Crest exit the $15.00 per person Mt .Whitney Zone reservation fee will apply instead of the $5.00 per person fee. For a full list of trail names where Trail Crest exit would apply, see All Other Trails reservation availability. Trail Crest exit space does not apply if your trip originates in Yosemite or Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. A Day Use permit cannot be used as part of an overnight trip to pass through the Mt. Whitney Zone.

What if I want to reserve several different trips during the quota season? If you want reservations for several trips, submit a separate application for each trip. If you exit the wilderness for more than 24 hours or if you exit and then re-enter the wilderness at a different trailhead it is considered a separate trip and a new permit would be required. The Wilderness Permit Reservation Office will assume that every application we receive is a request to reserve a separate trip. Each application has extra lines to provide alternative choices for that trip in the event your first choice is already full. List any alternate entry date or alternate trailhead choices in order of preference.

Can I reserve a permit to day hike on the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek trail? Yes, day hike permits can be reserved. If you will hike beyond Lower Boy Scout Lake, a Mt Whitney Zone Day Use permit is required. Reservations can be made through the Mt Whitney lottery for trips during the quota period of May 1 to November 1. After the lottery, any day use space remaining can be reserved up until 2 days before the hike.One day before the hike, leftover Day Use space is free. Visit the Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center to pick up your permit along with human waste management pack-it-out kits. Overnight use of North Fork of Lone Pine Creek trail has a separate quota that is not part of the lottery and can be reserved 6 months in advance.

What are the reservation fees? Reservation fees are collected through the recreation fee enhancement project. Ninety-five percent of the money collected stays on the Inyo National Forest and is used to enhance wilderness programs. Fees are charged for reservations only, there is no charge for walk-in permits. For trips to Mt. Whitney there is a $15.00 per person reservation fee. Other areas are $5.00 per person. If you enter the Mt. Whitney zone at any time during your trip the $15.00 per person fee applies instead of the $5.00 per person fee. Reservation fees are not refundable once your reservation is processed. Fees are due when the reservation is made.

What methods of payment are accepted? Payment must be in U.S. funds. Visa, Master Card, check or money orders are accepted. All checks and money orders must be payable to: USDA Forest Service.

Are refunds available for reservation fees? No. Reservation fees are not refundable once your reservation is processed. Submission of your application indicates your agreement to the terms and conditions listed on the application. The following are some examples of the no refund policy.
There is no refund if you cancel your trip. No rain checks (or snow & ice checks). Reservation fees cannot be applied to future years.
Duplicate reservations that result from submission of multiple or duplicate applications are not entitled to a refund. Submit only one application for each trip/group. Example: for one trip in June and another trip in August, send one application for each trip. Apply by only one method (phone, fax or mail). If you apply by fax, do not mail the original. If you apply by phone in addition to mail or fax, you are not entitled to a refund for multiple reservations that may result.
The Wilderness Permit Reservation Office must assume that every application we receive is a request to reserve a separate trip. We are unable to revise or intercept your multiple or duplicate applications even if you request it. Please be sure that your application is accurate and complete before you send it. Please be considerate to other visitors; do not request more space than you will use.

Can reservations be changed? You can change your reservation if quota space is available. A $10 fee applies to change entry date or entry trailhead for the entire group. You can increase your party size by paying for the additional people; Mt. Whitney is $15.00 per person, other trails are $5.00 per person.

Are reservations and permits transferable? No. Reservations and permits are not transferable to other parties or to future years. Once the Forest Service has issued a reservation for a wilderness permit to the leader of the party, it is only valid for that person or the listed alternate leaders. Reservations and permits are not for resale. The permit is a contract between the government and the group leader that authorize entry into the wilderness on a specific date and trail with no more than the number of people indicated.

How soon can I reserve a permit? February is the first chance to reserve day hikes into the Mt Whitney Zone and overnight trips that begin on the Main Mt. Whitney trail. The Mt. Whitney Lottery page has more information. For overnight trips starting on other trails, we begin making reservations six months in advance of your entry date. Trips that will include Trail Crest exit space are reserved based on the trip entry date. Example: For a a trip with an entry date of August 21st, the first day you can apply for a reservation is February 21st. even if you will exit at Trail Crest. If the Wilderness Permit Reservation Office is closed for the weekend or a holiday on the corresponding date, then the soonest you can apply would be the next business day.

How close to my trip can I make a reservation? Reservations can be made up until two days before the trip entry date if space is still available. Please note that the entry date is the date that you will start on the trail and does not include time spent at non wilderness campgrounds. For example, if you plan to camp at the trailhead on Friday, and will start on the trail Saturday morning, then the last day you could reserve would be the Thursday before your trip. Saturday is your entry date. If time does not allow us to mail out a confirmation letter, we will provide you information over the phone or fax you a confirmation letter. If you are applying a week or less before your trip date, we recommend that you apply by phone or fax.

Who do I contact to make a reservation for a wilderness permit? If your trip will begin on an Inyo National Forest trailhead, contact the Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permit Reservation Office, unless you are using the services of a pack station or commercial guide.

Open 8am-4:30pm, 7 days a week, from June 1 to October 1.
The rest of the year, open 8am-4:30pm Monday through Friday, closed holidays.
Wilderness Permit Reservation Office
351 Pacu Lane Suite 200
Bishop, CA 93514
Wilderness Permit Reservation Line (760) 873-2483.
(760) 873-2484 Fax
(760) 873-2485 Wilderness Information
(760) 873-2408 Recorded General Recreation Information

Who do I contact to make a reservation for a trip that will have commercial service? If you are planning a trip utilizing the services of a commercial guide or pack station, you must call the commercial operator directly to arrange a trip. For many trails, commercial operators have a separate quota from which they will book trips. Making a non-commercial reservation does not guarantee that space will be available for a commercial trip. Only authorized commercial Outfitters & Guides or Pack Stations are allowed to provide commercial services on Inyo National Forest.

When do I pick up my reserved permit? You may pick up your reserved permit as early as two days before your wilderness entry date. Bring your reservation confirmation letter to an Inyo National Forest permit issuing location to pick up your wilderness permit. For the Mt. Whitney trail and the North Fork of Lone Pine trail you must pick up your permit at the Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center, south of Lone Pine.

When is the deadline for picking up reserved permits? One or two days before your trip you must pick up your permit or call the Wilderness Permit Office and confirm your group size and arrival time. If needed, also request the night box* service. Your reservation will be canceled if it is not picked up or confirmed before the deadline below. This is so other parties can utilize canceled space.

*Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park visitors, your permit will not be available in the night-drop box, you will have to pick up the permit in person during visitor center open hours.

Where can I pick up my wilderness permit? Trips that begin in the Mt Whitney Zone must be issued at Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center. We recommend you pick up wilderness permits at the location closest to your entry trailhead. Inyo National Forest wilderness permits are issued at the following locations:

Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center
Junction of Highway 395 and State Route 136
2 miles south of Lone Pine, CA
(760)876-6200 or TDD(760)876-6201

White Mountain Ranger Station
798 N. Main Street
Bishop, CA 93514
(760)873-2500 or TDD (760) 873-2501

Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center
2500 Main Street
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
(760) 924-5500 or TDD (760) 924-5531

Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center
P.O. Box 429 (North of Lee Vining on Hwy 395)
Lee Vining, CA 93541
(760) 647-3044 or TDD (760) 647-3045

updated January 2009

US Forest Service - Inyo National Forest
Last Modified: Thursday, 18 December 2008 at 14:30:08 EST