It’s almost impossible to get backpacking permits for the most popular California parks. One reason it’s difficult is each park has its own permit policy and deadlines, and it’s hard to keep track of the information. In this post, I try to make that easy by laying out, for each park, what the permit policy looks like and when permits are required.
It's also nice to avoid permits on your first couple of trips. Check out my companion website rangergupta.com, which shows backpacking trails in Northern California based on the current availability of permits.
While often the best way to get a permit is to get one in advance sales, for some parks, as I’ve noted below, there are other strategies that will work.
To get the most out of this post, I recommend figuring out a couple of trips you want to go on and setting reminders for future permits (more on getting permits here).
Some permits or lotteries may already be online. For example, the last day for the lottery for Mt. Whitney is end of February - so if you are interested, throw your hat in today!
One last note, in 2023, there has been a ton of snow. This means there likely will be snow and mosquitos beyond June and July. Thus, I’d recommend planning eastern sierra trips in September for a snow free and less buggy adventure.
The below areas are listed in ascending driving distance from San Francisco. Or if it’s easier, this sheet has the same information sortable and filterable.
Reservations can be made up to two months in advance (more here). Reserve trail camp sites by calling Big Basin Headquarters at (831) 338-8861. There have been a lot of closures recently due to fires so double check before you plan a full trip.
6 months before (i.e. Feb 23 has reservations for Aug 23) a portion of the wilderness permits are available online. The rest are available day of and are issued from a permit station (not online). Book here.
Permits Required: Friday before Memorial Day to September 30th
Recommended Permit Strategy: Avoid the permit system by planning a trip in the first two weeks of October (it will be a lot cooler but there is unlikely mosquitos). If you are really interested in a trip during the permit system, I recommend avoiding holiday weekends and trying to get one during the advanced permit sale.
Recommended Bay Area Strategy: It's only a 3 hour drive or less from the bay area so I recommend driving up the day you plan to hike in and driving out the day you hike out.
A portion of the permits are on a lottery system you apply to 24 weeks ahead of time (think Feb is August, more info here). If no one takes the advanced permit via lottery, then they are generally available. The rest of the permits go up 1 week before the entry date and can be acquired online. Book here.
Permits Required: April-October (varies by area see more here)
Recommended Permit Strategy: Get permits 1 week before they go up and have a backpack up plan in case you don't get one. In my experience, it's not too difficult getting permits 1 week before as long as you avoid holiday weekends and Half Dome inclusive trails.
Recommended Bay Area Strategy: Coming from the bay area, Tuolumne entry points are a lot further away (1-3 hours more) than Yosemite Valley entry points. If your first day is long, I recommend driving in the night before (after work is generally fine) and camping at one of the free campsites (free if you have a wilderness permit) or car camping just outside on one of the forest service roads. On the way back, I recommend just waking up early to hike and then driving out the same day.
In March, there is a lottery for passes for Half Dome. After that, 2 days before you can enter a lottery. In addition, some wilderness permits allow you to add the option of Half Dome when you pick up the permit and don’t require you entering the lottery. The following Yosemite National Park permits are the ones that include Half Dome: Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley, Happy Isles past LYV (Donohue pass eligible), Sunrise Lakes, Cathedral Lakes, Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang, and Mono Meadow. Book here.
Permits Required: The cables are go up the Friday before the last Monday in May (Memorial Day) and the last day to use the cables is the day after the second Monday in October. More here.
Recommended Permit Strategy: If you are comfortable with via ferratas, I recommend going when the cables are down and clipping in (as you do in via ferrata) as you go up. If that feels hard, then I'd apply in an early lottery for one of the Yosemite wilderness permits where Half Dome is included if you desire it (see above post on Yosemite National Park for more).
Recommended Bay Area Strategy: Half Dome doesn't necessarily require a wilderness permit and can be just done as a long day hike. If done as a day hike, I recommend driving in Friday night to Yosemite and hiking on Saturday and then driving back on Saturday night or Sunday. If done as a backpacking trip, I recommend driving in Friday night, hiking to Half Dome Saturday, and then hiking back down and driving back Sunday.
Most, but not all trailheads have permits reservable up to six months in advance. The rest is available first-come, first-served for walk-ups at the permit issuing station. Book here.
Permits Required: June-September
Recommended Bay Area Strategy: I recommend going for the permits that have a start that is on the west side of the sierras instead of east side to cut down your drive.
Permits for each calendar year are released the preceding year on October 1 (e.g., 2023 permits are released 10/1/22). Book here.
Permits Required: All year
Recommended Permit Strategy: Many permits end up being available the two weeks leading up to a start date. If you have a flexible timeframe, then try to grab one of those.
6 months before (i.e. Feb 23 has reservations for Aug 23) a portion of the wilderness permits are available online. The rest are available 2 weeks before and issued online. Book here.
Permits Required: May-November for everywhere but Cottonwood Pass and Golden Trout Wilderness which are July till mid-September.
Recommended Bay Area Strategy: This is a huge drive to do but there are quite a few places to car camp like at trailheads. I recommend driving up on day and camping the night near the trailhead and then making the last hiking day slightly shorter and driving back that same day.
Lottery in Feb for quota season. In April, any unclaimed permits are up for grabs. Book here.
Permits Required: May - November
Recommended Permit Strategy: I recommend trying to avoid the permit hoopla and going the first week of November once permit are no longer required but before the first snow.
