Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Permit Guide 2026

Last-minute friendly

California · No dogs in the backcountry

By Casey Rowan, Permit Ranger

Last updated

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI) protect the giant sequoia groves and the rugged High Sierra of California, including the Rae Lakes Loop, the High Sierra Trail, and the Mineral King basin. A SEKI wilderness permit is required for overnight backcountry trips during the quota season, and the classic loops and passes fill quickly once dates open.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks issues its wilderness permits through recreation.gov, and popular passes sell out ahead of the season. First-come-first-served: each entry date's reservable quota opens 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery). Reservations close 1 week before entry; the rest is walk-up only. Outside the quota season (late May – late September) permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead - no reservation needed. Permit Ranger watches every pass here and alerts you the moment a sold-out date opens.

When permits are released

First-come-first-served: each entry date's reservable quota opens 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery). Reservations close 1 week before entry; the rest is walk-up only. Outside the quota season (late May – late September) permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead - no reservation needed.

Quota seasons: May 22 to September 26, 2026; May 22 to September 26, 2027 - off-season: No reservation needed - permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead.

Fees

  • Reservation: $15 per permit
  • Per person: $5 per person

How to get a Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks permit

  1. Choose your entry trailhead and entry date within the quota season (roughly late May through late September).
  2. Each entry date's reservable quota opens six months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on a rolling window - first-come-first-served, with no lottery.
  3. Book on recreation.gov under the SEKI wilderness permit (445857). Note that online reservations close one week before the entry date; after that, remaining quota is walk-up only.
  4. For dates outside the quota season, no reservation is needed - permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead.
  5. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to recreation.gov at no set time, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens.

Notable trails

SEKI's quota trailheads lead to some of the Sierra's most iconic backcountry. A few of the most popular routes:

Top passes in this area

The most in-demand Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks entry points, each with its own detail page.

Frequently asked questions

When do Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks permits open?

First-come-first-served: each entry date's reservable quota opens 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery). Reservations close 1 week before entry; the rest is walk-up only. Outside the quota season (late May – late September) permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead - no reservation needed. Exact on-sale details are on the recreation.gov permit page.

What if my dates are sold out?

Cancellations open up all season. Watch the passes you want on Permit Ranger and you get an instant alert when a date you need becomes bookable.

Does Permit Ranger book the permit for me?

No. Permit Ranger alerts you the moment a watched date opens, with a direct booking link, but the booking is always yours to make on recreation.gov.

More permits in California

Last-minute & walk-up friendly permits

Plan ahead

Sold-out dates reopen all the time from cancellations and quota drops. Permit Ranger checks recreation.gov around the clock and alerts you the moment your dates open. It never books for you.

Browse Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks passes · Book on recreation.gov