Sierra National Forest Permit Guide 2026
Last-minute friendly
California · Leashed dogs OK
By Casey Rowan, Permit Ranger
Last updated
Sierra National Forest spans the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada, including the Ansel Adams, John Muir, Dinkey Lakes, and Kaiser Wildernesses and the alpine lake country around Mono Hot Springs and Florence Lake. A Sierra National Forest wilderness permit is required for overnight backcountry trips at the forest's quota trailheads, and the most sought-after entries can sell out when quota opens.
Sierra National Forest issues its wilderness permits through recreation.gov, and popular passes sell out ahead of the season. Rolling 6-month window: 60% of quota opens 6 months ahead, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. The remaining 40% (traditional walk-up quota, sold online) drops 14 days before entry at 7:00 AM Pacific. Permit Ranger watches every pass here and alerts you the moment a sold-out date opens.
When permits are released
Rolling 6-month window: 60% of quota opens 6 months ahead, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. The remaining 40% (traditional walk-up quota, sold online) drops 14 days before entry at 7:00 AM Pacific.
Fees
- Reservation: $6 per reservation
- Per person: $5 per person ($15 per person for Mt. Whitney Zone exits)
How to get a Sierra National Forest permit
- Choose your trailhead (each entry point has its own quota) and your entry date.
- For competitive dates, be ready when 60% of the trailhead's quota opens on a rolling six-month window, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific.
- If you miss the six-month opening, watch for the remaining 40% of the quota (the traditional walk-up quota, sold online), which drops 14 days before the entry date at 7:00 AM Pacific.
- Book your permit on recreation.gov under the Sierra National Forest wilderness permit (445858).
- If your dates are already sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to the pool without warning, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a spot reopens.
Notable trails
Sierra National Forest's quota trailheads open onto classic alpine lake basins and Sierra crest routes. A few of the most popular hikes:
- Coyote Lake Trail - 4.9 on AllTrails
- Lake Thomas Edison Loop via Bear Ridge - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Twin Lakes Trail - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Dinkey Lakes via Dinkey Lakes and Mystery Lake Trail - 4.7 on AllTrails
- Dinkey Lakes Trail to Cliff Lake - 4.7 on AllTrails
- Dinkey Lakes Trail - 4.7 on AllTrails
- Maxson Trailhead to Hobler Lake - 4.7 on AllTrails
- Corbett Lake - 4.6 on AllTrails
Top passes in this area
The most in-demand Sierra National Forest entry points, each with its own detail page.
- Willow Meadow/Dinkey Lake
- Cliff Lake
- Florence
- Potter Pass
- Fernandez
- Bear Diversion
- Bear Ridge
- Maxson (Courtright)
Frequently asked questions
When do Sierra National Forest permits open?
What if my dates are sold out?
Does Permit Ranger book the permit for me?
More permits in California
- Desolation Wilderness permit guide
- Half Dome Cables permit guide
- Hoover Wilderness permit guide
- Inyo National Forest permit guide
- Joshua Tree National Park permit guide
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks permit guide
- Yosemite National Park permit guide
Last-minute & walk-up friendly permits
- Cedar Mesa (Bears Ears) permit guide
- Central Cascades Wilderness permit guide
- Glacier National Park permit guide
- Grand Teton National Park permit guide
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park permit guide
- Hoover Wilderness permit guide
- Indian Peaks: Last-Minute permit guide
- Inyo National Forest permit guide
Dog-friendly permits
- Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness permit guide
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area permit guide
- Cedar Mesa (Bears Ears) permit guide
- Central Cascades Wilderness permit guide
- Desolation Wilderness permit guide
- Hoover Wilderness permit guide
- Indian Peaks Wilderness permit guide
- Indian Peaks: Last-Minute permit guide
Plan ahead
- John Muir Trail permits
- JMT Trip Builder
- Plan a mid-trail JMT start from Florence Lake
- Wilderness permit release calendar
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 Sierra National Forest passes · Book on recreation.gov