High Sierra Topix

I could not find anything about how to get a backpacking permit.

Wandering Daisy wrote: ↑Fri May 29, 2020 2:44 pm I could not find anything about how to get a backpacking permit.

Not required in Granite Chief.

The Tahoe National Forest contains several backcountry roadless areas (Grouse Lakes, South Yuba River, Castle Peak, Sierra Buttes area) and one designated Wilderness (Granite Chief). None of them require any special permit for backpacking. Only a California campfire permit is required to build a campfire (although they are now prohibiting those for the summer) or use a pressurized gas or liquid fuel stove in any type of dispersed camping on the Tahoe National Forest.
-Phil

Not sure if this is near Granite Chief wilderness, but maps show that the Soda Springs "road" goes all the way down to the NF American River and "crosses" (doubt that!). Does anyone know if one can hike the road, or is it overgrown? Further downriver, I have hiked the Mumford Bar trail and before the fire, up to the end of Royal Gorge (wiped out by the fire, at least of 2 years ago when I tried to get up river from Mumford Bar).

Yes that road goes down to the river and crosses, there is the community of the Cedars down there. The original or real soda springs is down there. You can walk the road but will be sharing it with cars, motorcycles, quads etc.

In case anyone is curious about snow levels in the area, here's the view looking north towards Granite Chief from Scott Peak at about 1pm today.
I walked up today from my new house.