SEKI Wilderness Permit Reservation Moving To Recreation.gov

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Wandering Daisy
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Permit Reservation Moving To Recreation.gov

Post by Wandering Daisy »

SEKI has always charged $15 per permit, reserved OR not, regardless of group size, regardless of trip length. I believe it raised that to $20. I think there is also a per-person charge of about $5. If you only do a trip or two a year and have to drive a long distance it is not significant; but if you live close by and do regular trips, say 10 a year, than it becomes significant. It in effect favors more infrequent large groups and long trips, and discourages more local use. Now whether you favor the end effect or not is individual and your personal economic situation.

Regardless of costs, I do hope some first-come permits can be done this year.
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Permit Reservation Moving To Recreation.gov

Post by Lumbergh21 »

Wandering Daisy wrote: Mon Jan 04, 2021 9:59 am Regardless of costs, I do hope some first-come permits can be done this year.
I totally agree. I'm just glad that they finally switched from fax to on-line reservations where I know ahead of time what dates are available for the trailhead that I want or what trailheads are available for the date that I want, and I'll know if I have a reservation versus waiting and waiting, not even knowing if they received my faxed reservation request.
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SEKI Permits Reservation Starting 2/9

Post by maverick »

SEKI NP:
Hey, backpackers!
Wilderness permits for the 2021 quota season at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks can be reserved through Recreation.gov starting February 9th at 7 a.m. PST!

Recreation.gov will allow permit seekers to see real-time permit availability information, and receive instant confirmation when you make reservations. The 2021 quota season (for overnight trips in the wilderness) runs from May 28 - September 18.

Can't get the reservation you want? Don't despair! A limited number of first-come, first-served permits will be available daily at permit issuing stations inside the parks. You'll need to get there early in the morning if you're hoping to get a popular permit.

Reservations will go live on February 9th at 7 a.m. PST! Until then, you can explore the new system at https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445857/ or go to Recreation.gov and search for "Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits."
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For need-to-know info and helpful tips to prepare for your backpacking adventure, visit https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/backpacking.htm
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Permit Reservation Moving To Recreation.gov

Post by caddis »

Will you still be required to get a late morning start because you must show up at a ranger station to pick up your permit and listen to a lecture on how to hike from someone that never hikes? Or will this be like last year where your permit was mailed to you?

I for one am excited to pay more money then the normal park visitor so that I can hike trails that the park service has let decay.
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Permit Reservation Moving To Recreation.gov

Post by Enigmagic »

caddis wrote: Mon Jan 25, 2021 6:44 am Will you still be required to get a late morning start because you must show up at a ranger station to pick up your permit and listen to a lecture on how to hike from someone that never hikes?
Sounds like it. From the updated page https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/ ... ermits.htm
Step 6: Go to the designated issuing station to obtain an orientation and have your permit issued
It's too bad too, even though last year had it's issues I liked permits via email. Driving directly to the trailhead was nice.
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Permit Reservation Moving To Recreation.gov

Post by caddis »

Enigmagic wrote: Mon Jan 25, 2021 9:19 am Sounds like it. From the updated page https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/ ... ermits.htm
So the process wasn't improved on our end but it will cost us more money to hike trails which are in a state of arrested decay.

Sounds very governmental
It's too bad too, even though last year had it's issues I liked permits via email. Driving directly to the trailhead was nice.
Yeah.. I was hoping this change would remain permanent. It's a waste of sometimes half a day being forced to listen to a lecture on how to poop ](*,)
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Permit Reservation Moving To Recreation.gov

Post by ClaireT »

With SEKI reservations opening on Feb 9, I interpret this to mean that all SEKI trailhead permits for entry on May 28 through July 9 will become available that single day. Is this correct?

Also, the time stated is 7 am. Is this reliable? In the past, recreation.gov (or maybe it was Inyo NF?) stated that the reservations would open up at that time, but actually they became available just past midnight. Has people's experience so far this year been that the permits are indeed opening up at 7 am?

Thanks,
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Permit Reservation Moving To Recreation.gov

Post by LMBSGV »

The Recreation.gov and SEKI website both say:
Advance reservations for wilderness permits can be made using the website Recreation.gov. Reservations will be available for trip dates beginning up to 6 months in advance and will continue to be reservable up to 1 week prior to the start of the trip. Reservations will go live on www.recreation.gov starting on February 9, 2021 at 7:00am/pacific time.


That means that on February 9, permits will be available from May 28 to August 9. We'll have to see how well Rec.gov deals with the huge amount of traffic that will occur at 7:00 am that morning with all the people requesting HST and
Rae Lakes Loop permits for June, July, and early August.
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Permit Reservation Moving To Recreation.gov

Post by Lumbergh21 »

What I've heard, so far this year the Inyo permits have reliably been available at 0700 PST. For the very popular trailheads, like Cottonwood Pass, I've heard they've been reliably gone by 0715.
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Permit Reservation Moving To Recreation.gov

Post by ClaireT »

Thanks for clarifying the dates LMBSGV, indeed I meant to write August 9 not July 9. Sorry for getting that wrong!
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