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I am planning a Sierra backpacking trip for some friends - for most of them, their first backpacking trip. Consensus was to go for Island Lake, although I was worried about getting permits. But I woke up early and managed to snag 8 permits for Zone 32 for August 1-3. The only problem? There are actually 9 of us
I don't seem to be able to change my reservation on recreation.gov. When I called, they said the only way would be to release all 8 permits, and try to get 9 instead. However, it does not appear there are any available, so I don't think that will work.
So, what's the best way to try to get another permit? Do I need to refresh recreation.gov constantly for the next 6 months in hope that 1 pops up? Is there anywhere online people generally go to trade permits?
subframe wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2025 7:12 pm
So, what's the best way to try to get another permit?
Thanks!
Most straight forward? Get to the ranger station when they open. They will have a walk-up available for you. DW saves some permits for walk-ups, only available day of departure from one of the ranger stations. Confirm with rangers, but that's been their system in years past.
Honestly though, with a group that large at least one person will probably flake before your trip date. Please be sure to update your res if that happens to open the spot for others.
Thanks for the ideas. I'll try them all. I had also considered the likelihood of someone flaking, but with my luck (who enters the wrong number of people for something like this???) they'll all show up.
Another week has gone by. Into early August. Very few permits are being reserved in SEKI and the Sierra National Forest. Lots of permits still available in Yosemite too. All of the trails I want to hike except for Woods Creek in SEKI have permits available. Since Woods Creek still issues true walkup permits I can get one there too.
I must have too much time on my hands. I counted the number of permits reserved from 8/4 to 8/11 in the Sierra Nat Forest and SEKI and the total number of permits available. There does not appear to be much interest in backpacking in the SNF. Only 164 permits were reserved out of a total of 3296 available permits. In SEKI 715 permits were reserved out of a total 2760 available permits. Of the permits reserved 480 of those permits were Bubbs Creek, HST & Woods Creek. If you want to hike the HST and can't get a permit I would get a permit for Sugarloaf. Take this trail to roaring rivers then over Elizabeth Pass and pick up the HST at Bearpaw. I talked with a park ranger about this and was told that the only restriction on joining the HST was using an Alta permit to access the HST through Sevenmile Hill pass. That ranger also told me that you can access the HST by starting on the Middle Fork of the Kaweah river trail.
Is anyone thinking about the current shut down of the permit system in Yosemite? Or what impact the current government craziness is going to have on the national parks and forest service this summer? That with uncertainty about snowpack and I am not surprised that people are waiting to get their permits.
I have permit reservations for Yosemite in June (Bridalveil Creek), and SEKI in august (Lewis Creek). No waiting for me! Though I could have waited on the Lewis Creek permit, not many of those are being taken. Next step is to get a Grant Grove campsite for the night before the SEKI trip, but those don't come out until 4 months ahead.
If you can't get a Grant Grove campsite, you can camp in the Jenny Lakes wilderness the night before your trip. No permit required that I know of to camp there.
