Desolation Wilderness Permits

Who Needs a Permit?

Any person entering the Desolation Wilderness at any time of year needs a permit, even day hikers. Day hikers simply pick up a permit at a ranger station or at most of the popular trailheads at self-serve kiosks. There are no charges nor quotas for day visitors, although a couple of trailheads charge a fee for day parking (but not for overnight wilderness permit holders). Anyone staying overnight in Desolation Wilderness needs a Wilderness Permit which must be obtained on-line or picked up at a ranger station before your trip.

Permit Reservations

Quotas limit the number of overnight visitors who plan to camp their first night in a particular wilderness zone. There are 45 zones. Quotas are in effect Friday before Memorial Day weekend through September 30. Permits are still required at other times of the year.

Seventy percent of all overnight permits are available by a computerized reservation system at Reservations.gov - Desolation Wilderness Permits. Or you can call (877) 444-6777. You can make your reservation up to 6 months in advance. Then within 14 days of your trip, log back onto your account at Recreation.gov and print your permit. Or you may take your reservation to a Forest Service permit office during business hours. Permit reservations are no longer made by phone or fax and they are not mailed.

The other 30 percent of the permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of entry. Some destinations (zones) have very small daily quotas, so check the table below to see if your group exceeds the entry quota for that zone. Maximum group size is 12.

Fees

Permit Reservation Fees: $6.00 per party/per permit (non-refundable). Permit fees are paid at time of reservation. Plan carefully before making your reservation as all fees are non-refundable.
Overnight Wilderness Permit Fee: $5.00 per person for the first night or $10.00 per person for two or more nights up to 14 days (non-refundable). The cost of a single permit will not exceed $100.00. Children 12 and under are free. Golden passes do not apply to personal use permits.
Pre-Paid Fee Card: You can pre-pay your permit fees by purchasing this card for $20.00. The card covers only the overnight permit fee and is valid for one year from date of purchase. You must still obtain a permit in person, subject to quota limits.
Permit Changes: $5 fee to make changes to date, zone, or number of people. No fee to cancel.

Forest Service Permit Offices

Placerville Ranger Station

4260 Eight Mile Road
Camino, CA 95709
(530) 644-2324
Hours: 8 AM to 4:30 PM (summer 7 days a week, winter Monday - Friday)

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Supervisor's Office

35 College Drive
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(530) 543-2600
Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday

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Key Desolation Wilderness Regulations

• Visitors must store food and food refuse in a canister designed to prevent access by bears.
• Campfires are prohibited in Desolation Wilderness.
• Travel is limited to horseback or foot.
• Group size is limited to 12 people for both day and overnight use.
• Pets are allowed. Dogs must be on leash or under direct voice control.
• Livestock is limited to 2 animals per person, to a maximum of 12 animals per group.
• You must enter on the date specified on your permit and spend your first night in the zone you have chosen. After that you are free to move to any other zone.
• The group leader must sign and carry the wilderness permit.
• If your trip includes parking at Pyramid Creek (aka Twin Bridges or Horsetail Falls), Bayview, Twin Lakes, Rockbound, Loon Lakes, or Eagle Falls, you will need to print your parking pass (part of your permit) to display on your vehicle's dash at the trailhead.

Desolation Wilderness Zones

Rather than trailhead quotas, Desolation Wilderness uses zones.
Permits are issued based on the zone where you will spend your first night.
Generally the zone numbers begin in the north and work their way south.
Hint: Use the Find feature of your computer to locate the destination you want.