The quota for each trailhead varies in size. Rain, snow, strong winds, and bitter cold can occur in all seasons. Bring all needed supplies including water. Inyo NF Starts Providing Wilderness Permits Effective June 1, except Mt. No discharging a firearm, except for emergencies or the taking of game as permitted by California State law. Permit Applications with instructions, PDF. Of each daily quota for a trailhead, 60 percent can be reserved ahead of time. As a reminder, wilderness permits are required year-round for all Mt Whitney hikes (including day use) and for all overnight trips into Golden Trout, John Muir, Ansel Adams, and Hoover Wilderness Areas. 0 comments. For the Humboldt-Toiyabe portion: A quota season for wilderness permits is in effect from the last Friday in June through September 15 of each year. Permit & Season Information. Advised not to use pack goats in Bighorn Sheep habitat. A Wilderness Permits is required year-round for every party camping overnight in the Hoover Wilderness. For further information about quotas, reservations, and other wilderness permit-related questions, please contact the Bridgeport Ranger District. Half of the available wilderness permits for each day are available for reservation, and half are available for first come-first serve issue on the date of entry. The Hoover has relatively little timber throughout much of its steep terrain. I see that Hoover permits are reservable online for the Humboldt-Toiyabe portion of the wilderness. No camping in the Hall Natural Area or at Saddlebag Lake. Suite 200 We started out Saturday morning after getting our hiking/camping permit from the ranger station in Bridgeport off of Hwy 395. Pet food must be stored to the same standard as people food. Only the leader or alternate specified in the reservation may pick up or use the permit. Inyo National Forest Wilderness Food Storage Requirements, Forest Service Home | USDA.gov | recreation.gov | Recreation Customer Service Standards | USA.gov | Whitehouse.gov, Plug-Ins | FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Important Notices | Information Quality, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=21879. Where food storage containers are not mandatory the counter balance method of hanging food may be used, however where trees are not adequate for hanging food at least 15 feet above ground and 10 feet away from the tree trunk you must use a portable food storage container. Trailheads: Buckeye Creek; Green Creek; Horse Creek; Leavitt Meadows; Little Slide Canyon; Robinson Creek; Virginia Lakes . Even if there was a quota in place we only met horseback riders who were visiting the Big Meadow for the day and turning around. From the last Friday in June through September 15, wilderness permits are limited by a trailhead quota. If you plan to enter the wilderness at Twin Lakes, Virginia Lakes or entry points to the north, apply to Humboldt-Toiyabe NF. Overnight use requires a valid wilderness permit. The Humboldt-Toiyabe applies the same criteria that Yosemite National Park uses for acceptable and approved bear canisters. XXXXXXXX . Check for road closures and weather forecast before choosing a trip in late fall or winter. During this quota season, half of the wilderness permits for each trailhead are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Bridgeport Ranger Station. Pets must be under your control at all times. We sit out a Sunday storm and meet in Bridgeport early Monday morning. The Hoover Wilderness' East Lake is only a 3-mile hike from the trailhead on Green Creek, making it a great destination for a weekend trip. Permits may also be obtained at the self-serve kiosk at the trailhead parking lot immediately south of … You need one to camp in the Hoover Wilderness. Within the Saw tooth Ridge Zone, campfires are not allowed, maximum group size is 8 people, stock are not allowed, and there is no camping allowed within 100 yards of trails or established routes. Author’s Note: Roads to Hoover Wilderness are closed during winter, so keep this adventure in mind for late spring and summer. A leashed dog’s keen senses can enhance your awareness of nearby wildlife or other visitors. Parking is free. As you near the gas stations on the northern end of Bridgeport, you'll see a turn on your left for Twin Lakes. Hoover Wilderness and Whorl Mountain, 37 miles, 13,244 ft gain, October 26-29, 2020. - Only Yosemite Mountain Guides are permitted to guide Hoover Wilderness. The Hoover Wilderness is easily accessible from its southern end (along Highway 120 near Yosemite’s Tioga Pass entrance station), as well as from various points along its eastern edge near Highway 395. - Trails are not limited by quotas. Running along the eastern edge of the Sawtooth Range, this wilderness encompasses some of the most spectacular high alpine landscape in the Sierra, Wilderness Volunteers Projects (National), Above 9,000 feet within the Virginia and Green Creek drainages, Within 1/4 mile of Barney and Peeler Lakes, In the 20 Lakes Basin (the Saddlebag Lake area). National Forests in California are using recreation fee revenues to improve and enhance recreation opportunities. WIIderness Permit and Wilderness Permit Reservation Changes For 2015 Hoover Wilderness Bridgeport Ranger District There are changes this year that you need to be aware of as YOU plan your wilderness trips for this season. This is because Hoover Wilderness acts as an overflow when Yosemite is highly congested. No washing in lakes or streams. The wilderness was first established as a “primitive area” in 1931 and was then protected as wilderness in the 1964 Wilderness Act. Entering this way can easily be done the day of the trip as long as you get to the Bridgeport Ranger Station by the time they open. A wilderness permit is not required for day hikes (unless hiking to Half Dome) or for staying in lodging facilities and frontcountry campgrounds. The multiple raging fires prevent access to the entire Sierra area for many weeks. Other Wilderness Areas on the Forest. The trailhead quota season is from the last Friday in June through September 15th. Wilderness permits are required year-round for any overnight stay in the Hoover Wilderness. Includes details of wilderness areas, latest sierra wilderness news, resources for planning your trip, and notes from professionals in the field. A permit is not required for day hikes. Hoover Wilderness - Permits are required year round for all overnight trips. From the last Friday in June through September 15, wilderness permits are limited by a trailhead quota. Making Bring all needed supplies including water. The closest towns with services are Lee Vining and Mammoth Lakes. - Trails are not limited by quotas. The Hoover Wilderness Permit Reservations may be booked up during peak Summer backpacking weekends and weeks. Remember: Mountain Safety is no Accident. The Story There are some places that you keep returing to because it just feels right. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/hoover-wilderness You will need to apply for a wilderness permit from the forest where your trip starts. Permits: Permits are required for overnight camping. The primary trail follows the West Walker River south to its origin at Tower Lake. Hiking Guide to Lane Lake and the Hoover Wilderness Getting Organized. During this quota period, half of the permits are able to be reserved ahead of time – up to six months in advance – on Recreation.gov. As a reminder, wilderness permits are required year-round for all Mt Whitney hikes (including day use) and for all overnight trips into Golden Trout, John Muir, Ansel Adams, and Hoover Wilderness Areas. Trail quotas are in effect from the last Friday in June through September 15. More information about traveling in bear country in Inyo National Forest. See how your fees have made a difference! Wilderness permits are only issued to a limited number people for each trailhead in order to provide outstanding opportunities for solitude, as required by the Wilderness Act. Food storage containers are available for rent or sale at all the Inyo National Forest visitor centers where wilderness permits are issued. Check out our Southern Sierra Trail Map to help you find and explore these areas. Permits are available at Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Office and Inyo locations. A partnership of the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service. Permits: Free permits are required for overnight trips into the wilderness. Approved bear-resistant food canisters are required in all of the Hoover Wilderness. The area, with its well-maintained trail system, receives heavy human use. It was established as a Primitive Area in 1931, then as a Wild Area in 1957. A Wilderness Permits is required year-round for every party camping overnight in the Hoover Wilderness. Overview. In general, campfires are allowed in the Humboldt-Toiyabe portion of the Hoover Wilderness, with the following exceptions: In places where fires are allowed, make sure to always follow smart campfire guidelines. The Leavitt Meadows trailhead is located on the east side of Sonora Pass on CA Highway 108, and provides access to the Hoover Wilderness Area and Yosemite National Park from the north. No Camping at Crystal Lake, or Hall Natural Area (includes Conness Lakes, Wasco, Alpine, Green Treble, Maul, Spuller, Big Horn, and Fantail Lakes). 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