High Sierra Topix

Greetings from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks,
You are receiving this message because your email address is associated with a 2020 wilderness permit reservation. We hope it finds you and your families and friends healthy.

Significant changes are being made for the 2020 wilderness permit quota season (May 22, 2020 to September 19, 2020) in accordance with CDC, state, and local public health guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At this time, front-country access to wilderness trailheads in Sequoia and Kings Canyon is delayed at least through May 31, 2020. Reservations with an entry date prior to June 1st have been canceled and issued a full refund. This may be extended or modified as updated guidance is received. Please refer to the current conditions page for a list of accessible areas and available facilities and services.

When overnight wilderness trips resume, wilderness permits will be still be required. Our quota system remains in place, limiting the number of people entering the wilderness each day, from each trailhead, in accordance with the parks’ Wilderness Stewardship Plan. In order to comply with CDC guidelines and maintain social distancing, all wilderness permits will be issued remotely, by phone and email. Consequently, advance reservations are required for all wilderness permits in the 2020 season. No walk-up permits will be issued. The Lakes Trail, previously walk-up permits only, is available for reservation with a limited quota. Your existing reservation will not be cancelled unless the area remains closed at the time of entry or you contact us. For more information about the process for obtaining a wilderness permit this summer, please visit the parks’ permits website.

With reduced services in the parks, it is particularly important that visitors plan ahead and arrive prepared for their trip. Rangers are not available to answer questions at the trailhead. Animal resistant food storage containers (bear canisters) are still required in most of the park, but may not be available for rental. Visitors should rent or buy an appropriate food storage container before arriving in the park.
We apologize for the limited capacity to respond to inquiries this spring and understand that many of you have questions. Beginning May 18th the wilderness office will be answering phone (559-565-3766) and email (seki_wilderness_office@nps.gov) although we anticipate a high volume of questions and may not be able to respond quickly. Watch for future emails with more details and stay tuned to the parks’ website and social media for the latest news.

We are excited about summer in the mountains and look forward to helping you get outside for a great trip.

tahoe23 wrote: ↑Wed May 20, 2020 10:34 am I asked the National Forest Service -Inyo (facebook messenger) about when/how/if they would be releasing the 40% of quotas for walk-in permits. This is the reply I got May 19:

"We are working on a plan with some software changes that will allow us to issue permits with a phone call check in to avoid people congregating in large lines at our visitor centers. Hopefully we will have the details of how this will actually work soon. We hope to resume issuing permits for backpacking trips in early June. This will include the traditonal walk in permits.
Thank you for your patience while we all work through this issue."

SEKI wrote: Yes if you know you will not be able a week before your trip we encourage you to call us at 559-565-3766 to verify the detail of the permit and provide your itinerary information. We would ask that you try and call as near to your departure date as possible so that we can provide the most current trail conditions and advisories.