Mt Whitney Webcam
Mt Williamson Webcam
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 121 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Thread Like Summary
bobpickering, katrina, OutdoorsFreak, Select your Orga
Total Likes: 4
Original Post (Thread Starter)
Permit Pickup - Inyo National Forest #58664 05/14/2021 6:13 PM
by Steve C
Steve C
Permits for all Inyo National Forest trailheads must be reserved online through Recreation.gov. They must be "picked up" and printed by you following the process below. NOTE that Inyo staff works 8-5, so if you reserve a permit after hours, you won't be able to make contact to get the email from them with your permit, until the next morning!

Links to the Recreation.gov website:
  For Mt Whitney Main Trail:   https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233260   No-shows and cancellations are showing up regularly.
  For all other Inyo N.F. trailheads:   https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233262/registration/detailed-availability

Updated link to pickup instructions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5356869

The Interagency Visitor Center just south of Lone Pine is now open, and they are the best location to pick up your permit in person.

Telephone pickup method is better than the email method below:
    Call the Wilderness Permit Office: 760-873-2483   then press 0, then let it ring and ring until someone picks up. If it disconnects, repeat the process. The number should be working 8-5 daily.

Email pickup method -- the least preferred method:
    To pick up your permit for any Inyo National Forest trailhead:

Send an email to: SM.FS.WildPmt_Inyo@usda.gov

Subject should have: Hike start date, Trailhead (example: May 14, 2021, Mt Whitney Main Trail)

Email body should include:
  the reservation number
  the group size
  For Mt Whitney, you should state that you have viewed the "Mt Whitney Leave No Trace Video"
  Say how you will store your food.
  Your name

A note on confirming and picking up your printed permit:   You can do this as far as two weeks before your trip.  Two weeks works if you are 100% certain you (and all in your group) are going.  However, we all know stuff happens, so why not wait until just several days before your trip to pick up/print your permit.  Please cancel or release slots if people drop out of your group so others wanting to go can reserve the slot.
Liked Replies
Re: Permit Pickup - Inyo National Forest #59099 Jul 25th a 10:57 PM
by aristotle
aristotle
Bob: I was in the same situation last week. Called the wilderness hotline 3-4 times between 8-9 AM (didn't hit 0 on the successful attempt). I was issued the permit by email while still on the phone.
1 member likes this
Re: Permit Pickup - Inyo National Forest #58683 May 16th a 05:42 PM
by Rico Borchia
Rico Borchia
Interesting bits of history on all this:

Booz Allen Hamilton (a $7 Billion company) is doing okay: No, Rec.gov Doesn't Fund Public Lands

The government's view: The Recreation One Stop (R1S) interagency partnership

And somewhat off-topic, but
Is backcountry "gate-keeping" racist? : 5 Reasons Why You Should Keep Geotagging
1 member likes this
Re: Permit Pickup - Inyo National Forest #59165 Aug 13th a 01:18 AM
by QITNL
QITNL
There was a box of wag bags in that structure thing at the start of the Main Trail. At least when I was there a couple months ago.
1 member likes this
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4
(Release build 20200307)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.4.33 Page Time: 0.139s Queries: 8 (0.129s) Memory: 0.5468 MB (Peak: 0.5652 MB) Data Comp: Off Server Time: 2024-03-28 11:12:46 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS