ABCDEFGH
1
AreaPermit SystemBooking InformationPermits RequiredSeason to VisitHours from SFRecommended Permit StrategyRecommended Bay Area Strategy
2
Point Reyes National SeashoreCampsites are available both 3 months in advance and 14 days before. There is usually a mix for each camping area.https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233359All yearAnytime1 hour
3
Big Basin Redwoods SPReservations can be made up to two months in advance (more here). Reserve trail camp sites by calling Big Basin Headquarters at (831) 338-8861. There have been a lot of closures recently due to fires so double check before you plan a full trip.Reserve trail camp sites by calling Big Basin Headquarters at (831) 338-8861March-OctoberAnytime1.5 hours
4
Desolation Wilderness6 months before (i.e. Feb 23 has reservations for Aug 23) a portion of the wilderness permits are available online. The rest are available day of and are issued from a permit station (not online).https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233261Friday before Memorial Day to
September 30th.		Summer & Fall3 hoursAvoid the permit system by planning a trip in the first two weeks of October (it will be a lot cooler but there is unlikely mosquitos). If you are really interested in a permit, I recommend avoiding holiday weekends and trying to get one during the advanced permit sale.It's only a 3 hour drive or less from the bay area so I recommend driving up the day you plan to hike in and driving out the day you hike out.
5
Yosemite National ParkA portion of the permits are on a lottery system you apply to 24 weeks ahead of time (think Feb is August, more info here). If no one takes the advanced permit via lottery, then they are generally available. The rest of the permits go up 1 week before the entry date at 7am PT and can be acquired online. https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445859April-October (varies by area see more here)Summer & Fall4-7 hoursGet permits 1 week before they go up and have a backpack-up plan in case you don't get one. In my experience, it's not too difficult getting permits 2 weeks before as long as you avoid holiday weekends.Coming from the bay area, Tuolumne entry points are a lot further away (1-3 hours more) than Yosemite Valley entry points. If your first day is long, I recommend driving in the night before (after work is generally fine) and camping at one of the free campsites (free if you have a wilderness permit) or car camping just outside on one of the forest service roads. On the way back, I recommend just waking up early and getting out.
6
Half DomeIn March, there is a lottery for passes for Half Dome. After that, 2 days before you can enter a lottery. In addition, some wilderness permits allow you to add the option of Half Dome when you pick up the permit and don’t require you entering the lottery. The following Yosemite National Park permits are the ones that include Half Dome: Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley, Happy Isles past LYV (Donohue pass eligible), Sunrise Lakes, Cathedral Lakes, Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang, and Mono Meadow.https://www.recreation.gov/permits/234652The cables are go up the Friday before the last Monday in May (Memorial Day) and the last day to use the cables is the day after the second Monday in October. More here.Summer & Fall4.5 hoursIf you are comfortable with via ferratas, I recommend going when the cables are down and clipping in (as you do in via ferrata) as you go up. If that feels hard, then I'd apply in an early lottery for one of the Yosemite wilderness permits where Half Dome is included if you desire it (see above post on Yosemite National Park for more).Half Dome doesn't necessarily require a wilderness permit and can be just done as a long day hike. If done as a day hike, I recommend driving in Friday night to Yosemite and hiking on Saturday and then driving back on Saturday night or Sunday. If done as a backpacking trip, I recommend driving in Friday night, hiking to Half Dome Saturday, and then hiking back down and driving back Sunday.
7
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6 months in advance and 3 days before.https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445856June 15th-Oct 15thSummer & Fall5 hours
8
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Most, but not all trailheads have permits reservable up to six months in advance. The rest is available first-come, first-served for walk-ups at the permit issuing station.		https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445857June-SeptemberSummer & Fall5 hoursI recommend going for the permits that have a start that is on the west side of the sierras instead of east side to cut down your drive.
9
King Range Wilderness (Lost Coast)Permits for each calendar year are released the preceding year on October 1 (e.g., 2023 permits are released 10/1/22) https://www.recreation.gov/permits/72192All yearAnytime5.5 hoursMany permits end up being available the two weeks leading up to a start date. If you have a flexible timeframe, then try to grab one of those.
10
Inyo National Forest6 months before (i.e. Feb 23 has reservations for Aug 23) a portion of the wilderness permits are availble on the website. The rest are available 2 weeks before and issued online.http://www.recreation.gov/permits/233262May - November for everywhere but Cottonwood Pass and Golden Trout Wilderness which are July till mid-September. Summer & Fall7 hoursI recommend going for the permits 6 months in advance.This is a huge drive to do but there are quite a few places to car camp like at trailheads. I recommend driving up on day and camping the night near the trailhead and then making the last hiking day slightly shorter and driving back that same day.
11
Mt WhitneyLottery in Feb for quota season. In April, any unclaimed permits are up for grabs.https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445860May - NovemberSummer & Fall7 hoursI recommend trying to avoid the permit hoopla and going the first week of November once permit are no longer required but before the first snow.
12
Joshua Tree National ParkPermits go up 6 months in advance. https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675329All year but permits are only required for Boy Scout Trail and Pine City Zone.Spring & Winter8 hoursI recommend backpacking in areas that aren’t under a quota.