Backpacking in Desolation Wilderness can be one of the most rewarding activities you can take on. Still, this doesn’t do you much good if you can’t figure out where to even start!
When I first started backpacking, going through all the different apps and government websites to find and reserve my spot on a trail was a little overwhelming. I’m hoping I may be able to clear up any confusion while you are trying to book a backpacking permit for Desolation Wilderness
I spent a long time trying to figure out if I was actually doing it right. Stuff like reserving the wrong kind of permit, or opting to pick up permits from a ranger station that added an hour to my drive, etc.
In this post, I’m going to show you how you can select a trail or destination and then reserve that trip.
Steps Involved:
- Find a backpacking trip using Alltrails
- Verify your start and endpoints
- Cross-reference the trail on the Forest Service Website website to double-check the zone you will ultimately be CAMPING IN
- Check availability on Recreation.gov
- Purchase
Step 1
Find a trip you would like to go on using Alltrails. For this post, I am going to be using my upcoming trip to Middle Velma as an example.
You can enter your search parameters and find something that looks like you would enjoy. Maybe the trail needs to be dog friendly, more than 6 miles round trip, etc.
PRO TIP: When I am looking for a trip, I pay the most attention to the elevation gain over a distance, the nightly temperatures, and how crowded the trail supposedly is.
I am going to be taking Bayview Trail to Velma Lake. I already know there are multiple Velma lakes (Upper, Middle, and Lower) which all have their own quotas. From Bayview Trail, I can go to any lake in the area that I would like. Since I have selected Middle Velma, this is what zone I will search for in step 3.
Step 2
The starting and ending location will be the same for an out and back trip. In my case, this will be Bayview Trailhead. This is information that Recreation.gov will request when you fill out your information for a permit.
Step 3
I have decided that I want to camp out at Middle Velma Lake. I will then search for the ZONE on fs.usda.gov. It is zone 16.
Note that plenty of zones are the exact name of the location you are going to be going to. So Middle Velma lake is its own zone based on name but this is not the case for every trip you will go on so it’s still best practice to verify.
Step 4
The calendar on recreation.gov will show me availability for the given zone. From here you can select your dates (or see if this zone is available for the dates you are trying to go backpacking).
I want to go for a quick overnight on the 27th of the current month. There is availability so I click on the date I want to begin my trip.
Step 5
Click on Book Now. Enter all the other relevant information for your trip. This is where the beginning and ending locations for your backpacking trip come into play. Select purchase after you fill everything out and your done!
It’s also important to note any notices that recreation.gov have posted regarding your planned trip. I can see from here that a temporary closure has been extended to the 21st for this particular trail due to the wildfires that are currently going on in California right now.
That’s it, you can now download your permit and print it out any point within 7 days of your selected entry date.
Bring the permit along with you to present to any rangers and you are good to go.
Note
This process is of course different depending on whether or not the wilderness is federally or state-owned, and other factors but for Desolation Wilderness this is the easiest way I have found to select and book your trip while ensuring the trip you WANT to go on is the trip you book.
Another great tip is when
