Parks-Forests-Permits

Due to COVID-19, fires, snow, or others reasons, it is a good idea to always check the land agency web site before visiting any park, forest, or other government land agency as the information below may not be up-to-date. Info/links on this page last checked 4/3/24.

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)   |   Also, see info at bottom of this page.
Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) - https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/gaoa

National Forests:   |   Eldorado   |   Humbldt-Toiyabe   |   Inyo   |   Sequoia   |   Sierra   |   Stanislaus   |   Tahoe   |   National Parks:   |   Yosemite   |   Sequoia and Kings Canyon     

Alerts Concerning Other Parks in California

 This web page provides internet links or URLs to wilderness pages of National Forests and Parks in the Sierra Nevada:

  • Most require permits for overnight entry into wilderness areas.
  • Some have special food storage requirements (e.g., bear caniste Disable rich-text
     
    rs or equivalent).
  • Links/URLs below last checked 6/23/19.

Every Kid Outdoors Annual Pass

Fourth grade students can obtain a pass providing free entry into national parks and other federal public lands through the following August. The pass provides free admission for fourth graders and their families. (The pass does not cover camping or other special fees.) Why fourth graders? Research shows that kids ages nine to 11 are beginning to learn about the world around them. They’re open to new ideas, and they are likely to connect to nature and our history. For more info, click HERE.     For 2020-21 fifth-graders, see note under National Parks below.

National Forests

ROAD CLOSURES - Info is usually on the Alerts & Notices page (sometimes at bottom of page)

Eldorado     - https://www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado

Humboldt-Toiyabe     

Inyo   

Sequoia     

Sierra    

Stanislaus    

Tahoe     

Wilderness Permits are not required in the Granite Chief Wilderness, the only Wilderness in the Tahoe National Forest.

National Parks

National Park 2019 Fee-Free Days

2019 info: Normally, approximately 100 of the 400 national parks charge an entrance fee.

For 2024, the National Park Service has announced that the following dates will be entrance fee-free days: For more info on fee-free days (or special discounts for veterans, Gold Star Families, or fourth- or fifth-graders, go to:
https://everykidoutdoors.gov/pass.htm
https://everykidoutdoors.gov/rules.htm

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks
January 15: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 20: First day of National Park Week
June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
September 28: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day

For info on any national park, go to https://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm

Yosemite

Yosemite Road Construction

Road construction/repair periodically closes some roads or causes travel delays. For more up-to-date info and changes, check the Yosemite web site at   https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/roadwork.htm    

Ostrander Ski Hut 2023 Update - Ostrander Ski Hut will be opening for the 2022-2023 winter season! We anticipate that the Hut will be open from December 23, 2022 to April 1, 2023. Reservations will become available online at 9 am Pacific Time on November 16, 2022 at the link below. The cost to reserve is $50 per person, per night. Yosemite Conservancy donors are eligible for a reduced rate during certain periods. The ski hut is approximately 10 miles from Badger Pass, and all routes require considerable stamina and cross-country skiing experience. It is not recommended for novice skiers. [This has not been updated for 2024.]

Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Current Conditions      
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Air Quality Monitoring     
Forest Service PM2.5 Monitoring Data    
Inciweb

Great American Outdoors Act

US Forest Service (usda.gov)   |   https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/gaoa - Latest News: USDA Announces $218 Million Investment in Land and Water Conservation.

5/21/21The Great American Outdoors Act secures $900 million in permanent funding each year for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. LWCF programs are managed by the Departments of Agriculture and Interior. The Forest Service administers two LWCF programs – the Forest Legacy Program and the Land Acquisition program – that together conserve critical and strategic lands across the nation’s forests and grasslands. Forest Service LWCF projects enhance recreational access to existing public lands, conserve working timberlands vital for local economies, and protect critical watersheds. For more info, check the above link.

 Alerts Concerning Other Parks in California

Temporary Closure of 49 Palms Hiking Trail in Joshua Tree National Park - Beginning Monday June 14, 2021 Joshua Tree National Park managers will close the 49 Palms Trail to allow bighorn sheep undisturbed access to surface water. The park is under extreme drought conditions and herds in the area are increasingly reliant on the oasis spring to survive the hot summer months. The closure will remain in place until summer monsoons provide adequate rainfall to increase water availability. Park wildlife biologists will be monitoring the situation closely. For more info, go to https://www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/news/temporary-closure-of-49-palms-hiking-trail-in-joshua-tree-national-park.htm     - Update May 2022:    Re-checked April 2024: The above notice is still on the nps.gov/jotr web site at the above URL.