Parks-Forests-Permits

Due to 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 8/30/26.

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

Grand Canyon August 2026 Flood & Trail Closures - The entirety of the North Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch, and Silver and Black Bridges are closed until further notice. The NPS is conducting an air evacuation of approximately 50 individuals from the Phantom Ranch area. Xanterra will inform guests with future Phantom Ranch reservations about the status of their reservations. Please do not attempt to access the closed areas.

Inciweb - https://inciweb.wildfire.gov - (an interagency all-risk incident information management system

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 canisters)

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.

National Forests

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

Eldorado - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/eldorado

Alerts & Notices - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/eldorado/alerts
Maps & Publications - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/eldorado/maps-guides
Passes & Permits - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/eldorado/permits

Humboldt-Toiyabe - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/humboldt-toiyabe

Alerts & Notices - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/humboldt-toiyabe/alerts
Maps & Publications - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/humboldt-toiyabe/maps-guides

Inyo

Alerts & Notices - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/inyo/alerts
Passes & Permits - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/inyo/permits
Wilderness Permits - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/inyo/permits/wilderness-permits
Mount Whitney Trail (same URL as Wilderness Permits above)
Maps & Publications - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/inyo/maps-guides

Sequoia

Alerts & Notices - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sequoia/alerts
Passes & Permits - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sequoia/permits
Maps & Publications - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sequoia/maps-guides

Sierra

Alerts & Notices - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sierra/alerts
Passes & Permits - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sierra/permits
Maps & Publications - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sierra/maps-guides

Stanislaus

Alerts & Notices - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/stanislaus/alerts
Passes & Permits - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/stanislaus/permits
Maps & Publications - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/stanislaus/maps-guides

Tahoe

Alerts & Notices - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/tahoe/alerts
Passes & Permits- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/tahoe/permits
Maps & Publications - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/tahoe/maps-guides

National Parks

Normally, approximately 100 of the 400 national parks charge an entrance fee (as of 2019).

2026 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

6/6/26 - All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to US citizens and residents (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:

February 16: Presidents Day (Washington's Birthday)
May 25: Memorial Day
June 14: Flag Day/President Trump's birthday
July 3–5: Independence Day weekend
August 25: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service
September 17: Constitution Day
October 27: Theodore Roosevelt's birthday
November 11: Veterans Day

Note: There may be exceptions to the above free days. Check with individual parks for changes or exceptions.

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

Yosemite

Alerts (incl. Traffic) - https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
Permits & Reservations - https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm
Backpack Wilderness Permits - https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm
Day Hike Permits (Half Dome only – Lottery) - https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm
Food Storage - https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bears.htm

Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Maps - https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/maps.htm
Permits & Reservations - https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/permits.htm
Backpack Wilderness Permits - https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/wilderness_permits.htm
Food Storage - https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/bear_bc.htm

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Current Conditions
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Air Quality Monitoring

Great American Outdoors Act

US Forest Service (usda.gov) | https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/gaoa

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.

Sierra Peaks Section