Desolation Wilderness Permits

Because of its beauty and accessibility, Desolation Wilderness is one of the most heavily used wilderness areas in the United States. In order to protect its unique beauty and wilderness character, human access is limited and certain activities are restricted in the Desolation.

Permits are required year-round for overnight use.

A Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) Thru-Hike Permit is required for individuals completing the full Tahoe Rim Trail loop in a single continuous journey and specifically authorizes the segment of the TRT which traverses through Desolation Wilderness. A new Desolation Wilderness overnight use quota zone has been created for use only by TRT Thru-Hikers completing the entire TRT hike. Permits can be obtained online via https://www.recreation.gov/. For more information Visit the Tahoe Rim Trail Association Plan Your Hike Page. Permits for this zone will go live on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 9 a.m. PST.
Need to Know:
- There is a quota of 10 spaces per night for this zone.
- Permit holders are limited to a maximum of 2 nights in the Desolation Wilderness while traveling on the TRT corridor.
- Permit holders must camp within 300 feet of the TRT.
- Camping along/around Lake Aloha is prohibited.
- Permit holders can access and print permits up to 14 days in advance.
- All Desolation Wilderness regulations and requirements apply to TRT Thru-Hike Permits.
Bear canisters are required for all overnight visitors. Store food, food trash and scented items in a hard-sided canister when not in use. Bear canisters must be hard-sided. (Forest Order).
70% of the daily quota for overnight permits are RESERVABLE online from 6 months to 1 day in advance of your date of entry at www.recreation.gov.
30% of the daily quota for overnight permits will be available via WALK-IN/same day issuance at the Placerville Ranger Station in Camino 7 days a week starting the Friday before Memorial Day.
Desolation Wilderness permits are unavailable at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center until further notice. Hikers and backpackers should plan to purchase permits online or pick them up at the Forest Supervisor's Office in South Lake Tahoe, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., or at the Placerville Ranger District, seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., including holidays.

Answer the following questions to walk you through your pre-planning efforts.

Is a Wilderness the appropriate destination for the trip and activities you want to do?
Carefully review the Desolation Wilderness rules and regulations.
How many people and how experienced are the people in your group?
Consider the size of your group and the skill level of the least experienced person in your group. Maximum group size is 12. If you have a large group, you may want to consider areas outside of a designated Wilderness.
When do you plan to go on this trip?
Determine your date of entry/exit and what trailheads you would like to enter and exit from.
- HIGH USE SEASON
  A quota in place from the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30 of each year. The overnight quota is based upon the number of people entering the wilderness each day, and their first night's destination zone.
  - Quota: 70% of the quota is reservable online. 30% is available for walk-in/same day entry.
  - Zones: There are 45 zones which may be accessed by any of 15 trailhead entry points.
    - Desolation Zones Map (pdf)
    - List of the Zone Quotas (pdf)
  - You must enter on the date specified on your permit and must spend your first night in the zone which you have chosen. The rest of your stay is not subject to zone requirements, and you can change locations for the remainder of your trip.
- NON-QUOTA SEASON
  Between October 1 and Memorial Weekend you will still need to know your zone, but your group size can contain up to 12 overnight users. Permits can be obtained online or in person at offices which issue Desolation Wilderness permits.
Where exactly do you want to camp?
Look at the Zone Map to determine your desired Destination Zone for your first night stay.
Is there space for your party size in the desired zone?
Review the Zone Quota information to determine the number of allowed people. Some zones have small quotas, as few as two people, so please check to determine if your destination allows enough people for your party size. You cannot split your group and stay at the same destination together. Have a backup destination in case there is not enough space available for your group.
Consider what the weather may be like and the likely conditions for that time of year.
There may still be a significant amount of snow cover and cold temperatures into late June. Mosquitos are heavy after snow melt.
Do you have questions?
You can call the Desolation Wilderness office for trip planning assistance.
- Office Contact Information

You must always carry your wilderness permit during your trip.

Online Reservations & Permits -

Available at www.recreation.gov. Within the quota season 70% of the daily quota for overnight permits is reservable online from 6 months to 1 day in advance of your date of entry. The other 30% is only available for walk-in/same day entry.

Convenience: The on-line service at www.recreation.gov allows wilderness visitors to make their reservations any time of the day seven days per week. A call center, 1-877-444-6777, is available to assist with reservations daily from 7 AM – 9 PM in the summer and 7 AM to 7 PM in the winter.
Overnight Wilderness Permit Fee - $5/person for one night, $10/person for 2 to 14 nights. The cost of a single permit will not exceed $100. Children 12 and under are free. Permit fees are paid at time of reservation. Permit fees may be refunded if changes or cancellation is done more than 7 days in advance of date of entry. All fees are non-refundable if the permit is cancelled within 7 days or less of date of entry.
Reservation Fee - $6 per party/permit (non-refundable) for all transaction types. Desolation Wilderness is managed via a zone quota system. All overnight permits are issued out of one database to manage the quota limits through the Recreation.gov site. Whether you walk-in, go online, or call, you are reserving space in the quota.
Service Charge - There is a fee for a change to the date or for adding people. No fee for cancellations. Changes to reserved permits can be made online, through the call center, or in person.
Printing Your Permit: Within 7 days of your entry date, you can print your permit. Check the box that you agree to abide by Desolation Wilderness Rules and Regulations before printing.

First-Come, First Served Overnight Permits –

The program has returned to 30% of the quota being available first-come, first-serve the day of entry and may not be reserved ahead of time. You must register in person and pay fees at one of the permit offices during business hours.

Office Locations (for a walk-in permit)

WEST Side Entry

PLACERVILLE RANGER DISTRICT (Eldorado National Forest)
4260 Eight Mile Road, Camino, CA 95709
Take exit 54 off highway 50.
Phone: 530-647-5415, Summer Hours: 7 days/week, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

EAST Side Entry

LAKE TAHOE BASIN MANAGEMENT UNIT FOREST SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE
35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.
Phone: 530-543-2600, (If your call is not answered, please leave your name and phone number during business hours and staff will return your call as soon as possible.) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Located two miles east of the U.S. Highway 50/89 junction in South Lake Tahoe. From the highway turn right on Al Tahoe Blvd. and then turn right at first signal.