Cottonwood Lakes Wilderness Permits

John Muir Wilderness

photo of Cottonwood Lakes, John Muir Wilderness, California
photo of Cottonwood Lakes, John Muir Wilderness, California

Cottonwood Lakes Wilderness Permits

John Muir Wilderness


Wilderness Permits

A Wilderness Permit is required for each party (up to a maximum of 15 people) camping overnight in the John Muir Wilderness. Since the Cottonwood Lakes portion of the John Muir Wilderness is in the Inyo National Forest, they are in charge of issuing permits (working in partnership with Recreation.gov). There are daily quotas for each trailhead, so obtaining a wilderness permit reservation is recommended. Reservations can me made from 1 day up to 6 months prior to your departure date.

Before you make your permit reservation, check the Inyo National Forest information at Wilderness Permits - Planning Your Trip. Then make your reservation using Recreation.gov.

Cottonwood Lakes, John Muir Wilderness, California

Cottonwood Lakes 5 and 4 from Mt. Langley Trail

Trail Quotas

The trail to Cottonwood Lakes is alloted permits for a maximum of 60 overnight backpackers per day. Of those, permits for up to 36 people may be reserved ahead of time. The other 24 slots are set aside as "walk-up" permits, now only available at Recreation.gov beginning 2 weeks before your departure. This is a popular trailhead in the summer and on weekends. Only the person designated when the reservation is made can pick up or use the permit.


Horseshoe Meadow Road, Inyo County California

Road to Horseshoe Meadow

Fees

Currently there is a $6 fee for a permit reservation and $5 more for each person in your party. For more information, call Inyo National Forest at (760) 873-2483 Open 8 am to 4:30 pm (closed for lunch). During the winter (Oct. 16 - May 14) they are closed on weekends and holidays.

Picking Up Your Permit

Once you have reserved your wilderness permit online, wait until one week before your trip when you can print the permit at home. After the permit is printed, you cannot make any changes. Sign it and carry it with you.

Inyo National Forest lists other pieces of information that can be printed - Additional Documents to Print, some required, some recommended.

You can visit a visitor center in person to ask questions, rent bear cans, and purchase maps and books:

  • Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center, Hwy. 395, 2 miles south of Lone Pine, CA; Open Thursday - Monday, 8:30-4:30
  • Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center, Hwy. 395, North of Lee Vining; Open Thursday-Sunday, 8:30-4:30

Key John Muir Wilderness Regulations

  1. Bear canisters are required around Cottonwood Lakes.
  2. Campfires are not permitted at Cottonwood Lakes or the surrounding area.

Regulations and procedures are often adjusted due to changes in forest conditions (e.g. wildfires, COVID-19), so it is wise to check the Forest Service website for any updates:
Inyo National Forest


Books

Sierra South is the leading backpacking resource for backpacking in the southern Sierra.

Mytopo Maps

Reliable maps facilitate trip planning and are invaluable in the back country. One of the best maps for the Sabrina Basin is a custom map printed by mytopo covering as much of the the area you want. On their website you select the boundaries to be printed.

It is wise to include a large area around your planned hike route. Often you will reuse the map for other trips in the region. And there is always the remote chance that you will need to exit via a different trail than you planned. The maps are printed on waterproof, tear-resistant paper.

Cottonwood Pack Station

For an extended stay at Cottonwood Lakes or beyond, consider having yourself packed into a base camp by Cottonwood Pack Station. They are located next door to the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead Campground.

Backpacking Supplies


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