Hilton Lakes Wilderness Permits

John Muir Wilderness

Hilton Lakes, John Muir Wilderness, California
Hilton Lakes, John Muir Wilderness, California

Hilton Lakes Wilderness Permits

John Muir Wilderness


Wilderness Permits

A Wilderness Permit is required for each party camping overnight in the John Muir Wilderness. Since the Hilton Creek Lakes trailhead is in the Inyo National Forest, obtain your permit from them. There are daily quotas for the number of people who may enter at a particular trailhead for overnight camping, so obtaining a wilderness permit reservation is recommended. The trail to Hilton Lakes is allows 15 people per day. Nine of those slots may be reserved ahead of time. The other 6 slots are set aside as "walk-up" permits, now only available at Recreation.gov beginning 2 weeks before your departure.

Permits can be reserved from 1 day up to 6 months prior to your departure. The permit reservation costs $5 per person in your party and $6 for a transaction fee. Wilderness permit reservations are now handled by Recreation.gov, which also handles most national forest campground reservations. Obtain your permit at their website: Recreation.gov Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permits.

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.

Rock Creek Lake, John Muir Wilderness, California

Rock Creek Lake


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


Sign at Hilton Lakes trailhead, Rock Creek Road, California

Key John Muir Wilderness Regulations

  1. Bear canisters are not required in the Hilton Lakes area, but they are recommended.
  2. Campfires are not permitted at Hilton 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 trips in the southern Sierra.

Maps

National Geographic Map: Mammoth Lakes and Mono Divide Map, includes Rock Creek and Hilton Lakes

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.


Rock Creek Pack Station

Rock Creek Pack Station can pack you and your gear into a campsite at one of the Hilton Lakes. If you prefer, they will pack your gear to your campsite while you hike in on the trail.

Backpacking Supplies


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Backpacking Essentials

Eastside Sports at 224 N. Main in Bishop features a full inventory of backpacking gear, including clothing, boots, sleeping bags and pads, headlamps, tents, and so much more.

Rick's Sport Center 3241 Main Street, Mammoth Lakes.