What Sierra Backpackers Need to Know About Permits in the West
After more than a decade of backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, I’ve developed a rhythm to planning trips.
I know how to read snowpack. I know how to map routes. And over the years, I’ve figured out how to work within the permit systems across places like Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon. It’s never been perfect—but it’s always worked.
Until this year.
This season, I tried something different. I’m now based in the Pacific Northwest, and for the first time in a long time, I set my sights on a new range—applying for wilderness permits in Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascades National Park.
I went in with the same mindset I’ve used in the Sierra for years:
- Be flexible
- Plan multiple routes
- Stay open to alternatives
And still… I got denied.
Both parks. Same week.
At the exact same time, I received a confirmation email from Yosemite National Park.
That contrast stopped me.
Because if there’s one place in the West that should feel competitive, it’s Yosemite. And yet, year after year, I’ve found ways into the wilderness there—while Washington, at least right now, feels like a completely different challenge.
That disconnect is what led to this week’s episode of the Sierra Rec Now Podcast.
A Different Kind of Permit Problem
For years, I assumed that difficulty came down to popularity.
More people = harder permits.
But after digging into the systems—and experiencing them firsthand this year—I’ve realized something much more important:
It’s not about how many people want to go.
It’s about how access is managed.
In the Sierra, especially in Yosemite, the system gives you room to adapt. You’re applying for trailheads, not locking yourself into a fixed itinerary. You can pivot. You can reroute. You can still build an incredible trip even if your first choice doesn’t come through.
In Washington, the experience feels different.
Permits are tied tightly to specific camps and zones. Capacity is smaller. Access is layered through lotteries that don’t guarantee outcomes—even if you get through the first step.
“You’re not competing for the park… you’re competing for a handful of camps.”
And when thousands of people are targeting those same locations, the margin for success gets very small, very quickly.
Why This Matters for Sierra Backpackers
If you’ve spent time exploring the Sierra, you’ve probably experienced something similar to what I have:
You can start on a busy trail… and within a few miles, find yourself completely alone.
That freedom to move—to adjust your route, to explore beyond the obvious—is part of what makes the Sierra so special.
It’s also what makes its permit system work.
“In Yosemite, you’re competing for options. In Washington, you’re competing for space.”
That distinction may be the most important takeaway from this entire experience.
Because as more people head outdoors—and as permit systems continue to evolve—the way access is structured will shape not just where we go, but how we experience the wilderness.
Listen to the Full Episode
In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, I break down:
- Why Mount Rainier issues only a limited number of backpacking permits each year
- What the North Cascades lottery actually looks like from the inside
- Why Yosemite continues to offer more opportunity—even with heavy demand
- And how to rethink your approach if you get denied
This isn’t just about permits.
It’s about how we plan, how we adapt, and how we stay connected to the reason we head into the mountains in the first place.
The Bigger Shift
If I’m honest, this experience forced me to take a step back.
Not just from the logistics—but from the mindset.
It’s easy to get locked into a single route. A single destination. A single version of what the “right” trip looks like.
But that’s not really what the wilderness is about.
“We’re not competing for wilderness… we’re competing for the same version of it.”
This year didn’t go as planned.
But it’s not over.
And in a lot of ways, it might lead to something better.
Because the wilderness is still out there.
It just might ask you to enter a different way.
