Steve, thanks for taking the time to clarify all this....

Originally Posted By: Steve C
Chris, I am glad you asked the questions. I am sure there are lots of people who are confused about all of that.

Addressing each line:
> This is NOT your Permit. Bring this letter with you to the Permit Issue Station.

Translation: The email confirms your reservation only. You must pick up the actual permit at the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center, just off Hwy 395, on Hwy 136 to Death Valley, one mile south of downtown Lone Pine. (Google Map). The Visitor Center is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you need to pick up your permit after hours, you can call the Wilderness Permit number (760-873-2483), a day or two before, and they can put your permit in the night-pickup box in the kiosk by the road.


Last year, I was careless (stupid?) and did not read the whole confirmation email. I was basically a no-show. My day permit had gotten canceled. Fortunately, there were plenty available that day (was a Thursday) and got one for the following day as a walk-in.

Originally Posted By: Steve C

> "Permit Pick Up: You should receive a reminder email 14 days before your trip." My permit date is 7/29. So far, no email.

The Recreation.gov website is supposed to send you that email reminder automatically, but I don't think it is working. At least I have never received that two-week notice in the past, and I think most people have not. (Someone please correct me if you have seen it.)

That reminder is an invitation to check-in online on the Recreation.gov website. I've been told that if you check in online, they will hold your permit for you even if you don't show up to pick it up. You are not required to check-in online. All you need to do is show up at the VC before the deadline, up to two days before your entry date.


I logged in to Recreation.gov but can't seem to find a way to check in anywhere. It's probably too soon for my permit, I am guessing.

Originally Posted By: Steve C
If you have a reservation for an overnight permit, the pickup deadline at the VC is 10 AM on the entry date. If you show up at 3 PM, but have confirmed online, you should get the permit. If you don't confirm, and don't call to say you will be late, they will give the permit away to walk-in people. The same holds for Day Hike permits, only the deadline is 12 noon the day BEFORE the hike date.

The online confirmation also allows you to reduce your group size, which releases the unused slots to others online -- a good thing to do.

NOTE: Confirm & Pick up Permit before the Deadline or Reservation will be canceled.

I am not sure if your email states the deadline days and times, but they are what I wrote above:
    Overnight backpack permits:  10 AM on the entry date.
    Day hike permits:  12 noon the day before the hike.


No date and time.

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It sounds like I need to be smart(-er than last year) and before even checking in my hotel, pick up my permit. Thank you!