How to Get a Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) Permit
The trail out of Onion Valley that nobody takes, into a high basin that does not cross the crest and does not connect to anything.
Check Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) permit availabilityRecreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a $5 per-person fee.
Permit Cost
1-2 days
Duration
strenuous
Difficulty
About Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley)
Golden Trout Lakes is an Inyo National Forest wilderness entry point at Onion Valley above Independence, climbing north into a high alpine basin. Inyo's quota season runs May 1 to November 1 in 2026, with reservations opening six months in advance at 7 am Pacific and additional permits released two weeks ahead. Outside that window the trailhead is non-quota with a two-week booking window. Inyo is explicit that this permit does not include the Kearsarge Pass area and that the trail does not cross the Sierra Crest. It is a short, steep, self-contained trip, and it is by far the easiest permit to get at the most contested trailhead on the east side.
Onion Valley is the busiest trailhead in the eastern Sierra because of Kearsarge Pass. Golden Trout Lakes leaves from the same parking lot and goes the other way. Inyo National Forest describes the trail as rough and sometimes difficult to follow as it climbs high alpine basins containing the Golden Trout Lakes, and states plainly that it does not cross the Sierra Crest.
The Experience
You climb steeply out of the same lot everyone else uses and within twenty minutes the noise is behind you. The trail is rough and vague in places, the basin is bare and cold, and the lakes sit in it with nobody around them.
From Onion Valley the trail climbs north into the high basins holding the Golden Trout Lakes. Inyo warns it is rough and sometimes difficult to follow.
This is a dead end by design. Inyo states the trail does not cross the Sierra Crest, and that a permit for the Golden Trout Lakes trail does not include Kearsarge Pass. If your route continues west over the crest, you need the Kearsarge Pass permit instead.
Campfires are prohibited, the trail is not recommended for stock, and special approval is required for commercial use.
What to Expect
A rough trail that Inyo says is sometimes difficult to follow
High alpine basins containing the Golden Trout Lakes
No crest crossing and no Kearsarge Pass access on this permit
A quota season from May 1 to November 1, plus a two-week release
Shared parking with the Kearsarge Pass trailhead at Onion Valley
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Permit Requirements
This permit does not include the Kearsarge Pass area
Campfires are prohibited
Food and refuse must be stored in a container designed to prevent access by bears, or counter-balanced at least 15 feet above the ground and 10 feet horizontally from a tree trunk where containers are not required
The trail is not recommended for stock
Special approval is required for commercial use
Maximum group size is 15
John Muir Wilderness regulations apply
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup
- •A stove, since campfires are prohibited
- •A map and the willingness to route-find on a rough trail
- •Warm layers for a high, bare basin
Hazards & Safety
Route-finding on a trail Inyo describes as sometimes difficult to follow
A steep climb from a trailhead already near 9,200 feet
Afternoon storms in an open basin
Snow lingering in the basin into summer
Best Time to Visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. July through September is the reliable window. It is a good option when Kearsarge Pass permits are gone and you still want a night out of Onion Valley.
Pro Tips
This is the Onion Valley permit that is still available when Kearsarge is gone
Arrive early for parking, because the lot fills with Kearsarge Pass traffic
Bring a map - Inyo says the trail is sometimes difficult to follow
Carry a stove, since fires are banned here
Do not book this if your route goes over the crest, which needs the Kearsarge permit
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) permit?
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Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley) permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley)?
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The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. July through September is the reliable window. It is a good option when Kearsarge Pass permits are gone and you still want a night out of Onion Valley.
How difficult is Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley)?
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Parties who want a night above Onion Valley without competing for Kearsarge Pass, and who are comfortable on a faint trail.
What gear do I need for Golden Trout Lakes (Onion Valley)?
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Essential gear includes: A bear-resistant container, or a counterbalance setup, A stove, since campfires are prohibited, A map and the willingness to route-find on a rough trail, Warm layers for a high, bare basin.
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