Skip to content
San Miguel Island Campground permit area in Channel Islands National Park - backcountry hiking destination

San Miguel Island Campground Permit

Channel Islands National Park · California

One date at a time

Remote camping on San Miguel Island.

Watch your San Miguel dates

One San Miguel reservation is one date. Tell us every date you'd take and we'll ping you the second one of them opens up.

Leave the second date blank if only one day works. A wider window catches more openings.

Party

70% of the openings our scanner caught on San Miguel were gone within 5 minutes.

Plan the full trip, not just the permit

Build your full itinerary start to finish

Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.

Start a plan — it's free

No permit needed to start

San Miguel Quick Facts

Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelModerate5/10

Key Information

Permit Details

TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level5/10
LocationCA

Weather Forecast

Trailhead (5,000 ft)

⚠️

Backcountry Tips

  • Tomorrow: Wind gusts to 45mph. Secure tent, avoid exposed ridges.
  • Day 3: Wind gusts to 42mph. Secure tent, avoid exposed ridges.
  • Windy conditions: Bring wind-resistant shelter if camping.

Today

🌫️

72°

59°

Sun

☀️

69°

59°

Mon

☀️

67°

62°

Tue

☀️

64°

62°

Wed

☀️

63°

62°

Thu

☀️

63°

62°

Fri

☀️

63°

62°

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

How to Get This Permit

1

Create a National Park Service account

Sign up at National Park Service if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

2

Know the release schedule

Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.

3

Be ready when permits drop

Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

4

Monitor for cancellations

If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Safety & Planning

🚨

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for San Miguel. Sign up to track this permit.

🐻

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit. Sign up to track this permit.

San Miguel FAQ

How do I get a San Miguel permit?

San Miguel permits use a reservation system. PermitSnag sends lottery open, deadline, and results reminders; you can also enable cancellation alerts if spots open later.

When is the best time to visit San Miguel?

Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.

How competitive is the San Miguel permit?

This permit has a demand score of 5/10, making it moderately competitive.

What if I can't get a San Miguel permit?

Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.

👥Community

Trail Conditions

No active conditions reported

Sign in to report trail conditions.

Questions

No questions yet

Be the first to ask about San Miguel.

Trip Reports

Write Report

No trip reports yet

Be the first to share your experience at San Miguel.

Write the First Report

A small favor

One tick helps us more than you’d think

Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.

Add PermitSnag in Google

Takes less than a minute.