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Desolation Wilderness Permit — Lyons wilderness permit area in Desolation Wilderness - backcountry hiking destination
ReservationOvernightModerate Demand

Desolation Wilderness Permit — Lyons

Desolation Wilderness

Overnight permit for the Lyons zone in Desolation Wilderness, which covers both Lyons Creek and Lyons Lake. Recreation.gov sells the zone, not the individual lakes.

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70% of the openings our scanner caught on Enchantments Core Zone were gone within 10 minutes.

We checkPro about every minute · free hourly
Demand
Moderate
5/10
Method
Reservation
Booking Method
Reservation

Lyons Quick Facts

Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelModerate5/10

Key Information

Permit Details

TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level5/10
LocationCA

How to Get This Permit

1

Create a Recreation.gov account

Sign up at Recreation.gov 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

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Safety & Planning

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Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Lyons. 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.

Lyons FAQ

How do I get a Lyons permit?

Lyons 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 Lyons?

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

How competitive is the Lyons permit?

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

What if I can't get a Lyons permit?

Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $29 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.

👥Community

Trail Conditions(2)

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🔥 CATNF 2026 Talbot Fire

Dangerous
Reported 6 days ago

Last updated: --- The type of incident is Wildfire and involves the following unit(s) Tahoe National Forest. --- State: California --- Coordinates: Latitude: 39° 10 25.77 Longitude: 120° 23 13.46 --- NOTE: All fire perimeters and points are approximations. --- Incident Overview: The Talbot Fire is burning on the Tahoe National Forest and located off French Meadows Road approximately 4 miles northeast of French Meadows Reservoir and 14 miles southeast of Truckee, Calif. The incident was reported Thursday, Aug. 12,2026 and is burning near the Granite Chief Wilderness in heavy timber across extremely steep, rugged terrain.  --- Source: InciWeb | http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/catnf-2026-talbot-fire

CA - Active Wildfire
Reported by
T
Trail Conditions Bot
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🔥 CALPF Timber Fire

Dangerous
Reported 1 week ago

Last updated: 2026-08-10 --- The type of incident is Wildfire and involves the following unit(s) Los Padres National Forest. --- State: California --- Coordinates: Latitude: 36° 13 40.1 Longitude: 121° 43 59.2 --- NOTE: All fire perimeters and points are approximations. --- Incident Overview: The Timber Fire was reported in the overnight hours of Saturday, August 8. After exhibiting moderate nighttime growth, it was estimated to be about 45 acres by 7:30 a.m. Sunday, August 9. As of 7 a.m. on Monday, August 10, the fire was 800 acres, 5 percent contained, and continues to spread. None of California's eight federal complex incident management teams is immediately available as they are either assigned to other incidents or on mandatory days off. California has strong interagency relationships and coordination; CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 is mobilizing and will receive its inbrief Monday afternoon and be delegated command of the fire soon thereafter.Numerous firefighting resources, including aircraft, engines, and crews, are assigned to the fire, with additional resources en route and being ordered. --- Source: InciWeb | http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-timber-fire

CA - Active Wildfire
Reported by
T
Trail Conditions Bot

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