Do I need a permit to backpack Joshua Tree Wilderness?
Yes. You need a permit to backpack Joshua Tree Wilderness in Joshua Tree National Park. It is the Joshua Tree Wilderness Backpacking Permit, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
Permit required
What the Joshua Tree Wilderness permit costs and covers
- Fee
- $6 non-refundable reservation fee per permit
- Group size limit
- 12 people
- Season starts
- October 1
- Season ends
- May 31
What the rules require
- A wilderness backpacking permit is required for all overnight backpacking. Day use visitors do not register
- Along the Boy Scout Trail you must camp in one of the 14 designated campsites, one campsite per group
- At-large camping must be 1 mile from any backcountry trailhead, half a mile from a legally open road, and 200 feet off a trail
- Camping in or near rock shelters or in designated day-use only areas is prohibited
- Backpacking is limited to 3 consecutive nights in one campsite or zone, no more than 14 days in a season, and 30 days per year
- Two vehicles per permit, and one permit is valid for 1 to 12 people
Published rules for the Joshua Tree Wilderness Backpacking Permit, quoted as written.
Getting one
Dates for Joshua Tree Wilderness sell out and then come back as people cancel. PermitSnag watches Joshua Tree Wilderness Backpacking Permit and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.
Common questions about the Joshua Tree Wilderness permit
Do I need a permit to backpack Joshua Tree Wilderness?
Yes. You need a permit to backpack Joshua Tree Wilderness in Joshua Tree National Park. It is the Joshua Tree Wilderness Backpacking Permit, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
How much does a Joshua Tree Wilderness permit cost?
$6 non-refundable reservation fee per permit.
How many people can be on one Joshua Tree Wilderness permit?
12 people.
When is the Joshua Tree Wilderness permit season?
Season starts: October 1. Season ends: May 31.