North Fork Big Pine Creek permits

I'm trying to sign up for one but recreation.gov doesn't have any showing available for reservation (as opposed to simply sold out). Most other trailheads are showing some sort of reservations. Is this because there's trailhead permits for Big Pine Creek? I went up to Middle Palisade last year and I picked up a permit at the main Inyo National Forest visitors center... so I'm confused. Is there just not a quota at all? 

I'm thinking its because they still haven't opened the winter closures?  I was looking for Kearsarge Pass permits, and noticed the same thing.  

I was told the by the county that the road to Big Pine trailhead is open. And my one buddy was just up there.

Are you aware of the 14 day "walk-in" permit system in place this year? If the dates you are looking at entering are more than 14 days from now, then you won't be able to access them. 

Ryan Huetter wrote: Are you aware of the 14 day "walk-in" permit system in place this year? If the dates you are looking at entering are more than 14 days from now, then you won't be able to access them. 

Thought that simply applied to the quota portion that normally was held back for walk-ins?

Ryan Huetter wrote: Are you aware of the 14 day "walk-in" permit system in place this year? If the dates you are looking at entering are more than 14 days from now, then you won't be able to access them. 

Yeah, it’s not that. There are no dates even next week.  Maybe the trail doesn’t have a quota? But that seems odd...

Closed due to Covid! Not issuing permits until June 30.  Most of the rest of the Sierras are still open though. 

Also, I've found calling the wilderness permit offices a super good source for all of that type of info.

Yeah the permits get snapped up 6 months in advance because that trail is so popular. Each Friday Inyo will be releasing 15 weekly Walk-in permits for two weeks from that date. Let me know if you’d like the personal number of an Inyo employee who would be happy to discuss the best way to secure a permit.

COVID not the issue here. Just the usual Supply & Demand imbalance. 

Nick Buffini wrote: Yeah the permits get snapped up 6 months in advance because that trail is so popular. Each Friday Inyo will be releasing 15 weekly Walk-in permits for two weeks from that date. Let me know if you’d like the personal number of an Inyo employee who would be happy to discuss the best way to secure a permit.

COVID not the issue here. Just the usual Supply & Demand imbalance. 

Thanks Nick, are those released on Recreation.gov, or do they have to be obtained by phone?

I've had the same issues that YOLO has mentioned.  I did get my act together and scored a summer permit for N. Fork Big Pine Creek not long after they became available.  However, I've been looking to take my two boys out later this summer before they head back to school and just about everything seems strangely inaccessible, and not the usual they've been reserved stuff.  It's like the system is just reporting that there's nothing available because no one is operating or updating the system.