Hiking the Hoover Wilderness

Beginning in central California and spilling into Nevada's Great Basin, the Sierra Nevada mountain range includes some of California's most iconic landscapes — Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Inyo National Forest, and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, among others.

The Hoover Wilderness is a spectacular piece of the Sierra Nevada Range. Entry into the Hoover Wilderness on certain trails entering from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is limited to reduce the impact to the landscape and to improve the visitor experience.

Take in breathtaking views on a wilderness hike in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Established as a primitive area in 1931 and later designated in 1964 as protected Wilderness, the Hoover Wilderness is widely known for its extreme mountainous terrain, glistening alpine lakes, and lush meadows. With steep terrain that ranges from around 7,000 feet (2133 m) to more than 12,000 feet (3657 m), the Hoover has few forested areas and offers a landscape of granite basins, rugged canyons, and jagged peaks. During the summer, diverse wildflowers are spread over the intermittent meadows found throughout the wilderness area. 

Hoover Wilderness (Jason Hoover, Share the Experience)

An overnight wilderness permit is required year-round for the Hoover Wilderness. From the June 15 through September 15, wilderness permits are limited by a trailhead quota. Each year, quota season permits become available for advanced reservations six months in advance of your trip start date (day of entry). The other half of the wilderness permits for the quota season will be made available within three days of the date of entry at 8am MDT.

Reserved permits are available to print at home within 7 days of the entry date. Permits purchased within 3 days of the entry date will be immediately available for printing at home. Permit holders are responsible to print their permit and maintain a signed printed physical copy in their possession for the duration of the trip.

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