Recreation.gov will be handling backcountry permits for Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks beginning in 2021/NPS file

Recreation.gov, a website that has drawn complaints from some users, will be the portal to obtain backcountry permits in Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks beginning in 2021.

The new portal replaces the old system, by which reservations were submitted by email and processed manually. Recreation.gov provides trip planning and reservation services for public lands nationwide, and using it for wilderness permit issuance will bring the parks into alignment with the adjacent Inyo National Forest, a park release said.
 
Visitors can currently view the permits that will be available for reservation on Recreation.gov by searching “Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits,” or following the direct link https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445857/. Beginning in early January, reservations will become available in a rolling window six months in advance of entry dates. The 2021 quota season will run from May 28–September 18.  
 
“This new system will provide real-time availability information, as well as instant reservation confirmations, which visitors have repeatedly requested,” says Wilderness Coordinator Erik Frenzel. “Recreation.gov also streamlines the payment process and provides more specific information for different entry points. We hope that wilderness visitors will find the new system makes trip planning a much better experience.” 
 
To cover the costs associated with the new system, the quota season permit fee will increase by $5 to $15 per permit plus $5 per person. Refunds of the per person portion of the fee will now be available in the event of cancellations or party size reductions. 

In the past, some users of recreation.gov have complained about not being able to land a desired reservation and wondered whether the reservation system had been gamed by some. Others complained about having their reservations canceled, and difficulties with obtaining refunds. A 10-year contract for running the site went to Booz Allen Hamilton in October 2018.

"I have data for one particular cabin going back to 2009. Prior to securing that data, I tried everything possible to be the quickest at pushing the button at 10 a.m. EST," Rick F. wrote in a comment to the Traveler this past February. "Nothing worked, including syncing server time protocols to Recreation.gov servers. After hearing all sorts of anecdotal stories of the same people getting reservations every year I pushed the envelope and began inquiring with various (U.S. Forest Service) supervisors and Recreation.gov personnel, all to no avail. 

"Then in 2018 I filed the (Freedom of Information Act) requests and started analyzing the names and the rumors were verified. Same people every season, some as many as 5 times in a season!," continued Rick. "The season is June 15th to September 30th at this cabin or approximately 100+ days.  One person actually booked 5 reservations totaling 30 days!"
 
At this time, Kings Canyon and Sequoia are also planning to resume in-person, “walk-up” permit issuance for the 2021 quota season. This means that a limited number of first-come, first-served permits will be available daily at permit issuing stations in Cedar Grove, Grant Grove, Lodgepole, Ash Mountain, and Mineral King. The parks are working on safety measures to make this possible while protecting visitor and employee health.  
 
The permit system is an essential part of the parks’ wilderness stewardship efforts, as it provides a limit on the number of people recreating in sensitive ecosystems during the high-use summer months and ensures visitors have the information to protect themselves and the wilderness. Outside quota season, self-issued permits for wilderness use are required. As in the past, these are available at visitor centers near trailheads. No fee is required outside the quota season.  
 
Visitors will be able to begin making wilderness permit reservations on January 5, 2021. In the meantime, the park encourage everyone to explore the new system. Questions can be directed to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Office, at [email protected] or (559) 565-3766.