Devil's Slide Weekend Quota Question

[Ulysses]

I doubt if you'll have any problem getting a permit for Marion Mountain. I don't think there is a quota for that trail, but you need a permit from the State over there. The State Park Headquarters is in Idyllwild, and they do have self-issue day use permits, but they don't always leave them out. I'm pretty sure the State will let you get a permit the day before your hike, but I don't know if the office will be open on the 4th.

I've never been asked to show a permit in the State Park on any of the south or west side trails, so if it were me I probably wouldn't even bother. That being said, I know several people who have been asked for a permit in the State Park by a real ranger, and those cats are serious. They can issue a citation.

Stone Creek is a nice campground. Enjoy. Azalea and columbine in bloom. Report back if you see any Lemon Lily on the trail.

[myotherboots]

I have always been able to secure a hiking permit for the Marion Mountain trail at the self serve kiosk at Stone Creek Campground on the day of my hike.

But, be advised that the last time I did this hike was a little over a year ago, things could have changed.

[lkelly]

So I decided to hike up the Devil's Slide on Sunday. It was kinda last minute and faxed for a permit late Thursday afternoon. I wrote please FAX back and put my number on it. The ladies at the RS faxed it back friday late morning and followed up with a phone call to make sure i received it. Usually I fax it in and they will mail it back, takes a few days to a week to get it in the mail.
We went up today at 630 and saw no rangers til coming back. But they did say there was a ranger at the bottom checking permits at 7am. I am coming from San Diego and don't want to wait for a walk in permit at 8am

[KathyW]

So I decided to hike up the Devil's Slide on Sunday. It was kinda last minute and faxed for a permit late Thursday afternoon. I wrote please FAX back and put my number on it. The ladies at the RS faxed it back friday late morning and followed up with a phone call to make sure i received it. Usually I fax it in and they will mail it back, takes a few days to a week to get it in the mail.
We went up today at 630 and saw no rangers til coming back. But they did say there was a ranger at the bottom checking permits at 7am. I am coming from San Diego and don't want to wait for a walk in permit at 8am :D

Thursday request for a Sunday hike isn't last minute for me, but it might be for others. At the same time, that was very nice of them to get it back to you in less than 24 hours.

[sdpacatc]

I'm taking a group up next weekend and I faxed a application in last Friday ( the 18th of July) and was pleasantly surprised to find a permit in my mail Monday ( the 21st of July).

[Hikin_Jim]

The SJ USFS folks have always been very accommodating to me.

That said, one does have to wonder why the SBNF isn't on Recreation.gov the way, say, Inyo National Forest is. I recently got a permit from Inyo. They do it by number of people, not number of permits, they have an online system that coordinates automatically between the various issuing stations, and you can see what's available when you get onto the site.

Given that the USFS already has this system, one wonders why it hasn't been used locally.

HJ

[GoPlayer]

Nice to see it works for others. I asked someone with access to a fax machine to fax a permit request to Mills Creek today. Didn't work, they will try again tomorrow.

I agree about the recreation.gov.

[KathyW]

Nice to see it works for others. I asked someone with access to a fax machine to fax a permit request to Mills Creek today. Didn't work, they will try again tomorrow.

I agree about the recreation.gov.

Good luck getting someone to answer the phone when the fax is down. Once it was down for two days when I tried to request a permit and nobody would answer the phone; so I sent in a complaint using the SBNF Feedback form and tried faxing again later in the day after I sent the complaint in and the fax went through.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/sbnf/a ... /contactus

[Sally]

I was at the Mill Creek RS at 4:30 (!) last Wednesday morning and there were a total of 6 permits for all trails combined with zero permits for Vivian or So Fork. Funny, but we didn't see very many folks on the trail. It chaps my hide when there are no permits available but there are few people on the trail.

This morning I faxed in a permit application (Mill Creek RS) at 7:30 and at 8:00 was granted a permit for Forsee Creek on Sunday.

For the San G Wilderness this is typical for me. There are often few self-issue permits available mid-week no matter HOW early you show up. I usually get a quick response if I fax in a request.

I do most of my San J from Idyllwild hiking mid-week and never have a problem getting a self-issue permit for any trail, including Devil's Slide.

I suggest hiking mid-week and playing hooky if you work or are in school... it's a matter of setting priorities!

[towbradley]

Lol,that's pretty sound advice sally. How've you been? Haven't been hiking in 6 months due to a hamstring tear...whah for me. read the posts on your trip and looked at the pic's. You and your sisters had a trip of a life time. Gotta go, AAA calling and must rescue those who need me. Be safe everybody and keep your eye on the sky today.