Ansel Adams Wilderness Hiking Trip Planner In 9 Easy Steps:
Planning a hiking trip is one of the most challenging parts of the trip for me. But follow our Ansel Adams Wilderness Hiking Trip Planner, and you will find yourself hiking in the Sierras in no time at all!
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#1. Plan Your Hikes / Backpacking Itinerary:
Your first step in planning your Ansel Adams Wilderness vacation is to figure out precisely what you want to do and see in the park. Whether it be day hiking or backpacking, you should decide what you want to see and how long you need to be there to get the most out of your trip.
Be sure to always discuss backpacking itineraries or day hikes with a park ranger, to make sure conditions are safe for when you plan to hike.
Determining what you want to do in the park should be your first step because it will affect all other aspects of planning your trip that we will discuss throughout this guide.
Whether you opt for day hiking or backpacking, I highly recommend going through our “Ultimate Guide To Ansel Adams Wilderness “. It is a great resource to find insane day hikes and pre-made backpacking itineraries to help you plan your adventure.
#2. Pick Your Dates
Now that you know what you want to do in the park and how long you expect to stay, the next step is deciding which dates you want to go. For hiking and camping, summertime is your best bet. Anywhere from June to October would work. Keep in mind these dates may require some flexibility depending on the campsite and permit availability.
#3. Book Your Campsite, Permits Or Hotel Stay
Now that you have your dates, you need to work on getting campsite, backcountry permit, or hotel reservations.
Campsite & Backcountry Permit Reservations:
All overnight stays in Ansel Adams Wilderness require a wilderness permit which can be obtained at either Inyo National Forest or Sierra National Forest websites, depending on where you are entering the park. The above links are the same ones you should use to go backpacking in the park. Fortunately, backcountry permits for Ansel Adams Wilderness are typically easier to obtain compared to other parks in the region. Cough cough Yosemite.
Hotel Stays Near Ansel Adams Wilderness
Now, if camping isn’t your style and you need a little more comfort, not to fear there are many different hotel stays located around the park. Be sure to book a hotel close to the area of the park where you plan to spend most of your time. The two towns closest to the park’s entrances are Mammoth Lakes and Bishop, CA. Use the below links to find some excellent stays near Ansel Adams Wilderness.
#4. Decide Which Airport You Are Flying Into
Ansel Adams Wilderness is pretty large. Because of this, there are a couple of different airport options available.
- Reno-Tahoe Airport (RNO) **Closest Option**: ~ 2 1/2 hr drive to Mammoth Lakes, CA
- Los Angeles (LAX): ~4hr drive from Bishop, CA
- Las Vegas (LAS): ~4 1/2hr drive from Bishop, CA
#5. Check Flights And Book Your Tickets
Now that we picked our dates and what airport we want to fly into, it is time to check flights! I always like using Kayak to help find the cheapest flights. Use the link below to do some flight research.
#6. Book A Rental Car For Your Ansel Adams Wilderness Vacation
The next step needed is to book your rental car. While a shuttle bus service is available from Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center to Red Meadows/Devils Postpile, having a car is significantly more convenient. I usually use one of the below services to research and book my rental cars.
#7. Consider Travel Insurance Especially If Backpacking
You never know what is going to happen when hiking in the wilderness. While travel insurance may be overkill if you only plan on doing day hikes, it is worth considering if you are backpacking. The reason being is injuries on the trail are always unexpected. If you were to get one bad enough that it requires you to be airlifted out of the park, that is a bill you DO NOT want.
Click the link below to check out different plans with Travelex. After you put in your information and get quotes, click “show more features” to view travel coverage benefits for emergency medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation.
#8. Brush Up On Your Hiking/Backpacking Basics
If you are new to hiking or backpacking but want to visit Ansel Adams Wilderness, that is awesome! You do not need to be a seasoned veteran outdoorsman to enjoy a park. If you are a beginner, I recommend going on some day hikes before your trip to prepare you for your hiking vacation!
If you want to learn about hiking and backpacking, check out our “Hiking / Backpacking Tips Page.”
#9. Make Sure You Have All Of The Necessary Gear:
Whenever going into the wilderness, having the right gear is absolutely essential. Fortunately, whether you are backpacking or just doing day hikes, you can use our gear guides to ensure you have everything you need.
Enjoy Your Trip!
I hope this guide was helpful for you guys. Enjoy your time in the Ansel Adams Wilderness!
