The Forks of the Kern, considered one of the most beautiful and exciting overnight river trips in the US, has adjusted its permit process. Previously, permits had been issued by mail in lottery, and once the lottery ran, remaining permits were issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Now, permits are being issued online as first come first served. Forest Recreation Program Manager, Nicole Holland, wrote:
Starting March 18, day trip permits for Forks of the Kern River will be available on Recreation.gov for trip dates May 15 through September 15.
This move will replace a lengthy mail-in lottery application process that required an in-person permit pick-up during business hours. The rules, regulations and number of permits available will remain unchanged.
The new system will also allow visitors to view available trip days for the entire season, provide earlier notification of a confirmed trip, and modify and cancel the reservation as needed.
The online change has been in the works for years, as this was previously looked at beginning in 2018. Notably, this is the first US river permit system to move from a lottery to first-come, first-served. This change was likely facilitated by the relatively lower user volume of this section of the river. For those wondering when the permits become available, the USFS posted, ‘ “Permits will be available for booking on March 18th at 7:00 am PDT. All dates will be made available for reserving on this date. The last day to book will be September 15th (the last day of the season).”
Additionally, the updated system will also allow for easier and more accurate user-day reporting for private boaters on this section of the river. At the time of posting, only one date has been selected. Presumably, one permit holder selected all 15 spaces on May 24, a holiday weekend.
To view and apply for a permit, you can visit the Recreation.gov website here.