You must have a California Campfire Permit to use a stove, lantern or have a campfire on most of the PCT in California. The permit is your agreement to follow the campfire restrictions and regulations in effect. Beyond being your agreement to follow safe practices, the permit is a tool to educate you on how to use fire safely and appropriately.
This permit does not actually give you permission to have a campfire!
Campfires are not allowed or are not appropriate along much of the PCT. Campfires are generally not allowed in Southern California or during dry hot summers. They’re also generally not allowed on private land, which accounts for about 10 percent of the trail.
Before you head out, read about fire and the PCT
- Learn about fire bans, fire closures and safe campfire practices
- Heed our advice about how to react if you see a wildfire
- Become educated in the fundamentals of fire restrictions, fire weather watches and red flag warnings.
How to get a California Campfire Permit
California Fire Permits are free. They are valid for one calendar year and should be acquired before your hike or horseback ride. Permits can be obtained at any California U.S. Forest Service, BLM, or California Division of Forestry office. Ranger stations and visitor centers are convenient places to obtain them, or you may take a simple quiz and print one off the internet.
You’ll find that some agencies do not require you to have California Campfire Permits. For instance, some places in the Sierra Nevada do not require them. If in doubt, ask at the local ranger station.
Oregon and Washington don’t have a similar fire permit system. No fire permits are required in those states.