Originally Posted by
Spirit Walker
Sierra permits are only for the access point, not necessarily for a trail or specific campsites except for Mt. Whitney and Half Dome areas. Once you are in the backcountry, you can stay or wander at will. If you want to spend time exploring the backcountry, get a permit for one of the less popular trailheads. There are literally dozens you could choose from. If you leave the area to resupply, you'll probably need another permit though, so keep that in mind. Many of the trailheads have both reservable and walk-in permits. If you go to the Backcountry office first thing in the morning, you should be able to get a permit on the spot for one of the many trailheads.