Article: https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/20 ... al-forests
They had stopped requiring permits for Vivian Creek for several years, but now they're apparently requiring them for the whole area. The area is also temporarily closed because of fire. The new process for getting a permit will involve a phone call, which I guess can't be any worse than the totally dysfunctional mail/fax system they used to use. It's good that they seem to have switched to a sane quote based on number of people rather than number of groups.
[edit] better info here: https://sgwa.org/forums/topic/day-hike- ... einstated/
Permits required for San Gorgonio Wilderness
The justification for the permits is weak. If the purpose is to prevent overcrowding, why only require permits at Icehouse for Cucamonga Peak and Etiwanda Peak? Many people who use that trailhead don't visit those peaks.