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Yosemite Wilderness Permits

Wilderness Permit

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Overview

Required year-round for overnight trips in the Yosemite Wilderness (~95% of the park). Trailhead-based quota system with ~66 entry points. Permits are valid for continuous wilderness travel into adjacent wilderness areas. Must be picked up in person at a permit station -- no print-at-home.

Bottom Line

Uses a weekly lottery 24 weeks ahead, not rolling FCFS -- so timing matters differently than Inyo. The 40% week-ahead release at 7:00 AM Pacific is where cancellation alerts shine. After each lottery, unallocated quota drops FCFS on Friday at 9:00 AM. Popular trailheads (Happy Isles, Cathedral Lakes, Lyell Canyon) are extremely competitive in the lottery. Midweek dates and shoulder season (late Apr, Oct) are significantly easier. No walk-up quota -- everything is online. Off-season (mid-Oct to late Apr) requires a permit but is self-registration only, no quota.

Quotas and Reservations

Quota season roughly late April to mid-October (varies by trailhead):

  • 60% available via weekly lottery, 24 weeks ahead
  • Lottery opens Sunday 12:01 AM, closes Saturday 11:59 PM Pacific
  • Results by Monday 5:00 PM; must accept by Thursday 11:59 PM
  • Unallocated lottery quota released Friday at 9:00 AM FCFS
  • 40% released 7 days ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific, available until 3 days before entry
  • Limited to 1 lottery application per week and 6 future reservations at any time

Fees

  • $10 lottery application fee (non-refundable win or lose)
  • If lottery succeeds: additional $5/person on confirmation
  • Non-lottery reservations: $10/permit + $5/person
  • All fees non-refundable, including for closures
  • Half Dome cable fee additional, paid at permit pickup

Group Size

  • Max 15 people on trail
  • Max 8 people for cross-country travel (more than 1/4 mile off trail)

Half Dome

Wilderness permits do not cover day-hiking Half Dome. To summit Half Dome on an overnight trip, you must enter from a Half Dome eligible trailhead: Happy Isles to LYV, Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible), Glacier Point to LYV, Sunrise, Cathedral Lakes, Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang, or Mono Meadow.

Donohue Pass / JMT

Exit quota of 45 people/day over Donohue Pass. Only two trailheads qualify:

  • Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) -- 15 spots/day (first night cannot be in LYV)
  • Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass eligible) -- 30 spots/day

A single Yosemite permit covers the entire JMT through-hike to Whitney -- no additional permits needed from Inyo NF, Sequoia/Kings Canyon, or other agencies. PCT long-distance permit holders do not need a Yosemite permit while on the PCT but cannot hike Half Dome or visit Yosemite Valley.

Key Rules

  • Permit must be picked up in person during open hours the day before or day of entry
  • Permits not held for late arrival are cancelled at 11:00 AM on entry date
  • Exiting wilderness through Yosemite Valley invalidates the permit
  • Bear canisters required throughout -- hanging food is not permitted
  • Fires prohibited above 9,600 ft; existing fire rings only below that

Availability