Cathedral Lakes Permit: Quota, Dates and Route
Cathedral Lakes permits are booked by advance reservation in Yosemite National Park. The route covers 7 miles.
The shortest way into the Cathedral Range, and the one trailhead where the John Muir Trail starts at 8,600 feet instead of at the bottom of a 2,500-foot climb out of Yosemite Valley.
This guide covers the Cathedral Lakes permit.
25
People Per Day
$10 per application + $5 per person if awarded
Permit Cost
2-3 days
Duration
7 miles
Distance
1,000'
Elevation Gain
About Cathedral Lakes
Cathedral Lakes is a Yosemite wilderness permit for the trailhead of the same name on Tioga Road, at the west end of Tuolumne Meadows. NPS rates its permit demand "Very High" and gives the trail as 7.6 miles round trip with 1,000 feet of gain — short enough that most of the competition is for the destination rather than the mileage. The daily quota is 25 people, released the way every Yosemite trailhead is: 15 through the weekly lottery 24 weeks out, and the remaining 10 seven days in advance at 7 am Pacific. The park is direct about the rest: "No permits are set aside for walk-ups." The trail is on the John Muir Trail almost immediately, so this permit also functions as the low-effort entry to the Cathedral Range, Sunrise Lakes, and the 22-mile JMT descent to Yosemite Valley.
NPS rates permit demand for this trailhead "Very High," and the reason is geography rather than hype. The trail leaves Tioga Road on the west side of Tuolumne Meadows and is on the John Muir Trail within a couple of miles, which makes it the cheapest entry in the park to the high country. From the lakes you can keep going to Long Meadow, Sunrise High Sierra Camp and Sunrise Lakes, or turn south-west and walk the JMT 22 miles down to Yosemite Valley, mostly downhill.
The Cathedral Lakes route
- Distance
- 7 miles
- Route type
- out-and-back
- Elevation gain
- 1,000 ft
- High point
- 9,609 ft
- Low point
- 8,570 ft
- Trip length
- 2-3 days
- Difficulty
- moderate
Starts at Cathedral Lakes Trailhead
Cathedral Range, Sierra Nevada. Nearest town: Tuolumne Meadows
Points along the route
- Cathedral Lakes TrailheadMile 0, 8,570 ft
- Lower Cathedral Lake spur junctionMile 3, 9,501 ft
- Lower Cathedral LakeMile 3.7, 9,293 ft
- Upper Cathedral LakeMile 3.8, 9,594 ft
- Long Meadow / Sunrise High Sierra Camp9,329 ft
Cathedral Lakes permit detailsandAll Yosemite National Park permits
The Experience
You leave the road in lodgepole forest and climb steadily, and the granite keeps interrupting the trees until the trees give up. Cathedral Peak stands off to the left the whole way. Near the top of the climb a spur drops 0.7 mile to Lower Cathedral Lake in its granite bowl; the main trail carries on to Upper Cathedral Lake right under the peak. Both sit above 9,000 feet, which means the nights are cold in July and the sky is very dark.
NPS puts the round trip at 7.6 miles with 1,000 feet of gain and a 6 to 7 hour day-hike estimate, so as a backpacking trip this is a short walk in and a lot of time at the lakes. Parking is along Tioga Road on the west side of Tuolumne Meadows, and the trail heads south from the road. Overnight parking with food storage is also available at the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center.
The climb is continuous but never steep. The spur to Lower Cathedral Lake breaks off near the top of the climb and runs 0.7 mile one way; the main trail continues to Upper Cathedral Lake. Both basins are closed to campfires, and Yosemite's four-mile rule means you cannot camp within four trail miles of Tuolumne Meadows, so plan where you stop before you leave the car.
Beyond the lakes you are on the John Muir Trail with real options: Long Meadow and Sunrise High Sierra Camp to the south, Sunrise Lakes to the west, or the full 22 miles down the JMT to Yosemite Valley, which NPS notes is "mostly downhill" in that direction and more than 5,600 feet of climbing in reverse.
What to Expect
7.6 miles round trip and 1,000 feet of gain; NPS estimates 6 to 7 hours as a day hike
A steady forest climb that opens onto granite, with Cathedral Peak in view most of the way
A 0.7-mile spur near the top of the climb down to Lower Cathedral Lake; the main trail continues to Upper Cathedral Lake
Heavy day-hiker and JMT through-hiker traffic — NPS notes the trail "sees high traffic all season"
No toilet and no drinking water at the trailhead; food lockers are there
You cannot camp within four trail miles of Tuolumne Meadows, so the lakes are effectively the first legal camp
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Permit Requirements
Wilderness permit required for any overnight stay in the Yosemite Wilderness, year-round
Maximum group size is 15 people, or 8 for cross-country travel more than a quarter mile off trail
Allowed bear-resistant canisters are required everywhere in the Yosemite Wilderness; hanging or counterbalancing food is not legal
Camp at least 100 feet from any water source and any trail, and at least four trail miles from Tuolumne Meadows
Campfires are prohibited above 9,600 feet and specifically in the Upper and Lower Cathedral Lake basins
Bear spray is not allowed in Yosemite
Bury human waste 4 to 6 inches deep and at least 100 feet from water, trails and camps; pack out toilet paper
Pick the permit up in person at a wilderness center the day before or the day of your start; after 11 am on the start date you must have held it for late arrival
Pets, wheeled vehicles, motorized equipment and drones are prohibited in wilderness
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •An allowed bear-resistant canister — this is a rule, not a suggestion, and rentals are available at wilderness permit stations
- •Water filter, treatment or a stove to boil with
- •A stove, since campfires are banned in both Cathedral Lake basins
- •Warm layers for nights above 9,000 feet, including in midsummer
- •Sun protection for long stretches of open granite
Recommended Gear
- •Head net and repellent for the early-summer mosquito weeks
- •A topographic map — this is a junction-heavy stretch of the JMT
- •Rain shell for afternoon thunderstorms
- •Trowel and a bag for packing out toilet paper
- •Camp shoes, because the granite is hard on feet
Hazards & Safety
Afternoon thunderstorms, most common June through September, with very little cover once you are on open granite
Bears are active and food-motivated; anything scented has to live in the canister
Cold nights above 9,000 feet — Yosemite warns that high country temperatures run significantly cooler than the rest of the park
Tioga Road closes for winter and after the first significant snowfall; if the road is closed your permit is not valid and there is no refund
Overnight parking on Tioga Road ends October 15, including this trailhead's lot
Best Time to Visit
The Tuolumne Meadows reservation season runs June 18 through October 14 in 2026, and outside that window this trailhead is first-come, first-served with no fee. Tioga Road usually opens late May or early June and closes with the first real snow. Late June and July bring wildflowers and mosquitoes; September gives you cold nights, thin crowds and the most stable weather of the year.
Pro Tips
Put eight options on one application — the lottery lets you mix dates, trailheads and group sizes, and Cathedral alone is a thin bet
Set an alarm for 7 am Pacific exactly seven days before your date; that is when the remaining 10 of the 25 daily spots drop
Rent the bear canister when you pick up the permit rather than hauling one from home
Bring a stove — campfires are illegal in both Cathedral Lake basins, not just discouraged
Watch the Tioga Road status before you buy plane tickets; a closed road voids the permit with no refund
Camp at the lakes and you get the basin to yourself before about 8 am, after the day-hikers have gone home and before the next wave arrives
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Cathedral Lakes permit?
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Cathedral Lakes permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Cathedral Lakes?
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The Tuolumne Meadows reservation season runs June 18 through October 14 in 2026, and outside that window this trailhead is first-come, first-served with no fee. Tioga Road usually opens late May or early June and closes with the first real snow. Late June and July bring wildflowers and mosquitoes; September gives you cold nights, thin crowds and the most stable weather of the year.
How long is the Cathedral Lakes route?
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The route is 7 miles, as an out-and-back. Plan on 2-3 days.
How difficult is the Cathedral Lakes route?
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First-time Sierra backpackers who want alpine scenery without a punishing walk in, and anyone starting a longer JMT trip from Tuolumne Meadows.
Where does the Cathedral Lakes route start?
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Cathedral Lakes Trailhead.
What gear do I need for the Cathedral Lakes route?
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Essential gear includes: An allowed bear-resistant canister — this is a rule, not a suggestion, and rentals are available at wilderness permit stations, Water filter, treatment or a stove to boil with, A stove, since campfires are banned in both Cathedral Lake basins, Warm layers for nights above 9,000 feet, including in midsummer, Sun protection for long stretches of open granite.
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