How to Get a Glacier Point to Illilouette Permit
Thirty people a day and a downhill start at 7,200 feet, into the emptiest basin within sight of Yosemite Valley.
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People Per Day
Recreation.gov permit 445859 lists a $10 reservation fee and a $5 per-person use fee, plus a $10 lottery registration fee for the weekly lottery.
Permit Cost
1-4 nights
Duration
moderate
Difficulty
About Glacier Point to Illilouette
Glacier Point to Illilouette is a Glacier Point Road wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park, dropping southeast into the Illilouette Basin and the south end of the park. NPS sets the daily quota at 30 people: 18 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 12 released first-come, first-served one week in advance. That is one of the largest quotas in the park and by far the easiest way into the Illilouette country. The camping rules are specific. You must travel as far as the Buena Vista Trail junction before camping, you may not camp in Little Yosemite Valley on your first night, and camping is not allowed along the Panorama Trail or at the top of Illilouette Fall. NPS lists both Half Dome and the John Muir Trail as unavailable with this trailhead. Reservations for the Wawona and Glacier Point Road area run May 16 to October 14, 2026.
NPS describes this trailhead as beginning at Glacier Point and travelling southeast toward the Illilouette Basin, to destinations in the south end of the park and beyond. It is the same basin the Happy Isles route reaches after a 2,000-foot climb and a five-permit-a-day fight, from the other direction and with six times the quota.
The Experience
You start where the tour buses stop, walk away from the railing, and within an hour the noise is gone. The Illilouette drainage is broad, forested and almost never visited, with the Clark Range standing at the far end of it.
From Glacier Point the trail drops southeast toward the Illilouette basin. NPS requires you to travel as far as the Buena Vista Trail junction before camping, and prohibits camping in Little Yosemite Valley on your first night, along the Panorama Trail, or at the top of Illilouette Fall.
Past the Buena Vista junction the country opens toward Mono Meadow, Ottoway Lake and the Clark Range, which is as remote as Yosemite gets without a very long walk.
Glacier Point Road governs the season. NPS says the road is closed during winter and typically opens in mid May, and that if you make a reservation and the road is closed, your permit is not valid and there is no refund.
What to Expect
A daily quota of 30 people: 18 by lottery 24 weeks out, 12 released one week out
A downhill start from Glacier Point at about 7,200 feet
A vault toilet at the trailhead, with drinking water available in summer per the NPS trailhead table
A camping line at the Buena Vista Trail junction
Glacier Point Road closed in winter, typically opening in mid May
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Permit Requirements
You must travel as far as the Buena Vista Trail junction before camping
You may not camp in Little Yosemite Valley on your first night with this permit
Camping is not allowed along the Panorama Trail or at the top of Illilouette Fall
Half Dome is not available with this trailhead
Hiking over Donohue Pass and hiking the John Muir Trail is not available for this trailhead
Maximum group size is 15 people, or 8 for cross-country hiking more than a quarter mile off trail
Allowed bear-resistant food canisters are required throughout Yosemite Wilderness
If Glacier Point Road is closed on your date the permit is not valid and there is no refund
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •An allowed bear-resistant food canister
- •Water treatment for Illilouette Creek
- •A stove for camps above the fire line
- •Layers for a basin that sits high and cools off fast
Hazards & Safety
Afternoon thunderstorms on the exposed Panorama section
Illilouette Creek running high through spring melt
Long distances between reliable water in late summer
Bears throughout the drainage
Best Time to Visit
The window is May 16 to October 14 in 2026, opening whenever Glacier Point Road does. June and September are the best of it. Midsummer is warm and dry in the basin, and the creek drops steadily through August.
Pro Tips
This is the easy way into the Illilouette basin - 30 permits a day against 5 from Happy Isles
The camping line is the Buena Vista Trail junction, so plan the first day around reaching it
Twelve of the thirty spots are released seven days out
Check water in the basin before a late-August trip, since the creek drops hard
Watch the Glacier Point Road opening if you are booking for May
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 Glacier Point to Illilouette permit?
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Glacier Point to Illilouette permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Glacier Point to Illilouette?
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The window is May 16 to October 14 in 2026, opening whenever Glacier Point Road does. June and September are the best of it. Midsummer is warm and dry in the basin, and the creek drops steadily through August.
How difficult is Glacier Point to Illilouette?
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Backpackers who want solitude without a hard approach, and anyone who missed the five-permit Happy Isles to Illilouette quota.
What gear do I need for Glacier Point to Illilouette?
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Essential gear includes: An allowed bear-resistant food canister, Water treatment for Illilouette Creek, A stove for camps above the fire line, Layers for a basin that sits high and cools off fast.
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