How to Get a Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley Permit
Start at 7,200 feet on the Panorama Trail and walk downhill to the Half Dome basecamp everybody else climbs 4,000 feet to reach.
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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. Half Dome adds $10 per person, collected when the permit is issued.
Permit Cost
1-3 nights
Duration
moderate
Difficulty
About Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley is a Glacier Point Road wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park, following the Panorama Trail down past Illilouette Fall to the Little Yosemite Valley backpackers campground. NPS sets the daily quota at 10 people: 6 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 4 released first-come, first-served one week in advance. The trailhead is Half Dome eligible, and NPS states all members of the permit are eligible to walk up Half Dome with an additional $10 per person due when the permit is issued. Two conditions define the trip. You must spend your first night at the established backpacker sites in Little Yosemite Valley, with no dispersed camping in the LYV area, and this trailhead is not eligible to exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail. Reservations for the Wawona and Glacier Point Road area run May 16 to October 14, 2026.
NPS calls this route slightly longer than starting from Yosemite Valley, but an easier and very scenic hike along the Panorama Trail to Little Yosemite Valley. It is the cheat code for Half Dome backpackers: the trailhead is Half Dome eligible, every person on the permit is eligible to walk up, and you get to Little Yosemite Valley without the Mist Trail grind.
The Experience
You leave a parking lot with a view of Half Dome's whole face and start walking toward it. Illilouette Fall comes at 3.6 miles, then Nevada Fall from above, then the trail lets you down into the pines at Little Yosemite Valley with your legs still working.
The trailhead is at Glacier Point, which means Glacier Point Road has to be open. NPS is blunt about it: the road is closed during winter and typically opens in mid May, and if you make a reservation and the road is closed, your permit is not valid and there is no refund.
NPS mileages on the Panorama Trail put Illilouette Fall at 3.6 miles and Little Yosemite Valley at 5.2. Half Dome is 9.2 miles from the trailhead and Yosemite Valley is 7.6, which is why so many parties do this as a one-way with a shuttle or a second car.
The first night is fixed. You must camp at the established backpacker sites in Little Yosemite Valley, and NPS prohibits dispersed camping in the LYV area. There are bear boxes and composting toilets at the campground, and fires are permitted only in the established communal rings.
What to Expect
A daily quota of 10 people: 6 by lottery 24 weeks out, 4 released one week out
A required first night at the Little Yosemite Valley backpackers campground
Bear boxes and composting toilets at the LYV campground
Half Dome available for every person on the permit, at $10 per person
A vault toilet at the trailhead, with drinking water available in summer per the NPS trailhead table
Glacier Point Road closed in winter, typically opening in mid May
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Permit Requirements
You must spend your first night at the established backpacker sites in Little Yosemite Valley
No dispersed camping in the Little Yosemite Valley area
Fires are permitted only in the established communal fire rings
This trailhead is not eligible to exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail, and Donohue Pass is not available
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 - NPS says bears have obtained food from backpackers in this area
- •Water treatment for the Merced
- •A headlamp, since Half Dome days from LYV start before light
- •Gloves for the Half Dome cables if you are going up
Hazards & Safety
Bears at Little Yosemite Valley, which is one of the most bear-pressured campgrounds in the park
The Half Dome cables, which are a serious undertaking in wet weather
Afternoon storms on the exposed Panorama traverse
A one-way trip that leaves you 7.6 miles below your car if you walk out to the Valley
Best Time to Visit
The window is May 16 to October 14 in 2026, and it opens only when Glacier Point Road does. Late June through August is prime for a Half Dome trip with the cables up. September gives cooler climbing and a quieter campground.
Pro Tips
This is the low-effort way to a Half Dome basecamp: 5.2 miles downhill to LYV instead of the Mist Trail climb
Leave a second car in the Valley - it is 7.6 miles out that way and 5.2 back up to Glacier Point
Add the Half Dome permits when you book, since they are issued with the wilderness permit at $10 per person
Use the bear boxes at LYV rather than relying on your canister at camp
Check the Glacier Point Road opening before you apply for a date in 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 Little Yosemite Valley permit?
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Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley 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 Little Yosemite Valley?
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The window is May 16 to October 14 in 2026, and it opens only when Glacier Point Road does. Late June through August is prime for a Half Dome trip with the cables up. September gives cooler climbing and a quieter campground.
How difficult is Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley?
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Parties who want Half Dome from a basecamp rather than a single brutal day, and who can arrange a car at each end.
What gear do I need for Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley?
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Essential gear includes: An allowed bear-resistant food canister - NPS says bears have obtained food from backpackers in this area, Water treatment for the Merced, A headlamp, since Half Dome days from LYV start before light, Gloves for the Half Dome cables if you are going up.
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