How to Get a Happy Isles to Illilouette Permit
Five people a day. That is the entire Happy Isles to Illilouette quota, and it buys the quietest basin within a day's walk of Yosemite Valley.
Check Happy Isles to Illilouette permit availability5
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
1-3 nights
Duration
strenuous
Difficulty
About Happy Isles to Illilouette
Happy Isles to Illilouette is one of three Happy Isles wilderness trailheads in Yosemite National Park. NPS divides the Happy Isles quota by where you intend to camp, and this one sends you over Nevada Fall and west along the Panorama Cliff into the Illilouette basin. NPS sets the daily quota at 5 people: 3 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 2 released first-come, first-served one week in advance. It is the smallest quota of any Yosemite Valley trailhead. The camping rules are the whole permit. You may not camp at Little Yosemite Valley on the first night, you may not camp along the Panorama Trail or at the top of Illilouette Fall, and you must reach the Illilouette basin before finding legal ground. NPS also notes this trailhead is not Half Dome eligible and cannot be used to exit Yosemite over Donohue Pass. Valley reservations run April 24 to October 18, 2026.
Happy Isles is the busiest starting point in the park, so NPS splits its quota three ways by where you intend to camp. This is the smallest of the three. NPS describes the route as following the John Muir and Mist Trails to the top of Nevada Fall and then traversing Panorama Cliff toward Illilouette Creek. You walk past the most photographed waterfalls in California and then turn away from all of it.
The Experience
The first three miles are a stair climb through spray and crowds. Then you top out at Nevada Fall, swing west onto the Panorama Cliff, and the noise stops. By the time you drop into the Illilouette basin the only people left are the four others who got the same permit.
From the trailhead beyond Curry Village you climb the Mist or John Muir Trail past Vernal and Nevada Falls. NPS lists Nevada Fall at 2.7 miles by the Mist Trail and 3.5 by the John Muir Trail.
The Panorama traverse is where the permit becomes specific. NPS says you may not camp at Little Yosemite Valley on your first night, and that backpackers must make it to Illilouette Basin before finding allowable camping. Camping is not allowed along the Panorama Trail or at the top of Illilouette Fall either. NPS puts Illilouette Fall at 6.6 miles from Happy Isles, so the basin above it is your first legal ground.
Beyond the basin the country opens toward the Clark Range. NPS lists Mono Meadow at 9.6 miles and Ottoway Lake at 19.5, which is a genuine multi-day objective.
What to Expect
A daily quota of 5 people: 3 by lottery 24 weeks out, 2 released one week out
Flush toilets at the trailhead per the NPS trailhead table
A first day that climbs from about 4,000 feet in the Valley and cannot end short of the Illilouette basin
Heavy day-hiker traffic for the first three miles, then almost nobody
Parking at the trailhead lot beyond Curry Village, about half a mile from Happy Isles
Get Happy Isles to Illilouette Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
Permit Requirements
You may not camp at Little Yosemite Valley on your first night
Camping is not allowed along the Panorama Trail or at the top of Illilouette Fall
Backpackers must reach Illilouette Basin before finding allowable camping
Hiking over Donohue Pass and hiking the John Muir Trail is not available for this trailhead
Half Dome is not available with this trailhead - it needs a separate day-use Half Dome permit
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
Camp at least 100 feet from any water source and from any trail
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •An allowed bear-resistant food canister
- •At least two litres of water capacity for the climb, which is exposed above Vernal Fall
- •Rain shell for the Mist Trail, which soaks hikers through in high water
- •Water treatment
- •Trowel and bags to pack out toilet paper
Hazards & Safety
Wet granite steps on the Mist Trail, the single most common injury spot on this climb
Over 2,000 feet of gain on day one with a full pack, in Valley heat
Afternoon thunderstorms on the exposed Panorama Cliff traverse
Bears throughout the Little Yosemite Valley and Illilouette drainages
Best Time to Visit
Valley reservations open April 24 in 2026, and spring is when Illilouette Fall is at its best. Summer is hot on the climb out of the Valley. Late September gives you cool climbing weather and a basin that is essentially empty.
Pro Tips
Three lottery spots a day means you should be applying every week the moment the window opens
Two of the five spots are released seven days out, which is the realistic path in
Take the John Muir Trail up rather than the Mist Trail if you are carrying a heavy pack - it is 0.8 miles longer and much less slippery
Illilouette Fall at 6.6 miles is the marker: you are not legal to camp until you are past it and into the basin
Park at the trailhead lot past Curry Village, since there is no parking at Happy Isles itself
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 Happy Isles to Illilouette permit?
+
Happy Isles to Illilouette permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Happy Isles to Illilouette?
+
Valley reservations open April 24 in 2026, and spring is when Illilouette Fall is at its best. Summer is hot on the climb out of the Valley. Late September gives you cool climbing weather and a basin that is essentially empty.
How difficult is Happy Isles to Illilouette?
+
Experienced backpackers who want Valley scenery and then genuine solitude, and who can commit to a first day that has no legal short version.
What gear do I need for Happy Isles to Illilouette?
+
Essential gear includes: An allowed bear-resistant food canister, At least two litres of water capacity for the climb, which is exposed above Vernal Fall, Rain shell for the Mist Trail, which soaks hikers through in high water, Water treatment, Trowel and bags to pack out toilet paper.
Don't Miss Your Happy Isles to Illilouette Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Happy Isles to Illilouette availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts
