How to Get a Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) Permit
The flattest walk in the Yosemite high country, up the Lyell Fork through miles of open meadow - and the version of the permit that does not let you leave the park.
Check Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) permit availability10
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
easy
Difficulty
About Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass)
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) is a Tuolumne Meadows wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park. The permit reserves your entry point and start date, and NPS restricts it to travel that stays inside the park. 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. That is one of the smaller Tuolumne quotas, which is why the canyon stays quiet despite how easy the walking is. Two restrictions define the permit. You must travel at least four and one-half miles out Lyell Canyon before camping, and you may not exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail. NPS also notes this trailhead is not Half Dome eligible. Reservations for the Tuolumne area run June 18 to October 14, 2026.
Lyell Canyon is the gentlest introduction to backpacking at 8,600 feet anywhere in Yosemite. NPS describes the trail as meandering through Lyell Canyon along the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River toward Donohue Pass to the south and to Ireland Lake and Tuolumne Pass to the west. This is the no-Donohue version: NPS states plainly that hiking over Donohue Pass and hiking the John Muir Trail is not available for this trailhead.
The Experience
You walk beside a river that barely moves, through meadow after meadow, with Mammoth Peak and the Kuna Crest standing off to the east. There is almost no climbing for the first six miles. It is the rare Sierra trip where you can talk the whole way.
The trailhead starts near the Tuolumne Lodge parking area, and NPS asks you to park at the wilderness center or the Dog Lake lot. The trail crosses the Lyell Fork and turns south into the canyon.
Camping is the constraint. NPS requires you to travel at least four and one-half miles out Lyell Canyon before camping, so the meadows you walk past first are off limits. Beyond that, NPS mileages put the Ireland Creek trail junction at 5.2 miles, Ireland Lake at 11.4 and Vogelsang High Sierra Camp at 12.3 by the western branch.
The one thing you cannot do is keep going south. Donohue Pass is 12.1 miles up the canyon, and this permit does not authorize crossing it. If the John Muir Trail is the plan, the Donohue Pass eligible version of the Lyell Canyon permit is the one to chase.
What to Expect
A daily quota of 10 people: 6 by lottery 24 weeks out, 4 released one week out
Flush toilets at the trailhead per the NPS trailhead table
Nearly flat walking for the first several miles at about 8,600 feet
No John Muir Trail exit and no Donohue Pass on this permit
Tioga Road closed in winter, typically opening in late May
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Permit Requirements
Travel at least four and one-half miles out Lyell Canyon before camping
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
Fires are prohibited above 9,600 feet
Along the Tuolumne watershed, do all washing and waste disposal 300 feet from water
Half Dome is not available with this trailhead
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •An allowed bear-resistant food canister - NPS says bears have been successful at obtaining food from backpackers in this area
- •Water treatment for the Lyell Fork
- •A warm sleeping bag, since cold air pools in the canyon at night
- •Head net or repellent in early season, when the meadows hold mosquitoes
Hazards & Safety
Bears working the Lyell Canyon corridor and the Tuolumne trailhead parking
Afternoon thunderstorms over the open meadows with little shelter
Cold sinks into the canyon bottom overnight even in July
High water in the Lyell Fork during early-season runoff
Best Time to Visit
The reservation window is June 18 to October 14 in 2026. Mosquitoes thin out by late July. September is the sweet spot for this canyon: cold nights, gold meadows, and quota that often goes unclaimed.
Pro Tips
This is the easiest Yosemite high-country permit to walk, not to get - only 10 people a day start here
The four-and-a-half-mile camping line is measured up the canyon, so plan your first night past Ireland Creek
Watch the seven-day release: 4 of the 10 spots never touch the lottery
If your trip is the JMT, do not book this permit by mistake - you want Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass Eligible)
Pitch on the benches above the meadow rather than the canyon floor if you want a warmer night
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 Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) permit?
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Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass)?
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The reservation window is June 18 to October 14 in 2026. Mosquitoes thin out by late July. September is the sweet spot for this canyon: cold nights, gold meadows, and quota that often goes unclaimed.
How difficult is Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass)?
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First-time backpackers, families with teenagers, and anyone acclimatizing before a harder Sierra trip.
What gear do I need for Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass)?
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Essential gear includes: An allowed bear-resistant food canister - NPS says bears have been successful at obtaining food from backpackers in this area, Water treatment for the Lyell Fork, A warm sleeping bag, since cold air pools in the canyon at night, Head net or repellent in early season, when the meadows hold mosquitoes.
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