How to Get a Ten Lakes Permit
The biggest daily quota of any Tioga Road trailhead, leading to a basin of ten lakes on the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
Check Ten Lakes permit availability40
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
moderate
Difficulty
About Ten Lakes
Ten Lakes is a Tioga Road wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park, climbing north from the road to Grant Lakes and the Ten Lakes basin. NPS sets the daily quota at 40 people: 24 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 16 released first-come, first-served one week in advance. That is the largest quota of any trailhead on the western Tioga Road, which makes it the reliable answer when Tuolumne and the Valley are gone. NPS notes Half Dome is not available with this trailhead, and the Tioga Road area's reservation window runs June 18 to October 14, 2026. The trail is first-come, first-served outside that window, but the road has to be open.
NPS calls this the most direct route to Grant Lakes and the Ten Lakes basin, passing through Half Moon Meadow and climbing a ridge with rewarding views of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River and Yosemite's north country. At 40 people a day it is the most obtainable serious backpacking permit on the Tioga Road.
The Experience
The climb is steady rather than brutal, through forest and then meadow, and the payoff comes at the ridge where the whole north country opens at once. The lakes below sit in a shelf of granite with almost no one at them by mid-week.
From the Tioga Road the trail climbs through forest to Half Moon Meadow, which NPS puts at 3.6 miles. Grant Lakes are at 5.9 miles and the Ten Lakes basin at 6.2.
The ridge between the meadow and the basin is the view: the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne falls away north and the park's remote country runs to the horizon. Beyond the basin the trail keeps going, with May Lake at 20.3 miles and Glen Aulin at 21.6 for parties linking a longer route.
Camping rules are simple but firm. You must be at least one air mile from any road before making camp, and fires are not allowed above 9,600 feet and are permitted only in existing fire rings below that.
What to Expect
A daily quota of 40 people: 24 by lottery 24 weeks out, 16 released one week out
Vault toilets at the trailhead per the NPS trailhead table
Half Moon Meadow at 3.6 miles and the Ten Lakes basin at 6.2, per NPS mileages
A ridge crossing with views into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne
Tioga Road closed in winter, typically opening in late May
Get Ten Lakes Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
Permit Requirements
You must be at least one air mile from any road before making camp
Fires are not allowed above 9,600 feet, and below that only in existing fire rings
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
Along the Tuolumne watershed, do all washing and waste disposal 300 feet from water
Half Dome is not available with this trailhead
If Tioga 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 are active in this area
- •Water treatment
- •A stove for camps above 9,600 feet
- •Warm layers for a basin that sits high and open
Hazards & Safety
Bears working the Ten Lakes basin, which sees consistent backpacker traffic
Afternoon thunderstorms on the exposed ridge between the meadow and the basin
Snow on the ridge into early summer
A trailhead with no water, so you carry from the road to Half Moon Meadow
Best Time to Visit
Reservations run June 18 to October 14 in 2026. July and August are the reliable months. Late September gives cold nights, gold meadows and easy walk-up permits before the road closes.
Pro Tips
This is the Tioga Road permit to chase when everything else is gone - 40 people a day is the biggest quota out there
Sixteen of those 40 are released seven days out, so a late plan is realistic
Carry water from the road, since there is nothing reliable until Half Moon Meadow
Camp in the Ten Lakes basin rather than Grant Lakes if you want quiet
Check the Tioga Road opening date before booking anything in June
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 Ten Lakes permit?
+
Ten Lakes permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Ten Lakes?
+
Reservations run June 18 to October 14 in 2026. July and August are the reliable months. Late September gives cold nights, gold meadows and easy walk-up permits before the road closes.
How difficult is Ten Lakes?
+
Backpackers who want a real Yosemite high-country basin on a permit they can actually get.
What gear do I need for Ten Lakes?
+
Essential gear includes: An allowed bear-resistant food canister - NPS says bears are active in this area, Water treatment, A stove for camps above 9,600 feet, Warm layers for a basin that sits high and open.
Don't Miss Your Ten Lakes Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Ten Lakes availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts
