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Yosemite May Lake permit
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the May Lake trailhead in ...
Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Glacier Point to Illilouette
Yosemite National Park · California
Each entry point carries its own quota
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Glacier Point to Illilouette trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Glacier Point to Illilouette were gone within 10 minutes.
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Glacier Point to Illilouette Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh7/10
SeasonMay 16 - October 14
CostRecreation.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.
Daily Quota30 people
Max Group Size15 people
Glacier Point to Illilouette Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Glacier Point to Illilouette in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Glacier Point to Illilouette is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Glacier Point to Illilouette runs May 16 through October 14.
- Cancelled Glacier Point to Illilouette permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
SeasonMay 16 - October 14
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level7/10
LocationSierra Nevada, CA
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
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Varies
Duration
1-4 nights
Difficulty
ModerateHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
⚠️
Backcountry Tips
- UV index 8. High altitude sun is intense—sunscreen and hat essential.
Today
⛅
62°
44°
Sun
⛅
57°
44°
Mon
☁️
66°
41°
Tue
☀️
66°
38°
Wed
☀️
68°
39°
Thu
☀️
71°
45°
Fri
☀️
74°
47°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
When to Go
Peak: July and AugustShoulder: Late May and late September
Conditions
Warm and dry in the basin, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd Level
ModerateAdvantages
- +One of the biggest quotas in the park
- +Real solitude a few miles from Glacier Point
- +Access to the Clark Range and Ottoway Lake
Challenges
- !Water sources drop through August
- !Storms on the exposed Panorama section
- !Mosquitoes in the basin in early summer
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand3/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk2/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation2/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment2/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Backpackers who want solitude without a hard approach, and anyone who missed the five-permit Happy Isles to Illilouette quota.
Recommended Experience
One prior overnight. The approach is downhill and the navigation is straightforward.
Not Recommended For
Half Dome hopefuls and John Muir Trail hikers, neither of which this permit allows.
About This Permit
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.
The Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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.
The Feeling
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.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Glacier Point to Illilouette
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Key Landmarks
Glacier Point
Trailhead on the Glacier Point Road, typically open from mid May.
Illilouette Fall
On the Panorama Trail side. No camping at the top.
Buena Vista Trail junction
The point NPS requires you to reach before camping.
Clark Range and Ottoway Lake
The far end of the basin, for parties with three or more days.
Safety & Planning
Glacier Point to Illilouette FAQ
How many people per day get a Glacier Point to Illilouette permit?
NPS sets the quota at 30 people per day: 18 by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 12 first-come, first-served one week in advance.
Where can I camp on a Glacier Point to Illilouette permit?
You must travel as far as the Buena Vista Trail junction before camping. Little Yosemite Valley is off limits on the first night, and camping is not allowed along the Panorama Trail or at the top of Illilouette Fall.
Can I hike Half Dome on a Glacier Point to Illilouette permit?
No. NPS states Half Dome is not available with this trailhead, and neither is the John Muir Trail or Donohue Pass.
When does Glacier Point Road open for this permit?
NPS says the road is closed during winter and typically opens in mid May, though it can open earlier or later depending on snowpack. If the road is closed on your date the permit is not valid and there is no refund.
👥Community
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Write the First ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunset at Glacier Point before you walk, then first light on the Clark Range from inside the basin.
Best Light
Morning at Illilouette Fall, before the sun clears the rim.
Beat the Crowds
Everyone within a mile of Glacier Point is a day visitor. Past the Buena Vista junction you are alone.
Classic Shots
- 📍Half Dome from the Panorama Trail above Illilouette
- 📍Illilouette Creek in the open basin
- 📍The Clark Range from the Buena Vista side
Can't Get a Glacier Point to Illilouette Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Happy Isles to Illilouette
Similar ExperienceThe same basin from Yosemite Valley, climbing past Vernal and Nevada Falls.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Only 5 permits a day and a 2,000-foot climb, but no road dependency.
Ostrander (Lost Bear Meadow)
Same AreaA Glacier Point Road trailhead into the lake country south of the Illilouette drainage.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A lake destination instead of an open basin, on a 25-person quota.
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley
Same AreaThe same trailhead on the permit that sends you to the Little Yosemite Valley campground.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Half Dome eligible, but a fixed first night at a busy campground.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Glacier Point to Illilouette trip
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