Reservation7/10
Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel cancellations
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Glen Aulin to Cold Can...
Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Glen Aulin
Yosemite National Park · California
Each entry point carries its own quota
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Glen Aulin trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Glen Aulin were gone within 10 minutes.
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Glen Aulin Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh8/10
SeasonJune 18 - 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 Quota25 people
Max Group Size15 people
Glen Aulin Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Glen Aulin in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Glen Aulin is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Glen Aulin runs June 18 through October 14.
- Cancelled Glen Aulin permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
SeasonJune 18 - October 14
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level8/10
LocationSierra Nevada, CA
Pro Tips
- •Park at Lembert Dome - NPS names it for this trailhead specifically
- •It is downhill to camp and uphill home, so budget more time for the walk out than the walk in
- •Do the waterfall day hike early: the slabs get hot and the light goes flat by late morning
- •This is one of the larger Tuolumne quotas, so the seven-day release is a genuinely good shot
- •If you want to sleep beyond Glen Aulin on night one, you need the pass-through permit, not this one
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
1-3 nights
Difficulty
ModerateHighlights
- •A daily quota of 25 people: 15 by lottery 24 weeks out, 10 released one week out
- •A required first night at the Glen Aulin backpacker sites
- •Vault toilets at the trailhead per the NPS trailhead table
- •Bear lockers and communal fire rings at the Glen Aulin camp
- •Waterwheel Falls at 8.2 miles, reachable as a day hike from camp
Best Time to Visit
Reservations run June 18 to October 14 in 2026. The falls are at their loudest in late June and July when the Tuolumne is still high. By September the river has dropped and the slabs are dry and easy walking.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Wet, polished granite beside the cascades, which is where people slip
- !Swift water in the Tuolumne through early summer runoff
- !Active bears at the camp and in the Tuolumne parking areas
- !A 5.3-mile descent to camp that has to be reclimbed on the way out
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 June and late September
Conditions
Big water early, dropping through August. Warm days on the open slabs.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Waterfalls at full volume in early summer
- +Whole Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne day-hike open
- +Largest quota of the Tuolumne trailheads at 25 people
Challenges
- !Slick rock beside high water
- !Hot, shadeless slabs mid-day
- !Bear pressure at a camp everyone uses
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
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment2/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Parties who want one moderate walk in and then a basecamp with waterfalls in every direction.
Recommended Experience
Comfort with a 5-mile day carrying a pack, and a night at 8,000 feet.
Not Recommended For
Anyone who wants to camp somewhere other than Glen Aulin on night one, which this permit does not allow.
About This Permit
Glen Aulin is a Tuolumne Meadows wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park, following the Tuolumne River downstream to the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp.
NPS sets the daily quota at 25 people: 15 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 10 released first-come, first-served one week in advance. That is one of the larger Tuolumne quotas, which makes it a realistic target for a party that missed out elsewhere.
The permit carries a hard first-night rule. You must camp at the established backpacker sites at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp on your first night. NPS also notes Half Dome is not available with this trailhead, so a Half Dome day requires the separate day-use permit. Reservations for the Tuolumne area run June 18 to October 14, 2026.
The Experience
Why It Matters
NPS describes this trail as following the Tuolumne River to Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp, from where backpackers can day hike to the many waterfalls along the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River downstream. It is the classic basecamp trip in Tuolumne: one moderate walk in, then a string of cascades you can reach with a daypack.
The Route
From the Lembert Dome parking area the trail follows the Tuolumne downstream over open slabs. NPS mileages put Twin Bridges at 4.0 miles and Glen Aulin at 5.3.
The permit is specific about the first night: you must camp at the established backpacker sites at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp. Fires are allowed only in the established communal fire rings there. If your plan is to push past Glen Aulin on night one, that is a different trailhead entirely, the Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel pass-through permit.
Once you are camped, the waterfalls are the point. NPS lists Waterwheel Falls at 8.2 miles from the trailhead, which makes it a straightforward day hike from camp and back.
The Feeling
The river does the work here. It slides across acres of bare granite, drops over Tuolumne Falls, and then stacks up waterfall after waterfall below the camp. Glen Aulin sits in a pocket of forest at the bottom of the descent, and the sound never lets up.
Rules & Regulations
- •Camp at the established backpacker sites at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp on your first night
- •Fires are permitted only in the established communal 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 - it needs a separate day-use Half Dome permit
- •If Tioga 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 - NPS says bears are active and have obtained food from backpackers here
- Water treatment
- A daypack for the waterfall walk below camp
- Traction-friendly footwear for wet granite around the falls
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Glen Aulin
🚐
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Trailhead transportation options
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Key Landmarks
Lembert Dome parking
Where NPS asks Glen Aulin permit holders to park.
Twin Bridges
NPS mileage. River crossing on the way down.
Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp
Required first night. Backpacker sites, communal fire rings, bear lockers.
Waterwheel Falls
The far end of the classic day hike from camp, down the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
Glen Aulin FAQ
Where do I have to camp on the first night with a Glen Aulin permit?
At the established backpacker sites at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp. NPS makes this a permit condition. If you want to camp past Glen Aulin on night one, apply for the Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel pass-through trailhead instead.
How many people per day get a Glen Aulin wilderness permit?
NPS sets the quota at 25 people per day: 15 by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 10 first-come, first-served one week in advance.
Can I hike Half Dome on a Glen Aulin permit?
No. NPS states Half Dome is not available with this trailhead. You would need a separate day-use Half Dome permit.
How far is Waterwheel Falls from the Glen Aulin trailhead?
NPS lists Waterwheel Falls at 8.2 miles from the trailhead, with Glen Aulin at 5.3. That makes the falls a day hike of about six miles round trip from camp.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Photography Guide
Golden Hour
Evening light on the Tuolumne slabs above Tuolumne Falls, just upstream of the camp.
Best Light
Overcast or early morning at Waterwheel Falls, when the spray is not blown out by direct sun.
Beat the Crowds
The camp is busy by definition. Walk downstream past the falls in the early morning and you will be alone until mid-day.
Classic Shots
- 📍The river sliding across bare granite between Tuolumne Meadows and Twin Bridges
- 📍Tuolumne Falls from the trail above the camp
- 📍Waterwheel Falls at high water in late June
Can't Get a Glen Aulin Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel (pass through)
Similar ExperienceSame trail, but the permit that lets you keep walking past Glen Aulin on the first night.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Smaller quota at 20 people a day, and NPS bars you from camping at the Glen Aulin backpacker sites on night one.
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail
Same AreaFollows the first 1.5 miles of the Glen Aulin trail then turns north toward Ragged Peak and Young Lakes.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A quiet lake basin instead of waterfalls, on a much smaller quota of 10 people a day.
May Lake
Easier AlternativeA short walk to a lake under Mount Hoffmann off the Tioga Road.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Far less mileage and no river, but an easy overnight when the Tuolumne quotas are gone.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Glen Aulin trip
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