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Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Yosemite Falls trailhe...
Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel
Yosemite National Park · California
Each entry point carries its own quota
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel were gone within 10 minutes.
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Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh7/10
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 Quota20 people
Max Group Size15 people
Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel runs June 18 through October 14.
- Cancelled Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel 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 Level7/10
LocationSierra Nevada, CA
Pro Tips
- •Book this one only if you genuinely intend to sleep past the camp - NPS enforces it
- •The falls below Glen Aulin are the whole point, so give yourself a full day for them
- •It is downhill in and uphill out, and the climb back is long
- •Pate Valley at 19.2 miles is the natural three-night objective
- •Eight of the twenty spots come out seven days ahead
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Varies
Duration
2-5 nights
Difficulty
StrenuousHighlights
- •A daily quota of 20 people: 12 by lottery 24 weeks out, 8 released one week out
- •A first night that must be beyond Glen Aulin
- •Waterfall after waterfall below the camp, with Waterwheel Falls at 8.2 miles
- •Access on to Pate Valley, Virginia Canyon, May Lake and the north country
- •Vault toilets at the trailhead, parking at Lembert Dome
Best Time to Visit
Reservations run June 18 to October 14 in 2026. Late June and July put the falls at full volume. September makes the canyon bottom bearable and the slabs dry.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Wet, polished granite alongside the falls, which is the main injury risk on this trail
- !A descent of thousands of feet into the Grand Canyon that has to be reclimbed
- !Heat in the canyon bottom in midsummer
- !Swift water through early-season runoff
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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76°
68°
Sun
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76°
63°
Mon
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86°
65°
Tue
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87°
65°
Wed
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86°
63°
Thu
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89°
63°
Fri
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92°
66°
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, hot in the canyon, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd Level
ModerateAdvantages
- +Falls at their loudest in early summer
- +Full access to the north country routes
- +Long days for a big descent
Challenges
- !Slick rock beside high water
- !Real heat in the canyon bottom
- !The climb back out
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand4/5
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
Commitment4/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Parties heading into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne or the park's north country, with three or more days.
Recommended Experience
Multi-day backpacking and comfort with a big descent and reascent.
Not Recommended For
Anyone wanting a one-night trip to Glen Aulin, which needs the other permit.
About This Permit
Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel is the pass-through version of the Glen Aulin trailhead in Yosemite National Park. NPS issues it to parties who intend to camp beyond the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp on their first night.
NPS sets the daily quota at 20 people: 12 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 8 released first-come, first-served one week in advance.
The rule that separates it from the standard Glen Aulin permit is explicit: you may not camp at the backpacker sites at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp on your first night. NPS also lists Half Dome as unavailable with this trailhead. Reservations for the Tuolumne area run June 18 to October 14, 2026.
The Experience
Why It Matters
NPS runs Glen Aulin as two separate trailheads to keep the High Sierra Camp backpacker sites from filling with people who are only passing through. This permit is for parties heading beyond: down the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, up Cold Canyon into the northern region of the park, or toward May Lake and Ten Lakes.
The Route
From Lembert Dome the trail follows the Tuolumne downstream. NPS puts Twin Bridges at 4.0 miles, Glen Aulin at 5.3 and Waterwheel Falls at 8.2.
The permit's defining rule is where you cannot sleep: NPS states you may not camp at the backpacker sites at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp on your first night. Anything short of that is a different trailhead.
From there the options are long. NPS lists Pate Valley at 19.2 miles, May Lake at 12.5, Virginia Canyon at 12.7, Benson Lake at 29.5 and White Wolf at 28.7, which makes this a genuine gateway to the park's north country.
The Feeling
You walk the same slabs and cascades everybody else does, and then you keep going past the camp while they set up. Below Glen Aulin the river drops through California Falls, LeConte Falls and Waterwheel Falls one after another, and the crowd is gone.
Rules & Regulations
- •You may not camp at the backpacker sites at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp on your first night
- •Along the Tuolumne watershed, do all washing and waste disposal 300 feet from water
- •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
- •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 Checklist
Required
- An allowed bear-resistant food canister - NPS says bears are active and have obtained food from backpackers here
- Water treatment
- Footwear that handles wet polished granite beside the cascades
- A stove, since fires are prohibited above 9,600 feet
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel
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Key Landmarks
Twin Bridges
NPS mileage. River crossing above Glen Aulin.
Glen Aulin
You may not camp at the backpacker sites here on night one with this permit.
Waterwheel Falls
The last of the big cascades below the camp.
Pate Valley
Deep in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
Safety & Planning
Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel FAQ
What is the difference between the two Glen Aulin permits?
NPS splits them by where you sleep on night one. The Glen Aulin permit requires you to camp at the High Sierra Camp backpacker sites, and this pass-through permit forbids camping there on your first night.
How many people per day get a Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel permit?
NPS sets the quota at 20 people per day: 12 by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 8 first-come, first-served one week in advance.
How far is Waterwheel Falls on the Glen Aulin trail?
NPS puts Waterwheel Falls at 8.2 miles from the trailhead, with Glen Aulin at 5.3 and Twin Bridges at 4.0.
Where can I camp on a Glen Aulin pass-through permit?
Anywhere legal beyond the Glen Aulin backpacker sites. NPS bars those sites on your first night, so plan for the canyon below the camp or the country beyond it.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
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Write the First ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Early light on the Tuolumne slabs upstream of Glen Aulin.
Best Light
Overcast at Waterwheel Falls, when the spray is not blown out.
Beat the Crowds
Everyone stops at the camp. One mile downstream you are on your own.
Classic Shots
- 📍California and LeConte Falls in sequence below the camp
- 📍Waterwheel Falls at high water
- 📍The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne from the descent
Can't Get a Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Glen Aulin
Similar ExperienceThe same trail on the permit that requires a first night at the High Sierra Camp.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A larger quota at 25 people a day, and a much shorter trip.
White Wolf to Pate Valley
Similar ExperienceDrops into the same Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne from the Tioga Road side.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A 30-people-a-day quota and a shorter route to Pate Valley, with less waterfall walking.
Ten Lakes
Same AreaThe Tioga Road route onto the rim above the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Views into the canyon rather than a walk through it, on the park's biggest quota.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel trip
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