Reservation9/10
Yosemite Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) permit
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Happy Isles to Past LY...
Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley
Yosemite National Park · California
Each entry point carries its own quota
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley were gone within 10 minutes.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
Start a plan — it's free
No permit needed to start
Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelExtremely High9/10
SeasonApril 24 - October 18
Cost$10 per application + $5 per person if awarded
Daily Quota25 people
Max Group Size15 people
Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley is one of the most competitive permits in the United States, rating 9/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley runs April 24 through October 18.
- The Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley route covers 7.6 miles, rated strenuous.
- Cancelled Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery OpensWeekly lottery, 24 weeks before entry
SeasonApril 24 - October 18
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level9/10
LocationSierra Nevada, CA
Pro Tips
- •Go up the John Muir Trail with the pack and come down the Mist Trail; the granite stairs are miserable under load
- •Add Half Dome at the permit counter — backpackers skip the March lottery entirely for $10 a head
- •Top off water at the Vernal Fall footbridge; it is the last treated water and LYV has none
- •Pack the canister even though LYV has lockers, because the lockers only exist in camp
- •The 40% release at 7 am Pacific seven days out is the realistic way in for this trailhead — 10 people a day, gone fast
- •Do not plan a JMT exit on this permit; it is explicitly not valid over Donohue Pass
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
7.6 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
2-3 days
Difficulty
StrenuousElevation Range
4,035 - 6,122 ft
Highlights
- •9.6 miles round trip and 2,150 feet of gain, almost all of it in the first four miles
- •A choice above the footbridge: the Mist Trail is shortest and steepest, the John Muir Trail longer and gentler
- •A required first night in the Little Yosemite Valley campground — no dispersed camping on the way up
- •Communal food lockers, a composting toilet and two communal fire rings at LYV; no drinking water
- •Heavy day-hiker traffic to the top of Nevada Fall, thinning sharply above it
- •The option to add Half Dome for $10 a person at permit pickup, with no separate lottery
Best Time to Visit
The Yosemite Valley reservation season runs April 24 through October 18 in 2026. If Half Dome is the point, the cables usually go up the Friday before Memorial Day and come down the day after the second Monday in October, so late May through mid-October is the window. Spring gives you the waterfalls at full volume, September gives you stable weather and quieter camps.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Wet granite on the Mist Trail, which is slick even on a clear day from waterfall spray
- !Lightning on Half Dome and the subdome; NPS calls the summit "a dangerous place during a lightning storm" and thunderstorms are most common in the afternoon
- !Fatal falls from the cables have nearly all happened when the rock was wet
- !Emerald Pool and the Silver Apron are closed to entry after repeated injuries and fatalities; pools above waterfalls in general are dangerous
- !Habituated bears at LYV — the campground has communal lockers because the bears work the area
- !Dehydration on the climb out of the valley; the last treated water is at the Vernal Fall footbridge
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
☁️
63°
45°
Tue
☁️
60°
42°
Wed
☁️
62°
38°
Thu
☀️
59°
34°
Fri
☀️
65°
33°
Sat
☁️
68°
40°
Sun
☁️
66°
43°
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: June-AugustShoulder: Late May and September
Conditions
Reservation season opens April 24. Waterfalls at peak volume, and the Mist Trail earns its name. The cables are usually not up until the Friday before Memorial Day.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Vernal and Nevada Falls at their most powerful
- +Cooler climbing out of the valley
- +Fewer applications than midsummer
Challenges
- !Cables typically down until late May, so no Half Dome
- !Constant soaking on the Mist Trail
- !Snow and ice possible on the upper trail
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
Backpackers who want Half Dome without the 14-hour day, and anyone who wants a first Yosemite wilderness night with a short walk in and a real campground.
Recommended Experience
Basic backpacking. Add the cables and the bar rises: NPS notes rangers assist hundreds of people on the Half Dome trail every summer, and the exposure catches people out.
Not Recommended For
Anyone hoping to hike the John Muir Trail out of the park — this trailhead is not valid for that — or anyone expecting solitude below Nevada Fall.
About This Permit
This is the wilderness permit for the Happy Isles trailhead when your trip stays inside the park. NPS rates its demand "Very High" and describes the trails into Little Yosemite Valley as the most difficult wilderness permits to get in Yosemite.
The daily quota is 25 people: 15 through the weekly lottery 24 weeks out and 10 released seven days in advance at 7 am Pacific. Nothing is reserved for walk-ups.
Two details define the permit. First, the campground is compulsory — you must spend the first night in the Little Yosemite Valley campground, and camping anywhere between Yosemite Valley and LYV is prohibited. Second, the trailhead is Half Dome eligible, so you can add Half Dome permits for some or all of your group when you collect the wilderness permit, for $10 per person, with no advance reservation. What it does not include is a way out of the park: NPS marks it "not eligible to exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail."
The Experience
Why It Matters
NPS calls Little Yosemite Valley "the most popular area in the Yosemite Wilderness, mainly because it provides easy access to Half Dome," and says the permits for the trails leading there are the hardest in the park to get. This is the trailhead that buys you a night at the LYV campground and the option to add a Half Dome permit at the counter — no March lottery, no second application, $10 a head when you pick up the permit.
The Route
NPS puts it at 9.6 miles round trip with 2,150 feet of gain, which understates the first half: everything you climb, you climb in under four miles. From Happy Isles the trail splits above the Vernal Fall footbridge — the Mist Trail is the shortest and steepest way up, the John Muir Trail is longer and lower angle. They rejoin above Nevada Fall.
Above Nevada Fall the noise stops and the trail flattens into Little Yosemite Valley. This is a required first night: NPS states that with a permit for Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley "you must camp in Little Yosemite Valley campground on the first night (and may camp there on subsequent nights)." There is no camping at all between Yosemite Valley and LYV. Communal food lockers, two communal fire rings just outside the campground, a composting toilet, and no potable water — the Merced is the source and it needs treating.
From camp the options are Half Dome up the subdome and cables, or east up the Merced toward Moraine Dome and Merced Lake. What this permit will not do is take you out of the park: NPS marks this trailhead "not eligible to exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail." That is the Happy Isles to Past LYV permit, a different quota.
The Feeling
You climb out of the valley in the spray of two waterfalls and arrive somewhere that feels like it should not exist: a flat, sandy stretch of the Merced River with pines and a granite wall on every side. The campground is minimally developed, there are no check-in procedures, and everyone there is going up the cables in the morning. By 5 am headlamps start moving through the trees.
Trailhead Information
Happy Isles Trailhead
At the eastern end of Yosemite Valley. The start of the Mist Trail and the John Muir Trail.
Restrooms
Water on site
Parking
Parking is not available at Happy Isles. Trailhead parking is just beyond Curry Village, about half a mile away, with food lockers. Some overnight parking with food lockers is also available at the Yosemite Falls parking area. Long-term parking for the length of your trip is free and needs no reservation.
Getting There
Use the free Yosemite Valley shuttle bus to reach the trailhead from the parking areas.
Nearest Services
Yosemite Valley. Permits are issued at the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center, 8 am to 5 pm.
Rules & Regulations
- •Wilderness permit required for any overnight stay in the Yosemite Wilderness, year-round
- •With this permit you must camp in the Little Yosemite Valley campground on the first night, and may stay there on later nights
- •Camping is not permitted between Yosemite Valley and Little Yosemite Valley, on top of Half Dome, or at Lost Lake
- •Maximum group size is 15 people, or 8 for cross-country travel more than a quarter mile off trail
- •Allowed bear canisters are required throughout the Yosemite Wilderness; hanging or counterbalancing food is not legal. LYV's communal lockers are an alternative in camp — do not store non-food items in them or padlock them
- •This trailhead is not valid for exiting Yosemite on the John Muir Trail over Donohue Pass
- •A separate Half Dome permit is required to go beyond the base of the subdome when the cables are up; backpackers add it at permit pickup for $10 per person
- •Fires at LYV are allowed only in the two communal rings just outside the campground
- •Bear spray is prohibited in Yosemite; pets, wheeled vehicles and drones are prohibited in wilderness
- •Exiting the wilderness by passing through Yosemite Valley invalidates the permit
Gear Checklist
Required
- An allowed bear canister for the trail; the LYV lockers only cover you while you are in camp
- Water treatment — LYV has no potable water and the Merced is the only source
- Headlamp with spare batteries, because Half Dome days start before dawn
- Rain shell for afternoon thunderstorms
- Sturdy footwear with real traction; the Mist Trail stairs are wet granite
Recommended
- Grippy gloves if you are going up the cables
- Trekking poles for the descent off the subdome and the Mist Trail steps
- A stove — the only legal fire is in the communal rings
- Dry bag for anything that must not get soaked on the Mist Trail
- Bags for packing out toilet paper away from camp
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Key Landmarks
⛰️
6,122ft
High📏
4.0mi
DistanceClick on a marker to view details•6 landmarks
Landmarks (6)
Safety & Planning
Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley FAQ
How many Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley permits are issued per day?
25 people. NPS reserves 15 for the weekly lottery 24 weeks out and releases the other 10 first-come, first-served seven days in advance at 7 am Pacific. No permits are set aside for walk-ups.
Do you have to camp in Little Yosemite Valley on this permit?
On the first night, yes. NPS is explicit: with a permit for Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley "you must camp in Little Yosemite Valley campground on the first night (and may camp there on subsequent nights) of your hike." Camping anywhere between Yosemite Valley and LYV is prohibited. After the first night you can move on toward Merced Lake or beyond the Half Dome junction.
Does this permit include Half Dome?
Not automatically, but this trailhead is Half Dome eligible, which is the easy way in. You add Half Dome permits for some or all of your group when you pick up the wilderness permit — no advance reservation, no separate lottery, $10 per person paid at pickup. Those permits are for overnight backpackers only and are not valid for day hikers.
Can you hike the John Muir Trail out of Yosemite on this permit?
No. NPS marks this trailhead "not eligible to exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail." Exiting the park south over Donohue Pass needs a Donohue Pass eligible permit, and only two trailheads carry that: Happy Isles to Past LYV, and Lyell Canyon.
Is there water at the Little Yosemite Valley campground?
No potable water. The Merced River is nearby and is the only source, and NPS says to treat it by boiling, with iodine, or with a giardia-rated filter. Do not wash dishes or clothes in the river and do not use soap in it, even biodegradable soap. The last treated water on the way up is the drinking fountain at the Vernal Fall footbridge, summer only.
What facilities does the Little Yosemite Valley campground have?
Communal food lockers, a composting toilet near the campground, and two communal campfire rings just outside it. That is it — NPS calls the campground minimally developed, with no check-in or check-out. Lockers are shared, so do not store non-food items in them and do not padlock them.
Mist Trail or John Muir Trail to Little Yosemite Valley?
NPS frames it simply: "The shortest and steepest route up is the Mist Trail, while the John Muir Trail takes a longer and lower angle path." With a full pack most people go up the John Muir Trail and come down the Mist Trail, which keeps the wet granite stairs on the descent when your legs are fresher than your patience.
How much does the permit cost?
$10 per application plus $5 per person if you are awarded a permit, both non-refundable. Half Dome, if you add it, is another $10 per person at pickup. Outside the reservation season — roughly November through April — permits are issued at permit stations with no reservation and no fee.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Photography Guide
Golden Hour
Nevada Fall and Liberty Cap from the John Muir Trail switchbacks catch late afternoon light while the valley below is already in shadow.
Best Light
Early morning on the walk up from LYV, when the granite is warm-toned and the day-hiker crowd has not yet reached Nevada Fall.
Beat the Crowds
Everything below Nevada Fall belongs to day hikers from mid-morning on. Camping at LYV puts you above that line overnight and lets you shoot the falls on the way down after 4 pm, when the crowd drains back to the valley.
Classic Shots
- 📍Vernal Fall from the Mist Trail steps, shot with the spray backlit
- 📍Nevada Fall with Liberty Cap behind it from the John Muir Trail
- 📍The Merced River flats in Little Yosemite Valley at first light
- 📍The subdome switchbacks and the cables from below
- 📍Half Dome's shoulder from the LYV campground in the evening
Can't Get a Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley
Same AreaThe other permit that lands you in the LYV campground, starting high at Glacier Point and descending instead of climbing. Half Dome eligible.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A much smaller quota — 6 by lottery plus 4 a week out, against 15 plus 10 here — and it needs Glacier Point Road open. But you walk downhill to camp, and the same first-night LYV requirement applies.
Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible)
Similar ExperienceSame trailhead, same first four miles, but valid for walking south out of the park on the John Muir Trail over Donohue Pass.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Smaller quota at 15 people a day, and NPS forbids camping in LYV on the first night — you have to push past it. Take this one only if you are leaving the park.
Half Dome Day Hike Permit
Similar ExperienceSkip the overnight entirely and do Half Dome in a day on a day-hiker permit from the March lottery or the two-day-out daily lottery.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
NPS publishes the odds for this one — 22% of preseason applications in 2024, 19% in the daily lottery — but it is a 14 to 16 mile day with 4,800 feet of gain and no camp to break it up.
Mirror Lake to Snow Creek
Easier AlternativeA steep climb out of the valley to the north rim, with a quota of 15 by lottery plus 10 a week out and far less competition.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
No Half Dome eligibility and no waterfalls, and NPS calls it the steepest way out of the valley. What you get is a north-rim view back at Half Dome and a realistic permit.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley trip
A small favor
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Add PermitSnag in Google
Takes less than a minute.