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Yosemite Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang permit
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Rafferty Creek to Voge...
Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible)
Yosemite National Park · California
Each entry point carries its own quota
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) were gone within 10 minutes.
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Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelExtremely High9/10
SeasonApril 24 - October 18
Cost$10 per application + $5 per person if awarded
Daily Quota15 people
Lottery Odds15 people/day, no published rate
Max Group Size15 people
Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) 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 Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) runs April 24 through October 18.
- The Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) route covers 22 miles with 5,900 feet of elevation gain, rated strenuous.
- Cancelled Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) 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
- •Apply for Lyell Canyon on the same application — it holds 30 of the 45 daily Donohue permits against this trailhead's 15
- •Plan the first night past the Half Dome junction; camping at Little Yosemite Valley is not allowed on this permit
- •Mail resupply to Tuolumne Meadows General Delivery marked "hold for hiker until [date]", or it goes back after 14 days
- •Add Half Dome at the permit counter for $10 a person instead of entering the March day-hiker lottery
- •Leave the car in Yosemite Valley or Tuolumne Meadows — long-term parking is free and needs no reservation
- •Do not break the trip by driving anywhere mid-itinerary; travel by vehicle at any point invalidates the permit
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
22 miles
Elevation Gain
5,900 ft
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
3-4 days to Tuolumne Meadows, 2-3 weeks for the full John Muir Trail
Difficulty
StrenuousElevation Range
4,035 - 11,056 ft
Highlights
- •22 miles and 5,900 feet of gain just to reach Tuolumne Meadows, before the trail even leaves the park
- •The busiest four miles in Yosemite, under a full multi-week pack
- •No camping in Little Yosemite Valley on the first night — this trailhead specifically forbids it
- •Donohue Pass at 11,056 feet as the park's southern boundary
- •One permit for the whole John Muir Trail if you hike it continuously
- •Half Dome eligible — add it at permit pickup for $10 per person
Best Time to Visit
The Yosemite Valley reservation season runs April 24 through October 18 in 2026, but the JMT window is narrower than that. High passes hold snow into early July and stream crossings are dangerous while they do; September gives cold nights, shorter days and the most stable weather of the year. Ranger stations do not accept food packages, so build the trip around the post office windows instead.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Afternoon thunderstorms across exposed high country, most common June through September
- !Snow on Donohue Pass into early summer, and hazardous stream crossings including the Lyell Fork of the Merced
- !Wet granite on the Mist Trail alternative below Nevada Fall
- !Bears everywhere on this corridor — the canister requirement is enforced
- !Altitude, with the pass at 11,056 feet only a few days after starting at 4,035
- !A blown itinerary: this permit is valid only for continuous travel, and stepping out of the wilderness voids it
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
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Backcountry Tips
- UV index 8. High altitude sun is intense—sunscreen and hat essential.
Today
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62°
44°
Sun
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57°
44°
Mon
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66°
41°
Tue
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66°
38°
Wed
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68°
39°
Thu
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71°
45°
Fri
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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-SeptemberShoulder: Late June and early October
Conditions
Reservation season opens April 24, but the high passes are still under snow and the stream crossings are at their most dangerous.
Crowd Level
LowAdvantages
- +Waterfalls at full volume on the climb out of the valley
- +Fewer applications for the same 15 daily permits
Challenges
- !Snow on Donohue Pass and everything above 10,000 feet
- !Hazardous stream crossings, including the Lyell Fork of the Merced
- !Tuolumne Meadows services and the seasonal post office are not open yet
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand5/5
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
Commitment5/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
John Muir Trail hikers who want the classic northbound-to-southbound start from Yosemite Valley, and long-distance backpackers comfortable carrying multi-week loads over 11,000-foot passes.
Recommended Experience
Multi-night backpacking with a heavy pack, and the logistics of resupply, bear canisters and continuous-travel permit rules. Yosemite is only the first 22 of 211 miles.
Not Recommended For
Anyone whose trip stays inside the park — the Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley permit has a bigger quota and lets you camp at LYV — and anyone who wants to stop at Little Yosemite Valley on night one.
About This Permit
This is the Yosemite wilderness permit that starts the John Muir Trail at its northern terminus and is valid all the way out of the park. NPS issues Donohue Pass eligible permits for up to 45 people per day: 15 from this trailhead and 30 from Lyell Canyon.
The daily quota here is 15 people, split the standard Yosemite way — 9 through the weekly lottery 24 weeks out, 6 released seven days in advance at 7 am Pacific. No permits are held for walk-ups.
Two restrictions come with it. Your first night cannot be in Little Yosemite Valley, so plan to walk past the campground. And if you are hiking the JMT as one continuous trip, this single permit covers the whole thing — NPS is explicit that you need no Whitney stamp and no permits from other national forests or parks.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Yosemite caps the number of hikers leaving the park over Donohue Pass at 45 a day. Fifteen of those 45 belong to this trailhead; the other 30 go to Lyell Canyon. That exit quota, in place since 2015, is the single tightest constraint on hiking the JMT northbound-to-southbound, and this permit is the classic version of it — the one that starts at Happy Isles at 4,035 feet and ends 211 miles later on the summit of Mount Whitney.
The Route
The in-park leg runs 22 miles from Happy Isles to Tuolumne Meadows with 5,900 feet of gain. From the trailhead the John Muir Trail climbs past Vernal and Nevada Falls — the Mist Trail is the shorter, steeper alternative for the same stretch — and levels into Little Yosemite Valley at about four miles.
This is where this permit differs from every other Happy Isles permit. NPS states that for the Happy Isles to Past LYV trailhead "the first night's camp can not be in Little Yosemite Valley." You keep walking, past the Half Dome and Sunrise Creek junction, and camp beyond. Yosemite's four-trail-mile rule from Yosemite Valley is satisfied long before that, but the LYV restriction is specific to this permit.
Above LYV the trail climbs under the south face of Half Dome, through Sunrise Meadow, past Cathedral Peak and drops into Tuolumne Meadows. From there it is up Lyell Canyon and over Donohue Pass at 11,056 feet, the highest point on the PCT inside Yosemite and the park's southern boundary. Cross it and you are on Inyo National Forest with one permit still covering the whole trip — no Whitney stamp, no separate permits from other forests or parks.
The Feeling
The first four miles are the busiest trail in the park and you walk them with three weeks of food on your back, past two waterfalls, in a crowd of day hikers in trainers. Then you pass Little Yosemite Valley — where this permit forbids you to stop — and the crowd is simply gone. By evening you are camped somewhere above Moraine Dome with the south face of Half Dome over your shoulder and the whole Sierra ahead.
Trailhead Information
Happy Isles Trailhead
4,035 ft elevationThe northern terminus of the John Muir Trail, at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley.
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. Long-term parking for the length of your trip is free and needs no reservation, in Yosemite Valley or Tuolumne Meadows.
Getting There
Use the free Yosemite Valley shuttle bus to reach the trailhead. There is no public transportation between Whitney Portal and Yosemite; Eastern Sierra Transit runs Lone Pine to Mammoth Lakes and YARTS Highway 120 East runs Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite Valley.
Nearest Services
Yosemite Valley. Permits are issued at the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center, 8 am to 5 pm. Bear canisters can be rented at any wilderness permit station.
Rules & Regulations
- •Wilderness permit required for any overnight stay in the Yosemite Wilderness, year-round
- •First night's camp cannot be in Little Yosemite Valley on this trailhead's permit
- •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 Yosemite; hanging food is not permitted anywhere in the park and there are no exceptions for through-hikers
- •The permit is valid only for continuous travel — exiting the wilderness during the itinerary invalidates it. Crossing a road on foot and one night in the Tuolumne Meadows or White Wolf backpackers campground are the exceptions
- •Exiting the wilderness by passing through Yosemite Valley invalidates the permit
- •Half Dome permits for backpackers are added at pickup for $10 per person and are not valid for day hikers
- •Camping limit is 30 nights per calendar year in Yosemite, and 14 nights from May 1 to September 15
- •Bear spray is prohibited in Yosemite
Gear Checklist
Required
- An allowed bear canister for the entire trip — rentable at any wilderness permit station, and a legal requirement rather than advice
- Water treatment for the whole route
- Cold-weather layers; Donohue Pass is at 11,056 feet and the high country runs far colder than the valley
- A stove, since campfires are banned above 9,600 feet
- Rain and wind shell for afternoon thunderstorms, most common June through September
Recommended
- A resupply plan — Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows post offices accept General Delivery packages, Tuolumne roughly mid-June to mid-September
- Trekking poles for the loaded climb out of the valley
- Grippy gloves if you are adding Half Dome
- Maps for the sections beyond Yosemite; local rules change at every boundary
- Bags for packing out toilet paper
Plan Your Trip
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Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible)
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Key Landmarks
↑
5,900ft
Gain↓
1,335ft
Loss⛰️
11,056ft
High📏
22.0mi
Distance📐
5.1%
Avg GradeClick on a marker to view details•7 landmarks
Landmarks (7)
Safety & Planning
🚨
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible). Sign up to track this permit.
🐻
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit. Sign up to track this permit.
Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) FAQ
How many Happy Isles to Past LYV permits are issued per day?
15 people. NPS caps Donohue Pass exits at 45 per day across both eligible trailheads and gives 15 of them to Happy Isles to Past LYV, with the other 30 going to Lyell Canyon. Within that 15, nine are reservable by lottery 24 weeks out and six are released seven days in advance.
What does Donohue Pass eligible mean?
It means the permit is valid for walking south out of Yosemite on the John Muir Trail. Yosemite put an exit quota in place in 2015 limiting hikers crossing Donohue Pass to 45 a day, and only two trailheads carry that eligibility: this one and Lyell Canyon. A permit without it is fine inside the park and stops at the boundary.
Can you camp in Little Yosemite Valley on this permit?
Not on the first night. NPS states that for hikers using the Happy Isles to Past LYV trailhead, "the first night's camp can not be in Little Yosemite Valley." That is the trade for the Donohue eligibility — you walk past the campground and camp beyond the Half Dome junction. If LYV is what you want, apply for the Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley permit instead.
Do you need any other permits for the John Muir Trail?
No, if you hike it as one continuous trip. NPS is direct: "you only need one wilderness permit from Yosemite for the entire trip (you do not need a 'Whitney stamp' or permits from other national forests or national parks)." You do have to follow each agency's rules as you pass through, and the permit is valid only for continuous travel — stepping out of the wilderness voids it.
What are the odds of getting a Donohue Pass eligible permit?
Yosemite does not publish them. The park releases its wilderness lottery statistics only as chart images, with no success rate in the page text, so any percentage you find for this trailhead is an outside estimate. What the park does publish is the quota — 15 people a day — and the release schedule: 60% by lottery 24 weeks out, 40% seven days out at 7 am Pacific. Both moments are worth setting an alarm for.
Can you hike Half Dome on this permit?
Yes — this trailhead is Half Dome eligible, and backpackers add the permit at pickup for $10 per person rather than going through the day-hiker lottery. One exception from NPS: if you begin your JMT hike outside Yosemite and finish inside it, your permit is not valid for Half Dome.
How far is it from Happy Isles to Tuolumne Meadows?
22 miles one way with 5,900 feet of gain, past Vernal and Nevada Falls, below the south face of Half Dome, through Sunrise Meadow and past Cathedral Peak. That is the in-park leg. Donohue Pass, at 11,056 feet, comes after Tuolumne on the way up Lyell Canyon.
Where can you resupply on the John Muir Trail in Yosemite?
By mail. Post offices in Yosemite Valley (all year) and Tuolumne Meadows (roughly mid-June to mid-September) accept packages care of General Delivery — mark them "hold for hiker until [date]" or they are held only 14 days. Ranger stations do not accept food packages, and UPS and FedEx do not deliver to General Delivery. You can also buy food in Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows.
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Write the First ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Evening on the shoulder above Little Yosemite Valley, with the south face of Half Dome lit and the valley crowd two thousand feet below and gone.
Best Light
Early morning north of Donohue Pass, where the Lyell Fork drainage runs open and the light comes in sideways across the meadows.
Beat the Crowds
The crowd is entirely below Nevada Fall and entirely gone above Little Yosemite Valley. If you want the falls without the queue, shoot them on the way up before 7 am — after that the day-hiker wave arrives and does not stop until evening.
Classic Shots
- 📍The John Muir Trail sign at Happy Isles with a full pack — mile zero of 211
- 📍Nevada Fall and Liberty Cap from the John Muir Trail switchbacks
- 📍The south face of Half Dome from the trail above Little Yosemite Valley
- 📍Cathedral Peak from the John Muir Trail before the descent to Tuolumne Meadows
- 📍The Donohue Pass boundary sign at 11,056 feet, leaving the park
Can't Get a Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass eligible)
Similar ExperienceThe other Donohue Pass eligible trailhead, at Tuolumne Meadows. NPS allocates it 30 of the 45 daily exit permits — double this one.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Twice the quota and it skips the 22 hardest miles of the JMT, but you also skip Happy Isles, the waterfalls and the classic mile-zero start.
Kearsarge Pass (Inyo NF)
Similar ExperienceEnter the John Muir Trail from the east at Onion Valley, 6.5 miles over an 11,700-foot pass to the JMT near Bullfrog Lake, and hike the southern end to Whitney.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A completely different permit system with its own quota, released 60% six months out and 40% two weeks out. You give up the Yosemite half of the trail and gain a permit you can actually get.
Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley
Easier AlternativeSame trailhead, same waterfalls, but an in-park trip that lands you in the LYV campground with Half Dome in reach.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A 25-person daily quota instead of 15, and you can camp at LYV on the first night. It is not valid for leaving the park over Donohue Pass.
High Sierra Trail (Sequoia)
Similar ExperienceA trans-Sierra route from Crescent Meadow to the John Muir Trail in 49 miles, then 13 more to the summit of Whitney.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Reaches the same summit through completely different country, on a 30-person daily quota with 20 reservable. Shorter, and permits are easier than any Donohue-eligible trailhead.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass eligible) trip
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