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Yosemite Glen Aulin permit
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Glen Aulin trailhead i...
Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass)
Yosemite National Park · California
Each entry point carries its own quota
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) were gone within 10 minutes.
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Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) 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 Quota10 people
Max Group Size15 people
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) runs June 18 through October 14.
- Cancelled Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) 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
- •This is the easiest Yosemite high-country permit to walk, not to get - only 10 people a day start here
- •The four-and-a-half-mile camping line is measured up the canyon, so plan your first night past Ireland Creek
- •Watch the seven-day release: 4 of the 10 spots never touch the lottery
- •If your trip is the JMT, do not book this permit by mistake - you want Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass Eligible)
- •Pitch on the benches above the meadow rather than the canyon floor if you want a warmer night
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Varies
Duration
1-3 nights
Difficulty
EasyHighlights
- •A daily quota of 10 people: 6 by lottery 24 weeks out, 4 released one week out
- •Flush toilets at the trailhead per the NPS trailhead table
- •Nearly flat walking for the first several miles at about 8,600 feet
- •No John Muir Trail exit and no Donohue Pass on this permit
- •Tioga Road closed in winter, typically opening in late May
Best Time to Visit
The reservation window is June 18 to October 14 in 2026. Mosquitoes thin out by late July. September is the sweet spot for this canyon: cold nights, gold meadows, and quota that often goes unclaimed.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Bears working the Lyell Canyon corridor and the Tuolumne trailhead parking
- !Afternoon thunderstorms over the open meadows with little shelter
- !Cold sinks into the canyon bottom overnight even in July
- !High water in the Lyell Fork during early-season runoff
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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76°
68°
Sun
⛅
76°
63°
Mon
☀️
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
Open meadow walking, high water early, thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Warmest nights of the year in a canyon that runs cold
- +Whole route open including the Ireland Lake branch
- +Easiest possible first backpacking trip at altitude
Challenges
- !Peak mosquito season in early summer
- !Exposed meadow with nowhere to shelter from storms
- !Competition for a 10-person quota
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand2/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk1/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment2/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
First-time backpackers, families with teenagers, and anyone acclimatizing before a harder Sierra trip.
Recommended Experience
None beyond carrying a pack for five miles. The altitude is the only real demand.
Not Recommended For
Anyone planning to hike the John Muir Trail south out of Yosemite, which this permit does not allow.
About This Permit
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) is a Tuolumne Meadows wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park. The permit reserves your entry point and start date, and NPS restricts it to travel that stays inside the park.
NPS sets the daily quota at 10 people: 6 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 4 released first-come, first-served one week in advance. That is one of the smaller Tuolumne quotas, which is why the canyon stays quiet despite how easy the walking is.
Two restrictions define the permit. You must travel at least four and one-half miles out Lyell Canyon before camping, and you may not exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail. NPS also notes this trailhead is not Half Dome eligible. Reservations for the Tuolumne area run June 18 to October 14, 2026.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Lyell Canyon is the gentlest introduction to backpacking at 8,600 feet anywhere in Yosemite. NPS describes the trail as meandering through Lyell Canyon along the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River toward Donohue Pass to the south and to Ireland Lake and Tuolumne Pass to the west. This is the no-Donohue version: NPS states plainly that hiking over Donohue Pass and hiking the John Muir Trail is not available for this trailhead.
The Route
The trailhead starts near the Tuolumne Lodge parking area, and NPS asks you to park at the wilderness center or the Dog Lake lot. The trail crosses the Lyell Fork and turns south into the canyon.
Camping is the constraint. NPS requires you to travel at least four and one-half miles out Lyell Canyon before camping, so the meadows you walk past first are off limits. Beyond that, NPS mileages put the Ireland Creek trail junction at 5.2 miles, Ireland Lake at 11.4 and Vogelsang High Sierra Camp at 12.3 by the western branch.
The one thing you cannot do is keep going south. Donohue Pass is 12.1 miles up the canyon, and this permit does not authorize crossing it. If the John Muir Trail is the plan, the Donohue Pass eligible version of the Lyell Canyon permit is the one to chase.
The Feeling
You walk beside a river that barely moves, through meadow after meadow, with Mammoth Peak and the Kuna Crest standing off to the east. There is almost no climbing for the first six miles. It is the rare Sierra trip where you can talk the whole way.
Rules & Regulations
- •Travel at least four and one-half miles out Lyell Canyon before camping
- •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
- •Fires are prohibited above 9,600 feet
- •Along the Tuolumne watershed, do all washing and waste disposal 300 feet from water
- •Half Dome is not available with this trailhead
Gear Checklist
Required
- An allowed bear-resistant food canister - NPS says bears have been successful at obtaining food from backpackers in this area
- Water treatment for the Lyell Fork
- A warm sleeping bag, since cold air pools in the canyon at night
- Head net or repellent in early season, when the meadows hold mosquitoes
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass)
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Key Landmarks
Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center
Permit pickup and parking. The trailhead itself is near the Tuolumne Lodge lot.
Ireland Creek trail junction
NPS mileage. The western branch toward Ireland Lake and Tuolumne Pass splits here.
Ireland Lake
High lake under the Kuna Crest, reached on the western branch.
Donohue Pass
The head of the canyon. Not authorized on this permit - it needs a Donohue Pass eligible trailhead.
Safety & Planning
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) FAQ
Can I hike the John Muir Trail on a Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) permit?
No. NPS states that hiking over Donohue Pass and hiking the John Muir Trail is not available for this trailhead. You need one of the Donohue Pass eligible trailheads instead.
How many people per day get a Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) permit?
NPS sets the quota at 10 people per day: 6 by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 4 first-come, first-served one week in advance.
How far do I have to walk before camping in Lyell Canyon?
At least four and one-half miles out Lyell Canyon, per the permit conditions. The meadows nearest Tuolumne Meadows are closed to camping.
Do I need a bear canister for a Lyell Canyon backpacking permit?
Yes. Allowed bear-resistant food canisters are required for food storage in all areas of Yosemite Wilderness, and hanging or counterbalancing is not legal.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
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Questions
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Photography Guide
Golden Hour
First light on Mammoth Peak from the meadows around mile 5, with mist coming off the Lyell Fork.
Best Light
Evening, when the low sun runs down the length of the canyon and lights the grass.
Beat the Crowds
Most parties stop within a mile of the four-and-a-half-mile line. Keep going another two miles and you will have the canyon to yourself.
Classic Shots
- 📍The Lyell Fork's slow bends with the Kuna Crest behind
- 📍Open meadow foreground with Potter Point above
- 📍Ireland Lake under the Kuna Crest on the western branch
Can't Get a Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass Eligible)
Similar ExperienceThe same canyon, on the permit that authorizes crossing Donohue Pass and continuing on the John Muir Trail.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Far harder to get, because it is the main Tuolumne entry to the JMT.
Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang
Same AreaStarts from the same wilderness center and climbs to Tuolumne Pass and the Vogelsang basin.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Twenty people a day instead of 10, and Half Dome eligible, but a real climb instead of flat meadow.
Mono/Parker Pass
Same AreaClimbs east out of Tuolumne through alpine meadows toward Mono and Parker Passes.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Higher and more exposed, and NPS requires you to cross into the Ansel Adams Wilderness before camping.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) trip
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