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Yosemite Wilderness Permit — May Lake permit area in Yosemite National Park - backcountry hiking destination
Each entry point carries its own quota

Yosemite Wilderness Permit — May Lake

Yosemite National Park · California

May Lake is the shortest backpacking trip in Yosemite: about two miles round trip from a small lot off Tioga Road to a lake at the foot of Mount Hoffmann. NPS rates its permit demand Very High, and it sells 15 lottery and 10 week-ahead places a day.

Get an alert when May Lake opens on your dates.

Get alerts for your May Lake dates

A May Lake permit is booked by the day you start. Tell us every date you'd go and we'll ping you the second one of them opens up.

Leave the second date blank if only one day works. A wider window catches more openings.

Party

When it opens

24 weeks
Lottery opens 24 weeks before your entry date, at 12:01 am Pacific60% of the quotaYou apply on Recreation.gov.
22 weeks
First come, first served from 22 weeks before your entry date, at 9 am PacificYou book on the agency's site.
1 week
First come, first served from seven days before your entry date, at 7 am Pacific, until three days before40% of the quotaYou book on Recreation.gov.

Source: recreation.gov, nps.gov

70% of the openings our scanner caught on May Lake were gone within 30 minutes.

May Lake reservation dates

We alert you to cancellations and the 7 am release. Your start day also sets your lottery week.

October 2026

1516171819202122232425262728293031
  • Your start date
  • Same lottery week: one application covers all 7 days
  • Outside the Tioga Road trailheads west of Olmsted Point reservation season (Jun 18 to Oct 14)

YOUR START

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Your lottery week is the October 11 to 18 lottery. It opens 178 days before you start.

1 · APPLY

Sun, Apr 19, 2026 to Sat, Apr 25

Opens Sunday 12:01 am, closes Saturday 11:59 pm Pacific. Up to eight options on one application.

Passed for this start

2 · RESULTS, THEN ACCEPT

Mon, Apr 27

Results by 5 pm. Accept by Thu, Apr 30, 11:59 pm.

Passed for this start

3 · YOUR 7-DAY RELEASE

Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 7:00 am PDT

The other 40% of the day's quota, first-come, first-served on Recreation.gov. Be logged in before 7.

Passed for this start

YOUR TIMELINE · LOTTERY WEEK, THEN THE LAST WEEK BEFORE YOU START

  1. SUN 12:01 AM · OPENSSun, Apr 19, 2026Applications open
  2. SAT 11:59 PM · CLOSESSat, Apr 25Applications close
  3. MON BY 5 PMMon, Apr 27Results
  4. THU 11:59 PMThu, Apr 30Accept by
  5. FRI 9 AMFri, May 1Leftovers go first-come
  6. 23 WEEKSCancellations any day. We alert you.
  7. 7 DAYS OUT · 7 AM PDTWed, Oct 7, 2026The other 40% open
  8. LAST DAY TO RESERVESun, Oct 11Three days before you start
  9. YOU STARTWed, Oct 14, 2026May Lake

Source: National Park Service, Yosemite wilderness permit reservation window, 2026 table, and the wilderness permit FAQ. Times are Pacific.

May Lake daily quota

25 people a day. 15 by lottery, 10 seven days out.

Counted in people, not permits

Lottery, 24 weeks out

60% of the day

15

7 days out, 7 am PDT

40% of the day

10

NPS trailheads table: May Lake | 15 | 10 | Vault

max group size
15people

How to get a May Lake permit

As of October 2026, May Lake in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. May Lake rates 6/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Canceled May Lake permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens.

Type
Overnight
Location
CA

  1. Step 1: Create a Recreation.gov account

    Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

  2. Step 2: Know the release schedule

    Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.

  3. Step 3: Be ready when permits drop

    Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

  4. Step 4: Monitor for cancellations

    If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Book at Recreation.gov
Learn more:
Best booking timesCancellation huntingRecreation.gov tips

More on May Lake: Live availability activityWhen May Lake permits open upChance of an opening

Guides: May Lake permit guideMay Lake to Snow Creek permit guidePorcupine Creek permit guide

May Lake: what makes it different

May Lake is the shortest backpacking trip in Yosemite: about two miles round trip from a small lot off Tioga Road to a lake at the foot of Mount Hoffmann. NPS rates its permit demand Very High, and it sells 15 lottery and 10 week-ahead places a day.2,1

Getting to the start

The turn is on Tioga Road west of Tenaya Lake. Outbound puts the trailhead lot 1.8 miles up a side road, four miles past Tenaya Lake. Recreation.gov calls it roughly two miles on the single-lane Old Tioga Road, paved but rough, and says that road can open after Tioga Road does.9,8

A 2017 blogger found a small lot and said that if it is full or the side road is closed you can still walk in, adding about two miles each way. Outbound advises arriving early in summer because the hike is very popular. NPS lists a vault toilet at the trailhead, and Big Oak Flat Information Station issues the permit.10,9,1

Overnight parking is not allowed on Tioga Road or in lots reached from it starting October 15, according to NPS, and the road itself is closed from sometime in November to late May or June.1

The first leg

The walk climbs gradually through forest, with the steepest part in the switchbacks near the top. NPS counts 2 miles round trip and 400 feet of gain. Outbound counts 2.34 miles and 489 feet, and the 2017 blog says about 2.4 miles and 500 feet. NPS calls it great for new backpackers.2,9,10

At the lake, camping is at the backpackers' campground. The 2017 blogger camped on the shore to the left of the sunset viewpoint, with the High Sierra Camp off to the right.2,10

Terrain and difficulty

The lake sits at the base of Mount Hoffmann, which Recreation.gov calls the rough geographic center of Yosemite National Park. NPS describes an unofficial, unmarked spur trail from May Lake to the summit. The 2017 blogger puts the spur at about 3.5 miles and 1,600 feet round trip, and Outbound estimates about 2 miles and 1,500 feet from the north side of the lake.8,2,10,9

Quota at this entry point

  • 2026 daily quota at May Lake, overnight wilderness, lottery share: 15 people a day. NPS trailhead page, updated May 11, 2026. Tioga Road (west of Olmsted Point) trailheads share one Big Oak Flat window of June 18 to October 14, 2026.1
  • 2026 daily quota at May Lake, overnight wilderness, week-ahead share: 10 people a day. The first come, first served share released seven days ahead. NPS prints it as a separate column.1

Rules specific to this entry point

Camping within a mile of any High Sierra Camp is limited to its designated campground, which is why a May Lake permit means the backpackers' campground and not a spot of your own choosing. The camp itself is a lottery stay run by a concessioner, with meals included, as Outbound describes.4,9

Recreation.gov warns that if you hold a reservation and Tioga Road is still closed, the permit is not valid and not refunded. Tioga Road usually opens in late May, but the date depends on snow.8

Tioga Road trailhead lotteries apply only to start dates from the third Thursday in June. In 2026 that is June 18, the first day on the NPS trailhead page.5,1

Where it leads

May Lake is the base for Mount Hoffmann and a stop on the High Sierra Camp loop that links Tuolumne Meadows with Glen Aulin, Vogelsang, Merced Lake, Sunrise and May Lake camps. A 2017 Outbound reviewer walked in from Glen Aulin.3,9

What trip reports say

A California Through My Lens visit in 2017 found the lake still frozen, many mosquitoes and the High Sierra Camp closed. The author camped at the shore and called the climb gradual until the final switchbacks.10

On Outbound, a hiker who came in from Glen Aulin at the end of July 2017 found plenty of snow still around the lake after a heavy winter. Another reviewer in 2016 recommended it to first-time backpackers who want to see other parts of the park.9

When to go from here

Timing follows snow and the road. The 2017 blogger found the lake still frozen and plagued by mosquitoes, and a reviewer at the end of July 2017 still found plenty of snow around it. The Tioga Road window on the trailhead page, June 18 to October 14, 2026, is shorter than the Valley window.10,9,1

Reservation dates disagree across NPS pages. The Wilderness Permits page (December 2025) says reservations run late April through October, the Reservations page (June 2026) says May through October, and the trailhead page gives June 18 for this road. For May Lake, use the June 18 date.6,7,1

Compare with nearby entry points

  • Ten Lakes: Ten Lakes shares the same Big Oak Flat window but is a real hike. NPS lists it at 11.8 miles round trip with 1,500 feet of gain and a quota of 24 lottery and 16 week-ahead people, against 15 and 10 here. NPS permit demand is Medium there and Very High at May Lake.2,1
  • May Lake to Snow Creek: May Lake to Snow Creek starts from the same road but its quota is only 6 lottery and 4 week-ahead people. Recreation.gov calls it the shortest route between Tioga Road and the Valley, down the Snow Creek drainage to the rim.1,8
  • Porcupine Creek: Porcupine Creek is a quieter way off Tioga Road. NPS lists 12 lottery and 8 week-ahead people, and a Medium permit demand for the North Dome trip.1,2

Rules every Yosemite wilderness trailhead shares

  • Any overnight stay in the Yosemite Wilderness needs a permit, all year; day hikes need none unless they go to Half Dome. Each trailhead has a daily quota.
  • Reservations cover trips May through October. 60% of each quota goes by weekly lottery on Recreation.gov 24 weeks ahead; the other 40% opens first come, first served at 7 am Pacific seven days ahead.
  • The fee is $10 per application plus $5 per person once a permit is issued, none of it refundable. Collect the permit in person the day before or the morning you start.
  • Groups are 15 people at most, or 8 for cross-country hiking. Bear canisters are required throughout the wilderness, and you camp at least four trail miles from Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, Glacier Point, Hetch Hetchy and Wawona.
All Yosemite permits and trailheads

Sources

  1. Trailhead Information, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
  2. Tioga Road (West of Olmsted Point) Backpacking Trails, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
  3. Tuolumne Meadows Backpacking Trails, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
  4. Wilderness Regulations, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
  5. Wilderness Permit Frequently Asked Questions, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
  6. Wilderness Permits, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
  7. Wilderness Permit Reservations, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
  8. Yosemite National Park Wilderness Permits (May Lake division), Recreation.gov. Read 2026-10-15.
  9. May Lake Trail, The Outbound, user listing with 2016 and 2017 reviews. Read 2026-10-15.
  10. May Lake: One of Yosemite High Country's Best Short Hikes, California Through My Lens (2017 visit). Read 2026-10-15.

When to hike May Lake

Weather Forecast

Trailhead

⚠️

Backcountry Tips

  • Day 4: 83% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
  • Day 5: 73% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
  • Snow expected: Check current trail conditions before departing.

Today

☁️

48°

28°

Thu

☁️

45°

31°

Fri

❄️

34°

28°

24%

Sat

❄️

37°

29°

83%

Sun

❄️

42°

27°

73%

Mon

☁️

56°

28°

Tue

☁️

57°

38°

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

May Lake rules, gear and safety

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for May Lake.

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for May Lake · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides

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May Lake FAQ

How long is the walk to May Lake on a wilderness permit?

NPS says 2 miles round trip with 400 feet of gain. Outbound measures 2.34 miles and 489 feet, and a 2017 blogger about 2.4 miles and 500 feet. Outbound says the same trip works as a four to five hour day hike with a lunch stop.

Can I camp anywhere around May Lake?

No. The regulations restrict camping within a mile of a High Sierra Camp to the designated campground, and NPS lists a backpackers campground at the lake.

May Lake trail conditions and trip reports

Trail Conditions(5)

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Alternatives to a May Lake permit

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