Reservation8/10
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) cancellations
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Lyell Canyon (no Donoh...
Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang
Yosemite National Park · California
Each entry point carries its own quota
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang were gone within 10 minutes.
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Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang 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 to enter a weekly lottery. Half Dome adds $10 per person, collected when the permit is issued.
Daily Quota20 people
Max Group Size15 people
Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang runs June 18 through October 14.
- Cancelled Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang 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
- •Park at the wilderness center or the Dog Lake lot - NPS names both, and the trailhead itself has no parking
- •Set your alarm for the seven-day release: 8 of the 20 daily spots never go through the lottery at all
- •Carry a stove. Fires are out at Vogelsang, at Boothe Lake, and above 9,600 feet, which is most of this trip
- •If your dates are before mid-June, check Tioga Road first - a closed road voids the permit with no refund
- •Book the Half Dome add-on with the permit if you want it, since it is issued with the permit and costs $10 per person
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Varies
Duration
2-4 nights
Difficulty
ModerateHighlights
- •A daily quota of 20 people: 12 by lottery 24 weeks out, 8 released one week out
- •Flush toilets at the trailhead, per the NPS trailhead table
- •Parking at the Tuolumne Meadows wilderness center or the Dog Lake parking lot
- •Vogelsang High Sierra Camp at 6.9 trail miles, per NPS mileages
- •No toilet at the Vogelsang backpacker sites
- •Tioga Road closed in winter, typically opening in late May, which is why reservations start in June
Best Time to Visit
Reservations for the Tuolumne area run June 18 to October 14 in 2026, and that window is the season. Mid-July through August is when the basin is reliably snow-free and the meadows are at their best. September brings cold nights and thin crowds, and there is no overnight parking on Tioga Road after October 15.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Afternoon thunderstorms, which NPS notes the Sierra are known for in summer, on a route that spends hours above treeline
- !Bears working the Tuolumne corridor, including at the trailhead parking
- !Cold nights at Vogelsang even in midsummer, since the basin sits high and open
- !Snow lingering on the climb to Tuolumne Pass in early season
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
⛅
62°
44°
Sun
⛅
57°
44°
Mon
☁️
66°
41°
Tue
☀️
66°
38°
Wed
☀️
68°
39°
Thu
☀️
71°
45°
Fri
☀️
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 and AugustShoulder: Late June and late September
Conditions
Snow-free trail to Tuolumne Pass by mid-July most years. Afternoon thunderstorms are common.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Whole route open, including the Merced Lake connections
- +Long daylight for the 6.9-mile push to Vogelsang
- +Half Dome cables are up, and this trailhead is Half Dome eligible
Challenges
- !The busiest stretch of the reservation window
- !Storms over exposed ground above Tuolumne Pass
- !Mosquitoes in the Lyell Fork meadows early in the season
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
Commitment3/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Backpackers who want High Sierra scenery on maintained trail, and parties who want a Tuolumne start that keeps Half Dome on the table.
Recommended Experience
One prior overnight at altitude and comfort with a 7-mile day carrying a full pack.
Not Recommended For
Anyone who has not camped above 9,000 feet, or who needs a short first day - the four-mile camping restriction means you commit on day one.
About This Permit
Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang is a Tuolumne Meadows wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park. The permit reserves your entry point and your start date, and after that you travel where you like inside the wilderness rules.
NPS sets the daily quota at 20 people. Twelve of those are reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance, and the other eight open first-come, first-served one week in advance. Across the park, 60 percent of each trailhead quota goes to the 24-week lottery and 40 percent is released seven days out.
This is one of the Tuolumne trailheads where Half Dome is available. NPS says all members of the permit are eligible to walk up Half Dome, with an additional $10 per person due when the permit is issued. Reservations for the Tuolumne Meadows area run June 18 to October 14, 2026, and the trailhead is first-come, first-served outside that window.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Rafferty Creek is the short way into the Cathedral Range's south side. NPS describes the route as following the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River through sub-alpine meadows and then climbing along Rafferty Creek to Tuolumne Pass, Vogelsang, and destinations beyond. From Tuolumne Pass the whole Fletcher and Lewis Creek country opens up, and the trail keeps going all the way to Merced Lake and out to Yosemite Valley.
The Route
The trailhead is at the Tuolumne Meadows wilderness center, and NPS asks you to park either there or at the Dog Lake parking lot. The first stretch follows the Lyell Fork through sub-alpine meadow before the Rafferty Creek trail branches south and starts climbing.
NPS lists Vogelsang High Sierra Camp at 6.9 miles from the trailhead, which makes it a long but very doable first day for a fit party. Past Vogelsang the trail forks: Merced Lake is 14.9 miles out via Fletcher Creek or 15.7 via Lewis Creek, and Isberg Pass is 25.4 miles.
Camping rules bite early here. You must travel at least four miles from Tuolumne Meadows before you can camp, so there is no bailing out after two miles. Fires are prohibited in the Vogelsang area, at Boothe Lake, and anywhere above 9,600 feet, which covers most of what you will walk through.
One detail that catches people out: NPS says there is no longer a toilet at the backpacker sites at Vogelsang. If you stay near Fletcher Lake, the park asks you to walk several hundred feet out from the campground boundary to go to the bathroom.
The Feeling
The first two miles are flat river meadow at 8,600 feet, and then the trail turns uphill and does not stop until Tuolumne Pass. You climb out of lodgepole into open granite benches, and the Cathedral Range lines up behind you the whole way. Vogelsang sits on a bare shoulder with almost no tree cover, so the wind is real and the stars are absurd.
Rules & Regulations
- •Travel at least four miles from Tuolumne Meadows before camping
- •Maximum group size is 15 people, or 8 for any cross-country hiking more than a quarter mile off trail
- •Allowed bear-resistant food canisters are required for food storage in all areas of Yosemite Wilderness
- •Fires are prohibited in the Vogelsang area, at Boothe Lake, and above 9,600 feet
- •Camp at least 100 feet from any water source and from any trail
- •Along the Tuolumne watershed, do all washing and waste disposal 300 feet from water
- •Half Dome is available with this trailhead for every person on the permit, at $10 per person
- •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 - hanging or counterbalancing is not legal anywhere in Yosemite Wilderness
- A stove, because you will be camping above the 9,600-foot fire line most nights
- Wind shell and a warm layer for the exposed Vogelsang basin
- Water treatment
- Trowel and bags to pack out toilet paper, which Yosemite requires
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang
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Trailhead transportation options
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Key Landmarks
Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center
Trailhead and permit pickup. Park here or at the Dog Lake parking lot.
Vogelsang High Sierra Camp
NPS mileage from the trailhead. Backpacker sites nearby, but no toilet at them any more.
Merced Lake via Fletcher Creek
The shorter of the two ways down to Merced Lake.
Merced Lake via Lewis Creek
The other branch out of the Vogelsang basin.
Isberg Pass
Deep in the park's southeast corner, for parties with a week.
Safety & Planning
Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang FAQ
How many people per day get a Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang wilderness permit?
NPS sets the quota at 20 people per day. Twelve are reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and eight are released first-come, first-served one week in advance.
Can I hike Half Dome on a Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang permit?
Yes. NPS lists this trailhead as Half Dome eligible, and says all members of the permit are eligible to walk up Half Dome. There is an additional $10 per person due when the permit is issued.
How far do I have to hike before I can camp on a Rafferty Creek permit?
At least four miles from Tuolumne Meadows. That rule is on the permit itself, and it means Vogelsang or the upper Rafferty drainage is realistically your first night.
Is there a toilet at the Vogelsang backpacker sites?
No. NPS states there is no longer a toilet at the backpacker sites at Vogelsang, and asks anyone camping near Fletcher Lake to disperse several hundred feet from the campground boundary.
When can I reserve a Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang permit?
Reservations for the Tuolumne Meadows area cover June 18 to October 14, 2026. Sixty percent of the quota goes into a weekly lottery 24 weeks ahead, and the remaining 40 percent is released seven days in advance.
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Write the First ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Late light on Fletcher Peak and the Vogelsang basin, shot from the open granite above the camp.
Best Light
Early morning on the Lyell Fork meadows before the wind picks up, when the river goes glassy.
Beat the Crowds
Everyone stops at Vogelsang. Push over Tuolumne Pass toward Boothe Lake or down Fletcher Creek and the traffic drops off fast.
Classic Shots
- 📍The Cathedral Range lined up behind you from the Rafferty Creek climb
- 📍Fletcher Lake with Vogelsang Peak behind it
- 📍Tuolumne Pass looking back down the Rafferty drainage
Can't Get a Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass)
Same AreaThe other Tuolumne Meadows river start, following the Lyell Fork south through the canyon.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Much flatter walking and a smaller daily quota of 10 people, and it is not eligible for Half Dome or for exiting Yosemite on the John Muir Trail.
Glen Aulin
Same AreaDownstream from Tuolumne Meadows along the Tuolumne River to the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A bigger daily quota of 25 people so it is easier to land, but you must camp the first night at Glen Aulin and Half Dome is not available.
Young Lakes via Dog Lake
Easier AlternativeA shorter Tuolumne trip north into the Ragged Peak country, with Young Lakes 6 miles from the trailhead.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Less mileage and less climbing, but it does not connect onward to Merced Lake or the Vogelsang basin.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang trip
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