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Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Young Lakes via Dog La...
Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass)
Yosemite National Park · California
Each entry point carries its own quota
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass) trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass) were gone within 10 minutes.
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Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass) Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh7/10
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. Half Dome adds $10 per person, collected when the permit is issued.
Daily Quota15 people
Max Group Size15 people
Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass) Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass) in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass) is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass) runs June 18 through October 14.
- Cancelled Sunrise Lakes (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 Level7/10
LocationSierra Nevada, CA
Pro Tips
- •Store toiletries in the canister too, not just food - NPS calls this area out for repeat bear success
- •Clouds Rest at 7 miles makes a better objective than Half Dome at 13 if you only have two days
- •Add the Half Dome permits when you book the wilderness permit, at $10 per person
- •A one-way to Yosemite Valley is 17.3 miles and needs a car or the shuttle at both ends
- •Six of the fifteen spots come out seven days ahead, which is the realistic route in
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Varies
Duration
1-3 nights
Difficulty
ModerateHighlights
- •A daily quota of 15 people: 9 by lottery 24 weeks out, 6 released one week out
- •Vault toilets at the trailhead per the NPS trailhead table
- •Clouds Rest at 7 miles and Half Dome at 13, per NPS mileages
- •Half Dome available for every person on the permit at $10 per person
- •No Donohue Pass and no John Muir Trail exit on this permit
Best Time to Visit
Reservations run June 18 to October 14 in 2026. July through September is the reliable window for Clouds Rest and the Half Dome cables. September is the best of it, with cold nights and thin crowds.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Persistent bear activity, which NPS calls out for this trailhead specifically
- !Clouds Rest's summit ridge, which is narrow and exposed
- !Afternoon storms on open slabs with a long way to shelter
- !Snow on the initial switchbacks into early summer
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
⚠️
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
Warm days on the slabs, storms most afternoons, cables up on Half Dome.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Half Dome available on the permit
- +Clouds Rest at 7 miles
- +Loop options to the Valley or Tuolumne
Challenges
- !Heavy bear pressure
- !Storms on exposed ridges
- !Only 15 permits a day
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand3/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill2/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment3/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Parties heading for Clouds Rest or a Tenaya-to-Valley traverse, and Half Dome hopefuls starting high.
Recommended Experience
A previous overnight at altitude, plus a head for exposure if Clouds Rest or the cables are on the plan.
Not Recommended For
John Muir Trail hikers, since this permit does not allow the Donohue Pass exit.
About This Permit
Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass) is a Tuolumne-area wilderness trailhead at the western end of Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park.
NPS sets the daily quota at 15 people: 9 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 6 released first-come, first-served one week in advance. The trailhead is Half Dome eligible, and NPS states all members of the permit are eligible to walk up Half Dome with an additional $10 per person due when the permit is issued.
The one thing this permit does not do is leave the park. NPS states that hiking over Donohue Pass and hiking the John Muir Trail is not available for this trailhead. Reservations for the Tuolumne area run June 18 to October 14, 2026.
The Experience
Why It Matters
NPS describes this very popular trail departing from western Tenaya Lake and following switchbacks up toward Sunrise Lakes or Clouds Rest, with loop options toward Merced Lake, Half Dome or Cathedral Lakes. It is the shortest backpacking approach to Clouds Rest, and NPS lists it as Half Dome eligible with every member of the permit able to walk up.
The Route
From the western end of Tenaya Lake the trail climbs to the Sunrise Lakes junction. NPS puts Sunrise Lakes at 3.3 miles, Sunrise High Sierra Camp at 5.8 and Clouds Rest at 7.0.
Beyond that the loop options open up. Half Dome is 13.0 miles by this route, Tuolumne Meadows is 14.0 and Yosemite Valley is 17.3, which makes a Tenaya-to-Valley one-way a very good three-day trip.
Bears are the practical concern. NPS says bears have successfully obtained food from backpackers in this area on a regular basis, and asks that all food and toiletries be stored in a bear canister. Camp at least 100 feet from any water source, and keep washing and waste 300 feet from water throughout the Tuolumne watershed.
The Feeling
The switchbacks out of Tenaya Lake are the only real work. Above them the country flattens into slabs and lakes, and then Clouds Rest arrives with a summit ridge that most people rate above Half Dome itself.
Rules & Regulations
- •Hiking over Donohue Pass and hiking the John Muir Trail is not available for this trailhead
- •Store all food and toiletries in a bear canister - NPS reports regular bear success here
- •Camp at least 100 feet from any water source
- •Along the Tuolumne watershed, do all washing and waste disposal 300 feet from water
- •Maximum group size is 15 people, or 8 for cross-country hiking more than a quarter mile off trail
- •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, for food and toiletries both
- Gloves for the Half Dome cables if that is part of the plan
- Water treatment
- A stove, since fires are prohibited above 9,600 feet
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass)
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
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Key Landmarks
Sunrise Lakes
NPS mileage from the Tenaya Lake trailhead.
Sunrise High Sierra Camp
Backpacker sites near the camp.
Clouds Rest
The summit ridge above Tenaya Canyon, higher than Half Dome.
Half Dome
NPS mileage by this route. Available on this permit at $10 per person.
Safety & Planning
Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass) FAQ
Can I hike Half Dome on a Sunrise Lakes permit?
Yes. NPS lists this trailhead as Half Dome eligible and states all members of the permit are eligible to walk up Half Dome, with an additional $10 per person due when the permit is issued.
How far is Clouds Rest from the Sunrise Lakes trailhead?
NPS puts Clouds Rest at 7.0 miles, with Sunrise Lakes at 3.3 and Sunrise High Sierra Camp at 5.8.
How many people per day get a Sunrise Lakes permit?
NPS sets the quota at 15 people per day: 9 by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 6 first-come, first-served one week in advance.
Can I hike the John Muir Trail on a Sunrise Lakes permit?
No. NPS states that hiking over Donohue Pass and hiking the JMT is not available for this trailhead.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
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Questions
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Trip Reports
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Write the First ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunrise from the Clouds Rest ridge, with Half Dome in silhouette and Tenaya Canyon below.
Best Light
Late afternoon at Sunrise Lakes, when the granite goes warm.
Beat the Crowds
Day hikers own Clouds Rest from mid-morning. Camp near Sunrise and go up at dawn.
Classic Shots
- 📍Tenaya Lake from the top of the switchbacks
- 📍The Clouds Rest summit ridge
- 📍Half Dome's north face from Clouds Rest
Can't Get a Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass) Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Murphy Creek
Same AreaThe trailhead across the road at Tenaya Lake, heading north to Polly Dome Lakes and Glen Aulin.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Quieter and gentler, without Clouds Rest or Half Dome.
Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang
Similar ExperienceA Tuolumne start that is also Half Dome eligible, climbing to the Vogelsang basin.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A larger quota at 20 people a day, in a completely different basin.
May Lake
Easier AlternativeA short Tioga Road walk to a lake below Mount Hoffmann.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Much easier and much shorter, with no summit objective.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass) trip
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