Reservation7/10
Yosemite Sunrise Lakes (no Donohue Pass) permit
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Sunrise Lakes (no Dono...
Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Ten Lakes
Yosemite National Park · California
Each entry point carries its own quota
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Ten Lakes trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Ten Lakes were gone within 10 minutes.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
Start a plan — it's free
No permit needed to start
Ten Lakes 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.
Daily Quota40 people
Max Group Size15 people
Ten Lakes Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Ten Lakes in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Ten Lakes is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Ten Lakes runs June 18 through October 14.
- Cancelled Ten Lakes 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
- •This is the Tioga Road permit to chase when everything else is gone - 40 people a day is the biggest quota out there
- •Sixteen of those 40 are released seven days out, so a late plan is realistic
- •Carry water from the road, since there is nothing reliable until Half Moon Meadow
- •Camp in the Ten Lakes basin rather than Grant Lakes if you want quiet
- •Check the Tioga Road opening date before booking anything in June
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
1-3 nights
Difficulty
ModerateHighlights
- •A daily quota of 40 people: 24 by lottery 24 weeks out, 16 released one week out
- •Vault toilets at the trailhead per the NPS trailhead table
- •Half Moon Meadow at 3.6 miles and the Ten Lakes basin at 6.2, per NPS mileages
- •A ridge crossing with views into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne
- •Tioga Road closed in winter, typically opening in late May
Best Time to Visit
Reservations run June 18 to October 14 in 2026. July and August are the reliable months. Late September gives cold nights, gold meadows and easy walk-up permits before the road closes.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Bears working the Ten Lakes basin, which sees consistent backpacker traffic
- !Afternoon thunderstorms on the exposed ridge between the meadow and the basin
- !Snow on the ridge into early summer
- !A trailhead with no water, so you carry from the road to Half Moon Meadow
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
Snow off the ridge by early July most years, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd Level
ModerateAdvantages
- +Largest quota on the Tioga Road, so permits are gettable
- +Whole basin open
- +Long days for the 6-mile approach
Challenges
- !Mosquitoes in Half Moon Meadow in early summer
- !Exposed ridge in storms
- !Bear pressure at the lakes
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
Commitment2/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Backpackers who want a real Yosemite high-country basin on a permit they can actually get.
Recommended Experience
Comfort with a 6-mile day carrying a pack and a night above 9,000 feet.
Not Recommended For
Anyone wanting Half Dome, which this trailhead does not include.
About This Permit
Ten Lakes is a Tioga Road wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park, climbing north from the road to Grant Lakes and the Ten Lakes basin.
NPS sets the daily quota at 40 people: 24 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 16 released first-come, first-served one week in advance. That is the largest quota of any trailhead on the western Tioga Road, which makes it the reliable answer when Tuolumne and the Valley are gone.
NPS notes Half Dome is not available with this trailhead, and the Tioga Road area's reservation window runs June 18 to October 14, 2026. The trail is first-come, first-served outside that window, but the road has to be open.
The Experience
Why It Matters
NPS calls this the most direct route to Grant Lakes and the Ten Lakes basin, passing through Half Moon Meadow and climbing a ridge with rewarding views of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River and Yosemite's north country. At 40 people a day it is the most obtainable serious backpacking permit on the Tioga Road.
The Route
From the Tioga Road the trail climbs through forest to Half Moon Meadow, which NPS puts at 3.6 miles. Grant Lakes are at 5.9 miles and the Ten Lakes basin at 6.2.
The ridge between the meadow and the basin is the view: the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne falls away north and the park's remote country runs to the horizon. Beyond the basin the trail keeps going, with May Lake at 20.3 miles and Glen Aulin at 21.6 for parties linking a longer route.
Camping rules are simple but firm. You must be at least one air mile from any road before making camp, and fires are not allowed above 9,600 feet and are permitted only in existing fire rings below that.
The Feeling
The climb is steady rather than brutal, through forest and then meadow, and the payoff comes at the ridge where the whole north country opens at once. The lakes below sit in a shelf of granite with almost no one at them by mid-week.
Rules & Regulations
- •You must be at least one air mile from any road before making camp
- •Fires are not allowed above 9,600 feet, and below that only in existing fire rings
- •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
- •Along the Tuolumne watershed, do all washing and waste disposal 300 feet from water
- •Half Dome is not available with this trailhead
- •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 - NPS says bears are active in this area
- Water treatment
- A stove for camps above 9,600 feet
- Warm layers for a basin that sits high and open
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Ten Lakes
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Key Landmarks
Half Moon Meadow
NPS mileage. The meadow before the ridge climb.
Grant Lakes
The nearer lake pair, a common first night.
Ten Lakes basin
The main basin, on the rim above the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
May Lake
For parties continuing east toward the Tioga Road high country.
Ten Lakes FAQ
How many people per day get a Ten Lakes wilderness permit?
NPS sets the quota at 40 people per day: 24 by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 16 first-come, first-served one week in advance. It is the largest quota of any Tioga Road trailhead.
How far is the Ten Lakes basin from the trailhead?
NPS puts Half Moon Meadow at 3.6 miles, Grant Lakes at 5.9 and the Ten Lakes basin at 6.2 miles.
Can I hike Half Dome on a Ten Lakes permit?
No. NPS states Half Dome is not available with this trailhead. A separate day-use Half Dome permit is required.
Where can I camp on the Ten Lakes trail?
You must be at least one air mile from any road before making camp. Fires are not allowed above 9,600 feet and are permitted only in existing rings below that.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Ten Lakes.
Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Evening from the ridge above the basin, looking north into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
Best Light
Early morning at the lakes, before wind puts a chop on the water.
Beat the Crowds
Grant Lakes takes most of the traffic. Walk another mile into the Ten Lakes basin proper.
Classic Shots
- 📍Half Moon Meadow with the ridge behind
- 📍The Ten Lakes basin from the ridge crest
- 📍Grant Lakes under the Tuolumne Peak ridgeline
Can't Get a Ten Lakes Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Yosemite Creek
Same AreaThe neighbouring Tioga Road trailhead heading south along Yosemite Creek to the Valley rim.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Quieter and a very different objective, with the top of Yosemite Falls at 6 miles.
May Lake
Easier AlternativeA short walk to a lake under Mount Hoffmann off the Tioga Road.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Far less mileage, but a single lake instead of a basin.
Glen Aulin
Similar ExperienceThe Tuolumne River route down to the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp and the waterfalls below it.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Bigger water and a required first night at the camp.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Ten Lakes trip
A small favor
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Add PermitSnag in Google
Takes less than a minute.