Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Young Lakes via Dog Lake

Young Lakes via Dog Lake: what makes it different

Young Lakes via Dog Lake starts with the steep switchbacks behind Lembert Dome, then runs through high meadows with views of the Cathedral Range to three lakes below Ragged Peak. It is the higher, more open of the two Tuolumne routes to Young Lakes, and it has twice the quota of the Glen Aulin version.^6,1

Getting to the start

Recreation.gov says the trail begins on the Lembert Dome and Dog Lake trail before continuing north to Young Lakes. The Park Service issues this trailhead through the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center, and the trailhead has a vault toilet.^6,1

Tioga Road trailheads have no vehicle access while the road is closed, usually from about November to late May or June. For 2026 the Park Service takes Tuolumne reservations from June 18 to October 14, and overnight parking on Tioga Road ends October 15.¹

A 2018 Sierra Rec Magazine report says the route starts from a parking lot and that bear canisters can be rented at the permit check-in station near the Dog Lake trailhead.⁷

The first leg

The Park Service lists Young Lakes, by either route, at 13.6 miles round trip with 1,300 feet of gain and medium permit demand. One entry covers both routes, so it gives no separate figure for the Dog Lake version. The official trail ends at the first lake, and an informal trail continues to the others.²

Sierra Rec Magazine counts about 7 miles in, with roughly 5 of them beyond Dog Lake. It calls the first climb behind Lembert Dome steep enough to challenge a beginner, and says the last mile dips and then climbs to Lower Young Lake. The Outbound lists the route at 14.14 miles and 2,710 feet of gain, which is well above the Park Service figure.^7,9

After the first climb the trail eases and crosses two creek meadows, with views of the Cathedral Range. The Dog Lake spur is short, and the writer used the stop to adjust packs before the last five miles.⁷

Terrain and difficulty

Recreation.gov describes forests and high meadows with panoramic views of the Cathedral Range, ending at the Young Lakes. Sierra Rec Magazine describes alpine tundra, meadows and creek areas along the eastern ridges, with the lakes between about 9,800 and 10,250 feet.^6,7

Quota at this entry point

• 2026 daily quota at Young Lakes via Dog Lake, overnight wilderness: 20 people a day. 12 go through the lottery 24 weeks ahead and 8 are released first come, first served one week ahead, as the Park Service table prints them. Recreation.gov availability for this permit would not load.¹

Rules specific to this entry point

You must travel at least 4 trail miles from Tuolumne Meadows before you camp, and the Park Service wilderness rules say the same. Campfires are prohibited at Young Lakes and anywhere above 9,600 feet.^6,3

The Tuolumne River is a water source for San Francisco. Recreation.gov asks that all washing and waste stay 300 feet from water. Half Dome is not available with this trailhead, and a bear canister is required throughout the wilderness.^6,3

Where it leads

Lower Young Lake, Upper and Middle Young Lakes, Lower McCabe Lake and the Roosevelt Lake basin are the camp areas Recreation.gov ties to this division.⁶

The Outbound listing calls the lakes some of Yosemite's best campsites and recommends the upper lake. Sierra Rec says Lower Young Lake is the most popular, with plenty of sites, and the writer camped below Ragged Peak near a sandy beach.^9,7

What trip reports say

Charlie Pankey's late August 2018 report in Sierra Rec Magazine found Dog Lake quieter than its closeness to Tuolumne Meadows suggests. Mosquitoes were not a problem that late, and the group had a bear encounter on arrival. By August, there was no water on the return along the creek meadows, though one meadow stream held fish.⁷

The same report caught 6 to 9 inch trout at Lower Young Lake and recommends a loop home toward Tuolumne Meadows that is mostly downhill and joins the Glen Aulin Trail about 1.5 miles from the highway.⁷

A Memorial Day 2014 post on Backpacking Light by a member who goes by hamsterfish shows the other end of the season. About 10 percent of the first 3 miles was snow and roughly 95 percent beyond that. The lakes were still frozen, post-holing was common and the trail was hard to follow. He carried microspikes and an ice axe and met only two other groups.⁸

Two replies on that thread say the Young Lakes trails fill up in peak summer and that rangers check permits. A reply from another member advised waiting until the meadows below the lakes are clear of snow.⁸

When to go from here

Snow is the deciding factor early. The May 2014 report found ice bridges at two crossings that melted out in two days of sun. The August 2018 report found dry creeks on the return and few bugs. The Park Service window for 2026 starts June 18.^8,7,1

The Park Service pages disagree on when reservations start. The wilderness permits page, updated December 31, 2025, says late April through October. The reservations page, updated June 22, 2026, says May through October. Tuolumne's own window, June 18 to October 14, sits inside both.^4,5,1

Compare with nearby entry points

• Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail: The Glen Aulin version follows the first 1.5 miles of the Glen Aulin Trail before turning north, has the same vault toilet and a quota of only 6 plus 4, against 12 plus 8 here.^6,1
• Glen Aulin: Glen Aulin is a down-canyon trip to a required first night at the backpackers' camp, with a quota of 15 plus 10.¹
• Cathedral Lakes: Cathedral Lakes has a quota of 15 plus 10, no toilet and is marked Half Dome eligible. Young Lakes via Dog Lake is not.^1,6

Sources

1. Trailhead Information, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
2. Tuolumne Meadows Backpacking Trails, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
3. Wilderness Regulations, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
4. Wilderness Permits, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
5. Wilderness Permit Reservations, Yosemite National Park, National Park Service. Read 2026-10-15.
6. Yosemite National Park Wilderness Permits, Young Lakes via Dog Lake division, Recreation.gov. Read 2026-10-15.
7. Backpacking Young Lakes in Yosemite National Park, Sierra Rec Magazine. Read 2026-10-15.
8. Young Lakes and Conness, Memorial Weekend 2014, Backpacking Light forum. Read 2026-10-15.
9. Young Lakes, The Outbound Collective. Read 2026-10-15.

Safety & planning

Alternatives to a Young Lakes via Dog Lake permit