Yosemite Wilderness Permits 2026
Yosemite has no single annual lottery. Wilderness permits run on a rolling weekly lottery 24 weeks before your entry date, and 40% of each trailhead quota is held back until 7 days before.
Don't Miss Your Yosemite Wilderness Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Yosemite Wilderness availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit AlertsHow the Weekly Lottery Works
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Results + Payment
Last-Minute Release (40% of quota)
Fees
🏔️ Know the Systems
Half Dome
Separate day-hike lottery: apply March 1-31 for the season, results mid-April, plus a daily lottery two days before each date.
John Muir Trail
The most competitive wilderness trailheads in the park. Donohue Pass exit quotas make Happy Isles and Lyell Canyon the longest odds.
Tuolumne Meadows
High country trailheads outside the Donohue quota often have availability, especially midweek. Glacier Point trailheads also tend to stay open later in the season.
Lost the Weekly Lottery?
Unclaimed and cancelled permits return to Recreation.gov all season, and the 7-day release adds fresh spots every morning. Set up alerts so you never miss one.
Get Yosemite Wilderness Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.