Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Glacier Point to Illilouette
Yosemite National Park · California
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Glacier Point to Illilouette trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
Get an alert when Glacier Point to Illilouette opens on your dates.
When it opens
- 24 weeks
- Lottery opens 24 weeks before your entry date, at 12:01 am Pacific60% of the quotaYou apply on Recreation.gov.
- 1 week
- First come, first served from seven days before your entry date, at 7 am Pacific, until three days before40% of the quotaYou book on Recreation.gov.
Source: recreation.gov
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Glacier Point to Illilouette were gone within 10 minutes.
Glacier Point to Illilouette reservation dates
We alert you to cancellations and the 7 am release. Your start day also sets your lottery week.
October 2026
- Your start date
- Same lottery week: one application covers all 7 days
- Outside the Wawona and Glacier Point Road reservation season (May 16 to Oct 14)
YOUR START
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Your lottery week is the October 4 to 10 lottery. It opens 178 days before you start.
1 · APPLY
Sun, Apr 12, 2026 to Sat, Apr 18
Opens Sunday 12:01 am, closes Saturday 11:59 pm Pacific. Up to eight options on one application.
Passed for this start
2 · RESULTS, THEN ACCEPT
Mon, Apr 20
Results by 5 pm. Accept by Thu, Apr 23, 11:59 pm.
Passed for this start
3 · YOUR 7-DAY RELEASE
Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 7:00 am PDT
The other 40% of the day's quota, first-come, first-served on Recreation.gov. Be logged in before 7.
Opens within a day
YOUR TIMELINE · LOTTERY WEEK, THEN THE LAST WEEK BEFORE YOU START
- SUN 12:01 AM · OPENSSun, Apr 12, 2026Applications open
- SAT 11:59 PM · CLOSESSat, Apr 18Applications close
- MON BY 5 PMMon, Apr 20Results
- THU 11:59 PMThu, Apr 23Accept by
- FRI 9 AMFri, Apr 24Leftovers go first-come
- 23 WEEKSCancellations any day. We alert you.
- 7 DAYS OUT · 7 AM PDTWed, Sep 30, 2026The other 40% open
- LAST DAY TO RESERVESun, Oct 4Three days before you start
- YOU STARTWed, Oct 7, 2026Glacier Point to Illilouette
Source: National Park Service, Yosemite wilderness permit reservation window, 2026 table, and the wilderness permit FAQ. Times are Pacific.
Glacier Point to Illilouette daily quota
30 people a day. 18 by lottery, 12 seven days out.
Counted in people, not permits
Lottery, 24 weeks out
60% of the day
18
7 days out, 7 am PDT
40% of the day
12
NPS trailheads table: Glacier Point to Illilouette | 18 | 12 | Vault (Drinking water available in summer)
- daily quota
- 30people
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Glacier Point to Illilouette permit
As of September 2026, Glacier Point to Illilouette in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Glacier Point to Illilouette is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Glacier Point to Illilouette permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Glacier Point to Illilouette runs May 16 through October 14.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Sierra Nevada, CA
Step 1: Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Glacier Point to Illilouette pro tips
- This is the easy way into the Illilouette basin: 30 permits a day against 5 from Happy Isles
- The camping line is the Buena Vista Trail junction, so plan the first day around reaching it
- Twelve of the thirty spots are released seven days out
- Check water in the basin before a late-August trip, since the creek drops hard
- Check the Glacier Point Road opening date if you are booking for May
More on Glacier Point to Illilouette: Live availability activityWhen Glacier Point to Illilouette permits open up
How much a Glacier Point to Illilouette permit costs
Glacier Point to Illilouette permit fee: Recreation.gov permit 445859: a $10 lottery application plus $5 per person if you win. A reservation made after the lottery costs a one-time $10 per permit plus $5 per person instead.
The Glacier Point to Illilouette hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 1-4 nights
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Glacier Point to Illilouette landmarks
- 1Glacier Point
Trailhead on the Glacier Point Road, typically open from mid May.
- 2Illilouette Fall
On the Panorama Trail side. No camping at the top.
- 3Buena Vista Trail junction
The point NPS requires you to reach before camping.
- 4Clark Range and Ottoway Lake
The far end of the basin, for parties with three or more days.
Thirty people a day and a downhill start at 7,200 feet, into the emptiest basin within sight of Yosemite Valley.
About this permit
Glacier Point to Illilouette is a Glacier Point Road wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park, dropping southeast into the Illilouette Basin and the south end of the park.
NPS sets the daily quota at 30 people: 18 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 12 released first-come, first-served one week in advance. That is one of the largest quotas in the park and by far the easiest way into the Illilouette country.
The camping rules are specific. You must travel as far as the Buena Vista Trail junction before camping, you may not camp in Little Yosemite Valley on your first night, and camping is not allowed along the Panorama Trail or at the top of Illilouette Fall. NPS lists both Half Dome and the John Muir Trail as unavailable with this trailhead. Reservations for the Wawona and Glacier Point Road area run May 16 to October 14, 2026.
The route
From Glacier Point the trail drops southeast toward the Illilouette basin. NPS requires you to travel as far as the Buena Vista Trail junction before camping, and prohibits camping in Little Yosemite Valley on your first night, along the Panorama Trail, or at the top of Illilouette Fall.
Past the Buena Vista junction the country opens toward Mono Meadow, Ottoway Lake and the Clark Range, which is as remote as Yosemite gets without a very long walk.
Glacier Point Road governs the season. NPS says the road is closed during winter and typically opens in mid May, and that if you make a reservation and the road is closed, your permit is not valid and there is no refund.
Why it matters
NPS describes this trailhead as beginning at Glacier Point and travelling southeast toward the Illilouette Basin, to destinations in the south end of the park and beyond. It is the same basin the Happy Isles route reaches after a 2,000-foot climb and a five-permit-a-day fight, from the other direction and with six times the quota.
The feeling
You start where the tour buses stop, walk away from the railing, and within an hour the noise is gone. The Illilouette drainage is broad, forested and almost never visited, with the Clark Range standing at the far end of it.
Glacier Point to Illilouette hike highlights
- A daily quota of 30 people: 18 by lottery 24 weeks out, 12 released one week out
- A downhill start from Glacier Point at about 7,200 feet
- A vault toilet at the trailhead, with drinking water available in summer per the NPS trailhead table
- A camping line at the Buena Vista Trail junction
- Glacier Point Road closed in winter, typically opening in mid May
How hard the Glacier Point to Illilouette hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required3/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route2/5
Best for: Backpackers who want solitude without a hard approach, and anyone who missed the five-permit Happy Isles to Illilouette quota.
Recommended experience: One prior overnight. The approach is downhill and the navigation is straightforward.
Not recommended for: Half Dome hopefuls and John Muir Trail hikers, neither of which this permit allows.
When to hike Glacier Point to Illilouette
Best time to visit
The window is May 16 to October 14 in 2026, opening whenever Glacier Point Road does. June and September are the best of it. Midsummer is warm and dry in the basin, and the creek drops steadily through August.
- Peak
- July and August
- Shoulder
- Late May and late September
Summer
Warm and dry in the basin, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: One of the biggest quotas in the park
- Advantage: Real solitude a few miles from Glacier Point
- Advantage: Access to the Clark Range and Ottoway Lake
- Challenge: Water sources drop through August
- Challenge: Storms on the exposed Panorama section
- Challenge: Mosquitoes in the basin in early summer
Fall
Cool and dry, reservations to October 14, overnight Glacier Point Road parking ends October 15.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Empty basin
- Advantage: Best walking weather
- Advantage: Walk-up permits nearly always available
- Challenge: Water needs planning
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Early storms can shut the road
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
51°
34°
Tue
63°
41°
Wed
66°
48°
Thu
72°
45°
Fri
70°
46°
Sat
72°
47°
Sun
68°
46°
Glacier Point to Illilouette photography guide
Golden Hour
Sunset at Glacier Point before you walk, then first light on the Clark Range from inside the basin.
Best Light
Morning at Illilouette Fall, before the sun clears the rim.
Beat the Crowds
Everyone within a mile of Glacier Point is a day visitor. Past the Buena Vista junction you are alone.
Classic Shots
- Half Dome from the Panorama Trail above Illilouette
- Illilouette Creek in the open basin
- The Clark Range from the Buena Vista side
Glacier Point to Illilouette rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- An allowed bear-resistant food canister
- Water treatment for Illilouette Creek
- A stove for camps above the fire line
- Layers for a basin that sits high and cools off fast
Rules & regulations
- 01You must travel as far as the Buena Vista Trail junction before camping
- 02You may not camp in Little Yosemite Valley on your first night with this permit
- 03Camping is not allowed along the Panorama Trail or at the top of Illilouette Fall
- 04Half Dome is not available with this trailhead
- 05Hiking over Donohue Pass and hiking the John Muir Trail is not available for this trailhead
- 06Maximum group size is 15 people, or 8 for cross-country hiking more than a quarter mile off trail
- 07Allowed bear-resistant food canisters are required throughout Yosemite Wilderness
- 08If Glacier Point Road is closed on your date the permit is not valid and there is no refund
Hazards & considerations
- Afternoon thunderstorms on the exposed Panorama section
- Illilouette Creek running high through spring melt
- Long distances between reliable water in late summer
- Bears throughout the drainage
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Glacier Point to Illilouette.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Glacier Point to Illilouette · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Glacier Point to Illilouette FAQ
How many people per day get a Glacier Point to Illilouette permit?
NPS sets the quota at 30 people per day: 18 by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 12 first-come, first-served one week in advance.
Where can I camp on a Glacier Point to Illilouette permit?
You must travel as far as the Buena Vista Trail junction before camping. Little Yosemite Valley is off limits on the first night, and camping is not allowed along the Panorama Trail or at the top of Illilouette Fall.
Can I hike Half Dome on a Glacier Point to Illilouette permit?
No. NPS states Half Dome is not available with this trailhead, and neither is the John Muir Trail or Donohue Pass.
When does Glacier Point Road open for this permit?
NPS says the road is closed during winter and typically opens in mid May, though it can open earlier or later depending on snowpack. If the road is closed on your date the permit is not valid and there is no refund.
Glacier Point to Illilouette trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Glacier Point to Illilouette permit
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Happy Isles to Illilouette
The same basin from Yosemite Valley, climbing past Vernal and Nevada Falls.
Tradeoffs
Only 5 permits a day and a 2,000-foot climb, but no road dependency.
- Same AreaPermit required
Ostrander (Lost Bear Meadow)
A Glacier Point Road trailhead into the lake country south of the Illilouette drainage.
Tradeoffs
A lake destination instead of an open basin, on a 25-person quota.
- Same AreaPermit required
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley
The same trailhead on the permit that sends you to the Little Yosemite Valley campground.
Tradeoffs
Half Dome eligible, but a fixed first night at a busy campground.
Where to stay near Glacier Point to Illilouette
- Yosemite Creek CampgroundYosemite National Park
- Porcupine Flat CampgroundYosemite National Park
- White Wolf CampgroundYosemite National Park
- All California campgrounds
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