Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley
Yosemite National Park · California
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
Get an alert when Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley 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 Little Yosemite Valley were gone within 10 minutes.
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley 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 Yosemite Valley reservation season (Apr 24 to Oct 18)
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 Little Yosemite Valley
Source: National Park Service, Yosemite wilderness permit reservation window, 2026 table, and the wilderness permit FAQ. Times are Pacific.
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley (LYV) daily quota
10 people a day. 6 by lottery, 4 seven days out.
Counted in people, not permits
Lottery, 24 weeks out
60% of the day
6
7 days out, 7 am PDT
40% of the day
4
NPS trailheads table: Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley (LYV) | 6 | 4 | Vault (Drinking water available in summer) | Not eligible to exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail. Half Dome eligible.
- daily quota
- 10people
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley permit
As of September 2026, Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley 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 Little Yosemite Valley pro tips
- This is the low-effort way to a Half Dome basecamp: 5.2 miles downhill to LYV instead of the Mist Trail climb
- Leave a second car in the Valley. It is 7.6 miles out that way and 5.2 back up to Glacier Point
- Add the Half Dome permits when you book, since they are issued with the wilderness permit at $10 per person
- Use the bear boxes at LYV rather than relying on your canister at camp
- Check the Glacier Point Road opening before you apply for a date in May
More on Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley: Live availability activityWhen Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley permits open upChance of an opening
How much a Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley permit costs
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley 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. Half Dome adds $10 per person, collected when the permit is issued.
The Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley hike
- Route Type
- Point to Point
- Duration
- 1-3 nights
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley landmarks
- 1Glacier Point
Trailhead on the Glacier Point Road, closed in winter and typically open from mid May.
- 2Illilouette Fall
NPS mileage along the Panorama Trail. No camping at the top of the fall.
- 3Little Yosemite Valley
Required first night. Backpacker sites, bear boxes, composting toilets, communal fire rings.
- 4Half Dome
NPS mileage from Glacier Point. Available on this permit for every person listed, at $10 per person.
- 5Merced Lake
The onward objective up the Merced canyon for a longer trip.
Start at 7,200 feet on the Panorama Trail and walk downhill to the Half Dome basecamp everybody else climbs 4,000 feet to reach.
About this permit
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley is a Glacier Point Road wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park, following the Panorama Trail down past Illilouette Fall to the Little Yosemite Valley backpackers campground.
NPS sets the daily quota at 10 people: 6 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 4 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.
Two conditions define the trip. You must spend your first night at the established backpacker sites in Little Yosemite Valley, with no dispersed camping in the LYV area, and this trailhead is not eligible to exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail. Reservations for the Wawona and Glacier Point Road area run May 16 to October 14, 2026.
The route
The trailhead is at Glacier Point, which means Glacier Point Road has to be open. NPS is blunt about it: the road is closed during winter and typically opens in mid May, and if you make a reservation and the road is closed, your permit is not valid and there is no refund.
NPS mileages on the Panorama Trail put Illilouette Fall at 3.6 miles and Little Yosemite Valley at 5.2. Half Dome is 9.2 miles from the trailhead and Yosemite Valley is 7.6, which is why so many parties do this as a one-way with a shuttle or a second car.
The first night is fixed. You must camp at the established backpacker sites in Little Yosemite Valley, and NPS prohibits dispersed camping in the LYV area. There are bear boxes and composting toilets at the campground, and fires are permitted only in the established communal rings.
Why it matters
NPS calls this route slightly longer than starting from Yosemite Valley, but an easier and very scenic hike along the Panorama Trail to Little Yosemite Valley. It is the cheat code for Half Dome backpackers: the trailhead is Half Dome eligible, every person on the permit is eligible to walk up, and you get to Little Yosemite Valley without the Mist Trail grind.
The feeling
You leave a parking lot with a view of Half Dome's whole face and start walking toward it. Illilouette Fall comes at 3.6 miles, then Nevada Fall from above, then the trail lets you down into the pines at Little Yosemite Valley with your legs still working.
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley hike highlights
- A daily quota of 10 people: 6 by lottery 24 weeks out, 4 released one week out
- A required first night at the Little Yosemite Valley backpackers campground
- Bear boxes and composting toilets at the LYV campground
- Half Dome available for every person on the permit, at $10 per person
- A vault toilet at the trailhead, with drinking water available in summer per the NPS trailhead table
- Glacier Point Road closed in winter, typically opening in mid May
How hard the Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required3/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5
Best for: Parties who want Half Dome from a basecamp rather than a single brutal day, and who can arrange a car at each end.
Recommended experience: A previous overnight, plus a real head for heights if Half Dome is the goal.
Not recommended for: Anyone hiking the John Muir Trail out of Yosemite, and anyone who wants to camp somewhere other than Little Yosemite Valley on night one.
When to hike Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley
Best time to visit
The window is May 16 to October 14 in 2026, and it opens only when Glacier Point Road does. Late June through August is prime for a Half Dome trip with the cables up. September gives cooler climbing and a quieter campground.
- Peak
- July and August
- Shoulder
- Late May and late September
Summer
Warm and dry, with afternoon storms. Glacier Point Road open, cables up.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Half Dome available on the permit for everyone in the party
- Advantage: Easy downhill approach to LYV
- Advantage: Long days for a Half Dome push and back
- Challenge: Busiest campground in the Yosemite Wilderness
- Challenge: Storms make the cables dangerous
- Challenge: Only 10 permits a day
Fall
Cool and dry. Reservations run to October 14, and overnight parking on Glacier Point Road ends October 15.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Cooler weather for the Half Dome climb
- Advantage: Quieter campground
- Advantage: Realistic first-come, first-served availability
- Challenge: Cables come down at the end of the season
- Challenge: Cold nights at LYV
- 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 Little Yosemite Valley photography guide
Golden Hour
Sunset from Glacier Point itself before you start walking, with Half Dome lit from the west.
Best Light
Morning on the Panorama Trail, when Nevada Fall is backlit and Liberty Cap has edge light.
Beat the Crowds
Walk the Panorama Trail in the late afternoon, after the Glacier Point tour crowd has gone and before the day hikers coming up from the Valley reach you.
Classic Shots
- Half Dome's full face from the Glacier Point trailhead
- Illilouette Fall from the bridge at 3.6 miles
- Nevada Fall and Liberty Cap seen from above on the Panorama traverse
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- An allowed bear-resistant food canister: NPS says bears have obtained food from backpackers in this area
- Water treatment for the Merced
- A headlamp, since Half Dome days from LYV start before light
- Gloves for the Half Dome cables if you are going up
Rules & regulations
- 01You must spend your first night at the established backpacker sites in Little Yosemite Valley
- 02No dispersed camping in the Little Yosemite Valley area
- 03Fires are permitted only in the established communal fire rings
- 04This trailhead is not eligible to exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail, and Donohue Pass is not available
- 05Maximum group size is 15 people, or 8 for cross-country hiking more than a quarter mile off trail
- 06Allowed bear-resistant food canisters are required throughout Yosemite Wilderness
- 07If Glacier Point Road is closed on your date the permit is not valid and there is no refund
Hazards & considerations
- Bears at Little Yosemite Valley, which is one of the most bear-pressured campgrounds in the park
- The Half Dome cables, which are a serious undertaking in wet weather
- Afternoon storms on the exposed Panorama traverse
- A one-way trip that leaves you 7.6 miles below your car if you walk out to the Valley
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley FAQ
Can I hike Half Dome with a Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley permit?
Yes. NPS lists this trailhead as Half Dome eligible and says all members of the permit are eligible to walk up Half Dome. There is an additional $10 per person due when the permit is issued.
How many people per day get a Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley permit?
NPS sets the quota at 10 people per day: 6 by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 4 first-come, first-served one week in advance.
Where do I camp on the first night with a Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley permit?
At the established backpacker sites in Little Yosemite Valley. NPS prohibits dispersed camping in the LYV area, and no additional reservation is needed for the campground.
What happens if Glacier Point Road is closed on my permit date?
NPS states that if the road is closed your permit is not valid and there is no refund. The road is closed in winter and typically opens in mid May, though it can open earlier or later depending on snowpack.
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley trail conditions and trip reports
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley permit
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley
The same campground, reached by climbing the Mist or John Muir Trail out of Yosemite Valley.
Tradeoffs
A larger quota at 25 people a day, also Half Dome eligible, but you climb about 2,000 feet on day one.
- Same AreaPermit required
Glacier Point to Illilouette
Same trailhead, but camping in the Illilouette basin instead of Little Yosemite Valley.
Tradeoffs
A much bigger quota at 30 people a day and real solitude, but no Half Dome.
- Same AreaPermit required
Pohono Trail (Glacier Point)
Heads west along the Valley's south rim from Glacier Point toward Taft Point and Dewey Point.
Tradeoffs
Rim views the whole way with far fewer people, but no waterfalls and no Half Dome.
Where to stay near Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley
- Yosemite Creek CampgroundYosemite National Park
- Porcupine Flat CampgroundYosemite National Park
- White Wolf CampgroundYosemite National Park
- All California campgrounds
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