Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Glen Aulin
Yosemite National Park · California
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Glen Aulin trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
Get an alert when Glen Aulin 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 Glen Aulin were gone within 10 minutes.
Glen Aulin 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 Tuolumne Meadows reservation season (Jun 18 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, 2026Glen Aulin
Source: National Park Service, Yosemite wilderness permit reservation window, 2026 table, and the wilderness permit FAQ. Times are Pacific.
Glen Aulin daily quota
25 people a day. 15 by lottery, 10 seven days out.
Counted in people, not permits
Lottery, 24 weeks out
60% of the day
15
7 days out, 7 am PDT
40% of the day
10
NPS trailheads table: Glen Aulin | 15 | 10 | Vault | Park at Lembert Dome parking
- daily quota
- 25people
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Glen Aulin permit
As of September 2026, Glen Aulin in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Glen Aulin is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Glen Aulin permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Glen Aulin runs June 18 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.
Glen Aulin pro tips
- Park at Lembert Dome: NPS names it for this trailhead specifically
- It is downhill to camp and uphill home, so budget more time for the walk out than the walk in
- Do the waterfall day hike early: the slabs get hot and the light goes flat by late morning
- This is one of the larger Tuolumne quotas, so the seven-day release is a good shot
- If you want to sleep beyond Glen Aulin on night one, you need the pass-through permit, not this one
More on Glen Aulin: Live availability activityWhen Glen Aulin permits open up
How much a Glen Aulin permit costs
Glen Aulin 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 Glen Aulin hike
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 1-3 nights
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Glen Aulin landmarks
- 1Lembert Dome parking
Where NPS asks Glen Aulin permit holders to park.
- 2Twin Bridges
NPS mileage. River crossing on the way down.
- 3Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp
Required first night. Backpacker sites, communal fire rings, bear lockers.
- 4Waterwheel Falls
The far end of the classic day hike from camp, down the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
Five miles downstream to a camp at the top of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, then a day of doing nothing but walking to waterfalls.
About this permit
Glen Aulin is a Tuolumne Meadows wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park, following the Tuolumne River downstream to the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp.
NPS sets the daily quota at 25 people: 15 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 10 released first-come, first-served one week in advance. That is one of the larger Tuolumne quotas, which makes it a realistic target for a party that missed out elsewhere.
The permit carries a hard first-night rule. You must camp at the established backpacker sites at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp on your first night. NPS also notes Half Dome is not available with this trailhead, so a Half Dome day requires the separate day-use permit. Reservations for the Tuolumne area run June 18 to October 14, 2026.
The route
From the Lembert Dome parking area the trail follows the Tuolumne downstream over open slabs. NPS mileages put Twin Bridges at 4.0 miles and Glen Aulin at 5.3.
The permit is specific about the first night: you must camp at the established backpacker sites at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp. Fires are allowed only in the established communal fire rings there. If your plan is to push past Glen Aulin on night one, that is a different trailhead entirely, the Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel pass-through permit.
Once you are camped, the waterfalls are the point. NPS lists Waterwheel Falls at 8.2 miles from the trailhead, which makes it a straightforward day hike from camp and back.
Why it matters
NPS describes this trail as following the Tuolumne River to Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp, from where backpackers can day hike to the many waterfalls along the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River downstream. It is the classic basecamp trip in Tuolumne: one moderate walk in, then a string of cascades you can reach with a daypack.
The feeling
The river does the work here. It slides across acres of bare granite, drops over Tuolumne Falls, and then stacks up waterfall after waterfall below the camp. Glen Aulin sits in a pocket of forest at the bottom of the descent, and the sound never lets up.
Glen Aulin hike highlights
- A daily quota of 25 people: 15 by lottery 24 weeks out, 10 released one week out
- A required first night at the Glen Aulin backpacker sites
- Vault toilets at the trailhead per the NPS trailhead table
- Bear lockers and communal fire rings at the Glen Aulin camp
- Waterwheel Falls at 8.2 miles, reachable as a day hike from camp
How hard the Glen Aulin 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 clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route2/5
Best for: Parties who want one moderate walk in and then a basecamp with waterfalls in every direction.
Recommended experience: Comfort with a 5-mile day carrying a pack, and a night at 8,000 feet.
Not recommended for: Anyone who wants to camp somewhere other than Glen Aulin on night one, which this permit does not allow.
When to hike Glen Aulin
Best time to visit
Reservations run June 18 to October 14 in 2026. The falls are at their loudest in late June and July when the Tuolumne is still high. By September the river has dropped and the slabs are dry and easy walking.
- Peak
- July and August
- Shoulder
- Late June and late September
Summer
Big water early, dropping through August. Warm days on the open slabs.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Waterfalls at full volume in early summer
- Advantage: Whole Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne day-hike open
- Advantage: Largest quota of the Tuolumne trailheads at 25 people
- Challenge: Slick rock beside high water
- Challenge: Hot, shadeless slabs mid-day
- Challenge: Bear pressure at a camp everyone uses
Fall
Low water, cold nights, dry slabs. Reservations run to October 14.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Easy walking on dry granite
- Advantage: Quiet camp
- Advantage: Reliable first-come, first-served availability
- Challenge: Falls are much reduced
- Challenge: Freezing nights in the canyon
- Challenge: Tioga Road can close early in a bad storm
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°
Glen Aulin photography guide
Golden Hour
Evening light on the Tuolumne slabs above Tuolumne Falls, just upstream of the camp.
Best Light
Overcast or early morning at Waterwheel Falls, when the spray is not blown out by direct sun.
Beat the Crowds
The camp is busy by definition. Walk downstream past the falls in the early morning and you will be alone until mid-day.
Classic Shots
- The river sliding across bare granite between Tuolumne Meadows and Twin Bridges
- Tuolumne Falls from the trail above the camp
- Waterwheel Falls at high water in late June
Glen Aulin rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- An allowed bear-resistant food canister: NPS says bears are active and have obtained food from backpackers here
- Water treatment
- A daypack for the waterfall walk below camp
- Traction-friendly footwear for wet granite around the falls
Rules & regulations
- 01Camp at the established backpacker sites at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp on your first night
- 02Fires are permitted only in the established communal fire rings
- 03Maximum group size is 15 people, or 8 for cross-country hiking more than a quarter mile off trail
- 04Allowed bear-resistant food canisters are required throughout Yosemite Wilderness
- 05Along the Tuolumne watershed, do all washing and waste disposal 300 feet from water
- 06Half Dome is not available with this trailhead. It needs a separate day-use Half Dome permit
- 07If Tioga Road is closed on your date the permit is not valid and there is no refund
Hazards & considerations
- Wet, polished granite beside the cascades, which is where people slip
- Swift water in the Tuolumne through early summer runoff
- Active bears at the camp and in the Tuolumne parking areas
- A 5.3-mile descent to camp that has to be reclimbed on the way out
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Glen Aulin.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Glen Aulin · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Glen Aulin FAQ
Where do I have to camp on the first night with a Glen Aulin permit?
At the established backpacker sites at Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp. NPS makes this a permit condition. If you want to camp past Glen Aulin on night one, apply for the Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel pass-through trailhead instead.
How many people per day get a Glen Aulin wilderness permit?
NPS sets the quota at 25 people per day: 15 by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 10 first-come, first-served one week in advance.
Can I hike Half Dome on a Glen Aulin permit?
No. NPS states Half Dome is not available with this trailhead. You would need a separate day-use Half Dome permit.
How far is Waterwheel Falls from the Glen Aulin trailhead?
NPS lists Waterwheel Falls at 8.2 miles from the trailhead, with Glen Aulin at 5.3. That makes the falls a day hike of about six miles round trip from camp.
Glen Aulin trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Alternatives to a Glen Aulin permit
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel (pass through)
Same trail, but the permit that lets you keep walking past Glen Aulin on the first night.
Tradeoffs
Smaller quota at 20 people a day, and NPS bars you from camping at the Glen Aulin backpacker sites on night one.
- Same AreaPermit required
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail
Follows the first 1.5 miles of the Glen Aulin trail then turns north toward Ragged Peak and Young Lakes.
Tradeoffs
A quiet lake basin instead of waterfalls, on a much smaller quota of 10 people a day.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
May Lake
A short walk to a lake under Mount Hoffmann off the Tioga Road.
Tradeoffs
Far less mileage and no river, but an easy overnight when the Tuolumne quotas are gone.
Where to stay near Glen Aulin
- Yosemite Creek CampgroundYosemite National Park
- Porcupine Flat CampgroundYosemite National Park
- White Wolf CampgroundYosemite National Park
- All California campgrounds
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