Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass)
Yosemite National Park · California
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
Get an alert when Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) 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 Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) were gone within 10 minutes.
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) 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, 2026Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass)
Source: National Park Service, Yosemite wilderness permit reservation window, 2026 table, and the wilderness permit FAQ. Times are Pacific.
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) 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: Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) | 6 | 4 | Flush | Park at wilderness center or Dog Lake parking. Not eligible to exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail.
- daily quota
- 10people
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) permit
As of September 2026, Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) 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.
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) pro tips
- This is the easiest Yosemite high-country permit to walk, not to get: only 10 people a day start here
- The four-and-a-half-mile camping line is measured up the canyon, so plan your first night past Ireland Creek
- Set an alert for the seven-day release: 4 of the 10 spots never touch the lottery
- If your trip is the JMT, do not book this permit by mistake. You want Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass Eligible)
- Pitch on the benches above the meadow rather than the canyon floor if you want a warmer night
More on Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass): Live availability activityWhen Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) permits open up
How much a Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) permit costs
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) 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 Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 1-3 nights
- Difficulty
- Easy
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) landmarks
- 1Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center
Permit pickup and parking. The trailhead itself is near the Tuolumne Lodge lot.
- 2Ireland Creek trail junction
NPS mileage. The western branch toward Ireland Lake and Tuolumne Pass splits here.
- 3Ireland Lake
High lake under the Kuna Crest, reached on the western branch.
- 4Donohue Pass
The head of the canyon. Not authorized on this permit: it needs a Donohue Pass eligible trailhead.
The flattest walk in the Yosemite high country, up the Lyell Fork through miles of open meadow, and the version of the permit that does not let you leave the park.
About this permit
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) is a Tuolumne Meadows wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park. The permit reserves your entry point and start date, and NPS restricts it to travel that stays inside the park.
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. That is one of the smaller Tuolumne quotas, which is why the canyon stays quiet despite how easy the walking is.
Two restrictions define the permit. You must travel at least four and one-half miles out Lyell Canyon before camping, and you may not exit Yosemite on the John Muir Trail. NPS also notes this trailhead is not Half Dome eligible. Reservations for the Tuolumne area run June 18 to October 14, 2026.
The route
The trailhead starts near the Tuolumne Lodge parking area, and NPS asks you to park at the wilderness center or the Dog Lake lot. The trail crosses the Lyell Fork and turns south into the canyon.
Camping is the constraint. NPS requires you to travel at least four and one-half miles out Lyell Canyon before camping, so the meadows you walk past first are off limits. Beyond that, NPS mileages put the Ireland Creek trail junction at 5.2 miles, Ireland Lake at 11.4 and Vogelsang High Sierra Camp at 12.3 by the western branch.
The one thing you cannot do is keep going south. Donohue Pass is 12.1 miles up the canyon, and this permit does not authorize crossing it. If the John Muir Trail is the plan, the Donohue Pass eligible version of the Lyell Canyon permit is the one to chase.
Why it matters
Lyell Canyon is the gentlest introduction to backpacking at 8,600 feet anywhere in Yosemite. NPS describes the trail as meandering through Lyell Canyon along the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River toward Donohue Pass to the south and to Ireland Lake and Tuolumne Pass to the west. This is the no-Donohue version: NPS states plainly that hiking over Donohue Pass and hiking the John Muir Trail is not available for this trailhead.
The feeling
You walk beside a river that barely moves, through meadow after meadow, with Mammoth Peak and the Kuna Crest standing off to the east. There is almost no climbing for the first six miles. It is the rare Sierra trip where you can talk the whole way.
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) hike highlights
- A daily quota of 10 people: 6 by lottery 24 weeks out, 4 released one week out
- Flush toilets at the trailhead per the NPS trailhead table
- Nearly flat walking for the first several miles at about 8,600 feet
- No John Muir Trail exit and no Donohue Pass on this permit
- Tioga Road closed in winter, typically opening in late May
How hard the Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required2/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential1/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route2/5
Best for: First-time backpackers, families with teenagers, and anyone acclimatizing before a harder Sierra trip.
Recommended experience: None beyond carrying a pack for five miles. The altitude is the only real demand.
Not recommended for: Anyone planning to hike the John Muir Trail south out of Yosemite, which this permit does not allow.
When to hike Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass)
Best time to visit
The reservation window is June 18 to October 14 in 2026. Mosquitoes thin out by late July. September is the sweet spot for this canyon: cold nights, gold meadows, and quota that often goes unclaimed.
- Peak
- July and August
- Shoulder
- Late June and late September
Summer
Open meadow walking, high water early, thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Warmest nights of the year in a canyon that runs cold
- Advantage: Whole route open including the Ireland Lake branch
- Advantage: Easiest possible first backpacking trip at altitude
- Challenge: Peak mosquito season in early summer
- Challenge: Exposed meadow with nowhere to shelter from storms
- Challenge: Competition for a 10-person quota
Fall
Cold, dry and quiet. Reservations run to October 14 and Tioga Road overnight parking closes October 15.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Quota frequently unclaimed late in the window
- Advantage: No mosquitoes
- Advantage: Gold meadow grass along the whole canyon
- Challenge: Hard overnight freezes in the canyon bottom
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Early storms can close Tioga Road
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Day 4: Extreme heat (100°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 5: Extreme heat (103°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 6: Extreme heat (104°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
Today
88°
67°
Wed
76°
65°
Thu
93°
66°
Fri
100°
69°
Sat
103°
76°
Sun
104°
81°
Mon
102°
80°
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) photography guide
Golden Hour
First light on Mammoth Peak from the meadows around mile 5, with mist coming off the Lyell Fork.
Best Light
Evening, when the low sun runs down the length of the canyon and lights the grass.
Beat the Crowds
Most parties stop within a mile of the four-and-a-half-mile line. Keep going another two miles and you will have the canyon to yourself.
Classic Shots
- The Lyell Fork's slow bends with the Kuna Crest behind
- Open meadow foreground with Potter Point above
- Ireland Lake under the Kuna Crest on the western branch
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- An allowed bear-resistant food canister: NPS says bears have been successful at obtaining food from backpackers in this area
- Water treatment for the Lyell Fork
- A warm sleeping bag, since cold air pools in the canyon at night
- Head net or repellent in early season, when the meadows hold mosquitoes
Rules & regulations
- 01Travel at least four and one-half miles out Lyell Canyon before camping
- 02Hiking over Donohue Pass and hiking the John Muir Trail is not available for this trailhead
- 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
- 05Fires are prohibited above 9,600 feet
- 06Along the Tuolumne watershed, do all washing and waste disposal 300 feet from water
- 07Half Dome is not available with this trailhead
Hazards & considerations
- Bears working the Lyell Canyon corridor and the Tuolumne trailhead parking
- Afternoon thunderstorms over the open meadows with little shelter
- Cold sinks into the canyon bottom overnight even in July
- High water in the Lyell Fork during early-season runoff
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass).
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) FAQ
Can I hike the John Muir Trail on a Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) permit?
No. NPS states that hiking over Donohue Pass and hiking the John Muir Trail is not available for this trailhead. You need one of the Donohue Pass eligible trailheads instead.
How many people per day get a Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) 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.
How far do I have to walk before camping in Lyell Canyon?
At least four and one-half miles out Lyell Canyon, per the permit conditions. The meadows nearest Tuolumne Meadows are closed to camping.
Do I need a bear canister for a Lyell Canyon backpacking permit?
Yes. Allowed bear-resistant food canisters are required for food storage in all areas of Yosemite Wilderness, and hanging or counterbalancing is not legal.
Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Alternatives to a Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass) permit
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass Eligible)
The same canyon, on the permit that authorizes crossing Donohue Pass and continuing on the John Muir Trail.
Tradeoffs
Far harder to get, because it is the main Tuolumne entry to the JMT.
- Same AreaPermit required
Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang
Starts from the same wilderness center and climbs to Tuolumne Pass and the Vogelsang basin.
Tradeoffs
Twenty people a day instead of 10, and Half Dome eligible, but a real climb instead of flat meadow.
- Same AreaPermit required
Mono/Parker Pass
Climbs east out of Tuolumne through alpine meadows toward Mono and Parker Passes.
Tradeoffs
Higher and more exposed, and NPS requires you to cross into the Ansel Adams Wilderness before camping.
Where to stay near Lyell Canyon (no Donohue Pass)
- Leo Carrillo Sp Canyon Campground (sites 1-24, 78-133)Leo Carrillo SP
- Leo Carrillo Sp Canyon Campground (sites 25-77, 134-139)Leo Carrillo SP
- Circle X Ranch Group CampgroundSanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
- All California campgrounds
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