Yosemite Wilderness Permit — McGurk Meadow
Yosemite National Park · California
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the McGurk Meadow trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
Get an alert when McGurk Meadow 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 McGurk Meadow were gone within 10 minutes.
McGurk Meadow 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, 2026McGurk Meadow
Source: National Park Service, Yosemite wilderness permit reservation window, 2026 table, and the wilderness permit FAQ. Times are Pacific.
McGurk Meadow daily quota
15 people a day. 9 by lottery, 6 seven days out.
Counted in people, not permits
Lottery, 24 weeks out
60% of the day
9
7 days out, 7 am PDT
40% of the day
6
NPS trailheads table: McGurk Meadow | 9 | 6 | No
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a McGurk Meadow permit
As of September 2026, McGurk Meadow in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. McGurk Meadow rates 5/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled McGurk Meadow permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- 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.
More on McGurk Meadow: Live availability activityWhen McGurk Meadow permits open up
When to hike McGurk Meadow
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°
McGurk Meadow rules, gear and safety
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for McGurk Meadow.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for McGurk Meadow · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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McGurk Meadow FAQ
How do I get a McGurk Meadow permit?
PermitSnag alerts you the moment a McGurk Meadow cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. McGurk Meadow permits use a reservation system.
When is the best time to visit McGurk Meadow?
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the McGurk Meadow permit?
This permit has a demand score of 5/10, making it moderately competitive.
What if I can't get a McGurk Meadow permit?
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
McGurk Meadow trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about McGurk Meadow.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a McGurk Meadow permit
Where to stay near McGurk Meadow
- Yosemite Creek CampgroundYosemite National Park
- Porcupine Flat CampgroundYosemite National Park
- White Wolf CampgroundYosemite National Park
- All California campgrounds
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
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