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Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) permit area in Yosemite National Park - backcountry hiking destination
Each entry point carries its own quota

Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Pohono Trail (Glacier Point)

Yosemite National Park · California

Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) trailhead in Yosemite National Park.

Get an alert when Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) opens on your dates.

Get alerts for your Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) dates

A Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) permit is booked by the day you start. Tell us every date you'd go and we'll ping you the second one of them opens up.

Leave the second date blank if only one day works. A wider window catches more openings.

Party

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 Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) were gone within 10 minutes.

Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) reservation dates

We alert you to cancellations and the 7 am release. Your start day also sets your lottery week.

October 2026

1516171819202122232425262728293031
  • 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

  1. SUN 12:01 AM · OPENSSun, Apr 12, 2026Applications open
  2. SAT 11:59 PM · CLOSESSat, Apr 18Applications close
  3. MON BY 5 PMMon, Apr 20Results
  4. THU 11:59 PMThu, Apr 23Accept by
  5. FRI 9 AMFri, Apr 24Leftovers go first-come
  6. 23 WEEKSCancellations any day. We alert you.
  7. 7 DAYS OUT · 7 AM PDTWed, Sep 30, 2026The other 40% open
  8. LAST DAY TO RESERVESun, Oct 4Three days before you start
  9. YOU STARTWed, Oct 7, 2026Pohono Trail (Glacier Point)

Source: National Park Service, Yosemite wilderness permit reservation window, 2026 table, and the wilderness permit FAQ. Times are Pacific.

Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) 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: Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) | 9 | 6 | Vault (Drinking water available in summer)

max group size
15people

How to get a Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) permit

As of September 2026, Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) rates 6/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens.

Type
Overnight
Location
CA
  1. Step 1: Create a Recreation.gov account

    Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

  2. Step 2: Know the release schedule

    Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.

  3. Step 3: Be ready when permits drop

    Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

  4. 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 Pohono Trail (Glacier Point): Live availability activityWhen Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) permits open up

When to hike Pohono Trail (Glacier Point)

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°

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) rules, gear and safety

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Pohono Trail (Glacier Point).

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides

Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.

Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) FAQ

How do I get a Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) permit?

PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) permits use a reservation system.

When is the best time to visit Pohono Trail (Glacier Point)?

Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.

How competitive is the Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) permit?

This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.

What if I can't get a Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) 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.

Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) trail conditions and trip reports

Trail Conditions

No active conditions reported

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Questions

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Trip Reports

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Alternatives to a Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) permit

Where to stay near Pohono Trail (Glacier Point)

Plan the full trip, not just the permit

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