Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Porcupine Creek
Yosemite National Park · California
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Porcupine Creek trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
Get an alert when Porcupine Creek 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 Porcupine Creek were gone within 10 minutes.
Porcupine Creek 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 Tioga Road trailheads west of Olmsted Point 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, 2026Porcupine Creek
Source: National Park Service, Yosemite wilderness permit reservation window, 2026 table, and the wilderness permit FAQ. Times are Pacific.
Porcupine Creek daily quota
20 people a day. 12 by lottery, 8 seven days out.
Counted in people, not permits
Lottery, 24 weeks out
60% of the day
12
7 days out, 7 am PDT
40% of the day
8
NPS trailheads table: Porcupine Creek | 12 | 8 | Vault
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Porcupine Creek permit
As of September 2026, Porcupine Creek in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Porcupine Creek rates 6/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Porcupine Creek 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 Porcupine Creek: Live availability activityWhen Porcupine Creek permits open up
When to hike Porcupine Creek
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°
Porcupine Creek rules, gear and safety
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Porcupine Creek.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Porcupine Creek · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Porcupine Creek FAQ
How do I get a Porcupine Creek permit?
PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Porcupine Creek cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Porcupine Creek permits use a reservation system.
When is the best time to visit Porcupine Creek?
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Porcupine Creek permit?
This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.
What if I can't get a Porcupine Creek 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.
Porcupine Creek 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 Porcupine Creek.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Porcupine Creek permit
Where to stay near Porcupine Creek
- 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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