Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Ten Lakes
Yosemite National Park · California
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Ten Lakes trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
Get an alert when Ten Lakes 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 Ten Lakes were gone within 10 minutes.
Ten Lakes 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, 2026Ten Lakes
Source: National Park Service, Yosemite wilderness permit reservation window, 2026 table, and the wilderness permit FAQ. Times are Pacific.
Ten Lakes daily quota
40 people a day. 24 by lottery, 16 seven days out.
Counted in people, not permits
Lottery, 24 weeks out
60% of the day
24
7 days out, 7 am PDT
40% of the day
16
NPS trailheads table: Ten Lakes | 24 | 16 | Vault
- daily quota
- 40people
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Ten Lakes permit
As of September 2026, Ten Lakes in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Ten Lakes is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Ten Lakes permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Ten Lakes 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.
Ten Lakes pro tips
- This is the Tioga Road permit to chase when everything else is gone: 40 people a day is the biggest quota out there
- Sixteen of those 40 are released seven days out, so a late plan is realistic
- Carry water from the road, since there is nothing reliable until Half Moon Meadow
- Camp in the Ten Lakes basin rather than Grant Lakes if you want quiet
- Check the Tioga Road opening date before booking anything in June
More on Ten Lakes: Live availability activityWhen Ten Lakes permits open up
How much a Ten Lakes permit costs
Ten Lakes 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 Ten Lakes hike
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 1-3 nights
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Ten Lakes landmarks
- 1Half Moon Meadow
NPS mileage. The meadow before the ridge climb.
- 2Grant Lakes
The nearer lake pair, a common first night.
- 3Ten Lakes basin
The main basin, on the rim above the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
- 4May Lake
For parties continuing east toward the Tioga Road high country.
The biggest daily quota of any Tioga Road trailhead, leading to a basin of ten lakes on the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
About this permit
Ten Lakes is a Tioga Road wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park, climbing north from the road to Grant Lakes and the Ten Lakes basin.
NPS sets the daily quota at 40 people: 24 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 16 released first-come, first-served one week in advance. That is the largest quota of any trailhead on the western Tioga Road, which makes it the reliable answer when Tuolumne and the Valley are gone.
NPS notes Half Dome is not available with this trailhead, and the Tioga Road area's reservation window runs June 18 to October 14, 2026. The trail is first-come, first-served outside that window, but the road has to be open.
The route
From the Tioga Road the trail climbs through forest to Half Moon Meadow, which NPS puts at 3.6 miles. Grant Lakes are at 5.9 miles and the Ten Lakes basin at 6.2.
The ridge between the meadow and the basin is the view: the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne falls away north and the park's remote country runs to the horizon. Beyond the basin the trail keeps going, with May Lake at 20.3 miles and Glen Aulin at 21.6 for parties linking a longer route.
Camping rules are simple but firm. You must be at least one air mile from any road before making camp, and fires are not allowed above 9,600 feet and are permitted only in existing fire rings below that.
Why it matters
NPS calls this the most direct route to Grant Lakes and the Ten Lakes basin, passing through Half Moon Meadow and climbing a ridge with rewarding views of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River and Yosemite's north country. At 40 people a day it is the most obtainable serious backpacking permit on the Tioga Road.
The feeling
The climb is steady rather than brutal, through forest and then meadow, and the payoff comes at the ridge where the whole north country opens at once. The lakes below sit in a shelf of granite with almost no one at them by mid-week.
Ten Lakes hike highlights
- A daily quota of 40 people: 24 by lottery 24 weeks out, 16 released one week out
- Vault toilets at the trailhead per the NPS trailhead table
- Half Moon Meadow at 3.6 miles and the Ten Lakes basin at 6.2, per NPS mileages
- A ridge crossing with views into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne
- Tioga Road closed in winter, typically opening in late May
How hard the Ten Lakes 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: Backpackers who want a real Yosemite high-country basin on a permit they can actually get.
Recommended experience: Comfort with a 6-mile day carrying a pack and a night above 9,000 feet.
Not recommended for: Anyone wanting Half Dome, which this trailhead does not include.
When to hike Ten Lakes
Best time to visit
Reservations run June 18 to October 14 in 2026. July and August are the reliable months. Late September gives cold nights, gold meadows and easy walk-up permits before the road closes.
- Peak
- July and August
- Shoulder
- Late June and late September
Summer
Snow off the ridge by early July most years, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Largest quota on the Tioga Road, so permits are gettable
- Advantage: Whole basin open
- Advantage: Long days for the 6-mile approach
- Challenge: Mosquitoes in Half Moon Meadow in early summer
- Challenge: Exposed ridge in storms
- Challenge: Bear pressure at the lakes
Fall
Cold and dry, with reservations to October 14 and no overnight Tioga parking after October 15.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Empty basin
- Advantage: No bugs
- Advantage: Walk-up permits are realistic
- Challenge: Hard freezes at the lakes
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Early snow can close Tioga Road
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°
Ten Lakes photography guide
Golden Hour
Evening from the ridge above the basin, looking north into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.
Best Light
Early morning at the lakes, before wind puts a chop on the water.
Beat the Crowds
Grant Lakes takes most of the traffic. Walk another mile into the Ten Lakes basin proper.
Classic Shots
- Half Moon Meadow with the ridge behind
- The Ten Lakes basin from the ridge crest
- Grant Lakes under the Tuolumne Peak ridgeline
Ten Lakes rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- An allowed bear-resistant food canister: NPS says bears are active in this area
- Water treatment
- A stove for camps above 9,600 feet
- Warm layers for a basin that sits high and open
Rules & regulations
- 01You must be at least one air mile from any road before making camp
- 02Fires are not allowed above 9,600 feet, and below that only in existing 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
- 07If Tioga Road is closed on your date the permit is not valid and there is no refund
Hazards & considerations
- Bears working the Ten Lakes basin, which sees consistent backpacker traffic
- Afternoon thunderstorms on the exposed ridge between the meadow and the basin
- Snow on the ridge into early summer
- A trailhead with no water, so you carry from the road to Half Moon Meadow
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Ten Lakes.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Ten Lakes · 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.
Ten Lakes FAQ
How many people per day get a Ten Lakes wilderness permit?
NPS sets the quota at 40 people per day: 24 by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 16 first-come, first-served one week in advance. It is the largest quota of any Tioga Road trailhead.
How far is the Ten Lakes basin from the trailhead?
NPS puts Half Moon Meadow at 3.6 miles, Grant Lakes at 5.9 and the Ten Lakes basin at 6.2 miles.
Can I hike Half Dome on a Ten Lakes permit?
No. NPS states Half Dome is not available with this trailhead. A separate day-use Half Dome permit is required.
Where can I camp on the Ten Lakes trail?
You must be at least one air mile from any road before making camp. Fires are not allowed above 9,600 feet and are permitted only in existing rings below that.
Ten Lakes 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 Ten Lakes.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Ten Lakes permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Yosemite Creek
The neighbouring Tioga Road trailhead heading south along Yosemite Creek to the Valley rim.
Tradeoffs
Quieter and a very different objective, with the top of Yosemite Falls at 6 miles.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
May Lake
A short walk to a lake under Mount Hoffmann off the Tioga Road.
Tradeoffs
Far less mileage, but a single lake instead of a basin.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Glen Aulin
The Tuolumne River route down to the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp and the waterfalls below it.
Tradeoffs
Bigger water and a required first night at the camp.
Where to stay near Ten Lakes
- Yosemite Creek CampgroundYosemite National Park
- Porcupine Flat CampgroundYosemite National Park
- White Wolf CampgroundYosemite National Park
- All California campgrounds
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