Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Young Lakes via Dog Lake
Yosemite National Park · California
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Young Lakes via Dog Lake trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
Get an alert when Young Lakes via Dog Lake 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 Young Lakes via Dog Lake were gone within 10 minutes.
Young Lakes via Dog Lake 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, 2026Young Lakes via Dog Lake
Source: National Park Service, Yosemite wilderness permit reservation window, 2026 table, and the wilderness permit FAQ. Times are Pacific.
Young Lakes via Dog Lake 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: Young Lakes via Dog Lake | 12 | 8 | Vault
- daily quota
- 20people
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Young Lakes via Dog Lake permit
As of September 2026, Young Lakes via Dog Lake in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Young Lakes via Dog Lake is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Young Lakes via Dog Lake permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Young Lakes via Dog Lake 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.
Young Lakes via Dog Lake pro tips
- Six miles and a bed under Ragged Peak makes this the best single-night trip out of Tuolumne
- The four-mile camping line rules out anything before the lakes, so plan one push
- Carry a stove: fires are out at the lakes and above 9,600 feet
- Eight of the twenty spots are released seven days out
- Walk the extra half mile to the upper lakes for a camp with nobody in it
More on Young Lakes via Dog Lake: Live availability activityWhen Young Lakes via Dog Lake permits open up
How much a Young Lakes via Dog Lake permit costs
Young Lakes via Dog Lake 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 Young Lakes via Dog Lake hike
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 1-2 nights
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Young Lakes via Dog Lake landmarks
- 1Dog Lake
NPS mileage. No camping here.
- 2Young Lakes
Three lakes under Ragged Peak. No campfires.
Six miles to three lakes under Ragged Peak, with the whole Cathedral Range lined up behind you the entire way up.
About this permit
Young Lakes via Dog Lake is a Tuolumne Meadows wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park, climbing north past Dog Lake to the Young Lakes basin under Ragged Peak.
NPS sets the daily quota at 20 people: 12 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 8 released first-come, first-served one week in advance.
Camping cannot begin until four trail miles from Tuolumne Meadows, which puts the first night at or near the lakes. NPS lists Half Dome as unavailable with this trailhead. Reservations for the Tuolumne area run June 18 to October 14, 2026.
The route
The trail begins at the Lembert Dome and Dog Lake trail before continuing north to Young Lakes. NPS puts Dog Lake at 1.5 miles, where camping is not allowed, and Young Lake at 6.0.
Camping cannot start until you are four trail miles from Tuolumne Meadows, so the lakes themselves are the realistic first night. Campfires are prohibited at Young Lakes and anywhere above 9,600 feet.
NPS notes the Tuolumne River is a water source for San Francisco and asks for Leave No Trace camping to preserve water quality, with all washing and waste kept 300 feet from water throughout the watershed.
Why it matters
NPS describes hikers on this trail enjoying forests and high meadows with panoramic views of the Cathedral Range, ending at the picturesque Young Lakes. It is the classic short overnight out of Tuolumne, and at 20 people a day it is a good deal easier to land than Rafferty Creek or Cathedral Lakes.
The feeling
You climb steadily through lodgepole and open meadow, turning around every few minutes because the view behind is better than the view ahead. The lakes sit in a shelf under Ragged Peak with the Sierra crest to the east.
Young Lakes via Dog Lake hike highlights
- A daily quota of 20 people: 12 by lottery 24 weeks out, 8 released one week out
- Vault toilets at the trailhead per the NPS trailhead table
- Dog Lake at 1.5 miles and Young Lakes at 6.0, per NPS mileages
- A four-trail-mile camping restriction from Tuolumne Meadows
- Cathedral Range views for most of the climb
How hard the Young Lakes via Dog Lake 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: Parties who want one night in the Yosemite high country without a long approach.
Recommended experience: Comfort with a 6-mile day carrying a pack, at altitude.
Not recommended for: Anyone hoping to camp short of four trail miles, which is not allowed here.
When to hike Young Lakes via Dog Lake
Best time to visit
Reservations run June 18 to October 14 in 2026. Mid-July through August is the reliable window. September is quieter and colder, with the Cathedral Range at its sharpest.
- Peak
- July and August
- Shoulder
- Late June and late September
Summer
Meadow walking, wildflowers early, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Short enough for a first Yosemite overnight
- Advantage: Cathedral Range views the whole climb
- Advantage: A quota big enough to be gettable
- Challenge: Mosquitoes in the meadows in early summer
- Challenge: Storms over open ground
- Challenge: Cold nights at the lakes
Fall
Cold, clear and dry, with reservations to October 14.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Quiet basin
- Advantage: No bugs
- Advantage: Walk-up permits are realistic
- Challenge: Hard freezes
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Tioga Road can close early
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°
Young Lakes via Dog Lake photography guide
Golden Hour
Evening on Ragged Peak from the lakeshore, with the water still.
Best Light
Morning looking back south at the Cathedral Range from the open meadow section.
Beat the Crowds
Most traffic stops at Dog Lake. The upper two Young Lakes are almost always empty.
Classic Shots
- The Cathedral Range panorama from the climb
- Young Lakes under Ragged Peak
- Dog Lake in flat morning light
Young Lakes via Dog Lake rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- An allowed bear-resistant food canister
- A stove, since fires are out at the lakes and above 9,600 feet
- Warm layers for a basin that freezes most nights
- Water treatment
Rules & regulations
- 01You must travel at least 4 trail miles from Tuolumne Meadows in order to make camp
- 02Campfires are prohibited at Young Lakes and anywhere above 9,600 feet
- 03No camping at Dog Lake
- 04Along the Tuolumne watershed, do all washing and waste disposal 300 feet from water
- 05Maximum group size is 15 people, or 8 for cross-country hiking more than a quarter mile off trail
- 06Allowed bear-resistant food canisters are required throughout Yosemite Wilderness
- 07Half Dome is not available with this trailhead
Hazards & considerations
- Afternoon thunderstorms on open meadow with no shelter
- Cold nights at the lakes even in midsummer
- Snow lingering in the basin into early July
- Bears working the Tuolumne trailhead parking
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Young Lakes via Dog Lake.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Young Lakes via Dog Lake · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Young Lakes via Dog Lake FAQ
How far is Young Lakes from the Dog Lake trailhead?
NPS puts Young Lake at 6.0 miles, with Dog Lake at 1.5 miles along the way.
How many people per day get a Young Lakes via Dog Lake permit?
NPS sets the quota at 20 people per day: 12 by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 8 first-come, first-served one week in advance.
Where can I camp on the Young Lakes trail?
You must travel at least four trail miles from Tuolumne Meadows before making camp, and camping is not allowed at Dog Lake. Campfires are prohibited at Young Lakes and above 9,600 feet.
Can I hike Half Dome on a Young Lakes permit?
No. NPS states Half Dome is not available with this trailhead, so it would need a separate day-use permit.
Young Lakes via Dog Lake trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Young Lakes via Dog Lake permit
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail
The same lakes reached by following the first 1.5 miles of the Glen Aulin trail before turning north.
Tradeoffs
A quota of only 10 people a day, and parking at Lembert Dome instead.
- Same AreaPermit required
Glen Aulin
Downstream along the Tuolumne to the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp and its waterfalls.
Tradeoffs
A bigger quota at 25 people a day, with a required first night at the camp.
- Same AreaPermit required
Mono/Parker Pass
East out of Tuolumne through alpine meadows toward Mono and Parker Passes.
Tradeoffs
Higher and more exposed, and you must cross into the Ansel Adams Wilderness before camping.
Where to stay near Young Lakes via Dog Lake
- Yosemite Creek CampgroundYosemite National Park
- Porcupine Flat CampgroundYosemite National Park
- White Wolf CampgroundYosemite National Park
- All California campgrounds
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