Yosemite Wilderness Permit — Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail
Yosemite National Park · California
Wilderness permit for overnight camping starting from the Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail trailhead in Yosemite National Park.
Get an alert when Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail 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 Glen Aulin Trail were gone within 10 minutes.
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail 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 Glen Aulin Trail
Source: National Park Service, Yosemite wilderness permit reservation window, 2026 table, and the wilderness permit FAQ. Times are Pacific.
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail daily quota
10 people a day. 6 by lottery, 4 seven days out.
Counted in people, not permits
Lottery, 24 weeks out
60% of the day
6
7 days out, 7 am PDT
40% of the day
4
NPS trailheads table: Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail | 6 | 4 | Vault | Park at Lembert Dome parking
- daily quota
- 10people
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail permit
As of September 2026, Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail 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 Glen Aulin Trail pro tips
- If both Young Lakes permits are open, take this one for the quieter walk
- Park at Lembert Dome, not the wilderness center
- Walk out through Soda Springs in the early morning for the best light of the trip
- Four of the ten spots come out seven days ahead
- Carry a stove, since fires are banned at the lakes
More on Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail: Live availability activityWhen Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail permits open up
How much a Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail permit costs
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail 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 Glen Aulin Trail hike
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 1-2 nights
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail landmarks
- 1Soda Springs
Naturally carbonated spring in Tuolumne Meadows, passed on the way out.
- 2Glen Aulin trail junction
Where NPS says this route diverges north toward Young Lakes.
- 3Young Lakes
The basin under Ragged Peak. No campfires.
The quiet half of Young Lakes: same basin, ten permits a day, and a start that runs through Tuolumne Meadows and Soda Springs.
About this permit
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail is a Tuolumne Meadows wilderness trailhead in Yosemite National Park, reaching the Young Lakes basin by way of Soda Springs and the first stretch of the Glen Aulin trail.
NPS sets the daily quota at 10 people: 6 reservable by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 4 released first-come, first-served one week in advance. That is half the Dog Lake route's quota for the same destination.
NPS asks you to park at Lembert Dome and lists Half Dome as unavailable with this trailhead. Reservations for the Tuolumne area run June 18 to October 14, 2026.
The route
Park at Lembert Dome. The route crosses Tuolumne Meadows to Soda Springs and joins the Glen Aulin trail for its first 1.5 miles before turning north toward Ragged Peak.
NPS puts Young Lakes at 6.0 miles by the Glen Aulin route. The basin is the same one reached from Dog Lake, but this permit carries a quota of 10 people a day instead of 20, so the approach is far quieter.
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 washing and waste to be kept 300 feet from water throughout the watershed.
Why it matters
NPS describes hikers on this trail travelling through Tuolumne Meadows to Soda Springs and following the Glen Aulin trail for a short while before ascending through lodgepole forest toward Ragged Peak and Young Lakes. NPS is specific that it follows the first 1.5 miles of the Glen Aulin Trail before diverging northward.
The feeling
The first stretch is flat meadow with the Tuolumne beside you and Soda Springs bubbling out of the ground. Then the trail turns north and climbs into lodgepole, and the meadow noise falls away completely.
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail hike highlights
- A daily quota of 10 people: 6 by lottery 24 weeks out, 4 released one week out
- Parking at Lembert Dome, per NPS
- Vault toilets at the trailhead per the NPS trailhead table
- A flat meadow start past Soda Springs before the climb
- Young Lakes at 6.0 miles, per NPS mileages
How hard the Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail 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 the Young Lakes basin with a quieter walk in.
Recommended experience: Comfort with a 6-mile day at altitude carrying a pack.
Not recommended for: Parties of more than a few people, since only 10 permits a day are issued.
When to hike Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail
Best time to visit
Reservations run June 18 to October 14 in 2026. Mid-July through August is the reliable window, and September gives cold, empty nights at the lakes.
- Peak
- July and August
- Shoulder
- Late June and late September
Summer
Meadow and forest walking, storms most afternoons.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Quieter approach than the Dog Lake route
- Advantage: Soda Springs on the way out
- Advantage: Same basin, fewer people
- Challenge: Only 10 permits a day
- Challenge: Mosquitoes in the meadow in early summer
- Challenge: Exposed meadow crossing in storms
Fall
Cold and dry, reservations to October 14.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Empty basin
- Advantage: No bugs
- Advantage: Realistic walk-up availability
- Challenge: Hard freezes
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Early Tioga Road closures
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 Glen Aulin Trail photography guide
Golden Hour
Last light on Ragged Peak from the lower Young Lake.
Best Light
Early morning across Tuolumne Meadows on the walk out, when mist sits on the river.
Beat the Crowds
This route is already the quiet one. Push to the upper lakes and you will not see anyone.
Classic Shots
- Soda Springs and the Parsons Lodge meadow
- The lodgepole climb with Ragged Peak ahead
- Young Lakes in flat evening water
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- An allowed bear-resistant food canister
- A stove for a basin where fires are banned
- Warm layers for freezing nights at the lakes
- Water treatment
Rules & regulations
- 01Campfires are prohibited at Young Lakes and anywhere above 9,600 feet
- 02Along the Tuolumne watershed, do all washing and waste disposal 300 feet from water
- 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
- 05Half Dome is not available with this trailhead
- 06If Tioga Road is closed on your date the permit is not valid and there is no refund
Hazards & considerations
- Afternoon storms on the exposed meadow crossing
- Cold nights in the basin
- Snow in the basin into early July
- Bears in the Tuolumne parking areas
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail FAQ
How is Young Lakes via Glen Aulin different from Young Lakes via Dog Lake?
Same destination, different approach and quota. NPS says the Glen Aulin route follows the first 1.5 miles of the Glen Aulin Trail before diverging north, and it carries a quota of 10 people a day against 20 for the Dog Lake route.
Where do I park for the Young Lakes via Glen Aulin trailhead?
NPS asks Young Lakes via Glen Aulin permit holders to park at Lembert Dome.
Are campfires allowed at Young Lakes?
No. NPS prohibits campfires at Young Lakes and anywhere above 9,600 feet.
How many people per day get a Young Lakes via Glen Aulin permit?
NPS sets the quota at 10 people per day: 6 by lottery 24 weeks in advance and 4 first-come, first-served one week in advance.
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail trail conditions and trip reports
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail permit
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Young Lakes via Dog Lake
The other approach to the same basin, past Dog Lake.
Tradeoffs
Double the quota at 20 people a day, on a slightly more travelled trail.
- Same AreaPermit required
Glen Aulin
Stay on the Glen Aulin trail instead of turning north, down to the High Sierra Camp.
Tradeoffs
Waterfalls instead of lakes, with a required first night at the camp.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Ten Lakes
A Tioga Road trailhead to a basin of ten lakes with the park's largest quota.
Tradeoffs
Forty people a day makes it far easier to book, at a longer drive from Tuolumne.
Where to stay near Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail
- Yosemite Creek CampgroundYosemite National Park
- Porcupine Flat CampgroundYosemite National Park
- White Wolf CampgroundYosemite National Park
- All California campgrounds
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