Trailhead Information

2022 Glacier Point Road Closure

Glacier Point Road will be closed to all traffic in 2022 to rehabilitate and improve the road. The only access to Glacier Point will be via the Four Mile, Panorama, and Pohono Trails, all of which are strenuous hikes. Trailhead quotas below reflect temporary changes as a result of the unavailability of Glacier Point Road trailheads.

 

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This is a list of trailhead names for wilderness permit purposes. (A map showing each trailhead is also available [1.5 MB PDF].) The total quota for each trailhead is the sum of the reservable and first-come, first-served quotas. (The quota refers to number of people, not number of permits.)

Trailhead restrooms with flush toilets have drinking water available; those with vault toilets do not. All trailheads have food lockers available, except when noted otherwise.

Limited public transportation is available to some trailheads, especially during summer.

Please note that Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road trailheads have no vehicle access when these roads are closed, typically from around November to May or early June. Additionally, overnight parking is not allowed on the Tioga and Glacier Point Roads beginning October 15; this includes parking lots accessible from these roads.

Tioga Road (west of Olmsted Point)

Big Oak Flat Information Station

View trail descriptions and mileages for this area.
Reservations available May 28–October 14, 2022; first-come, first-served at other times.

Trailhead	Quota (reservable)	Quota (first-come, first-served)	Toilets	Notes
May Lake	15	10	Vault
May Lake to Snow Creek	6	4	Vault
Porcupine Creek	12	8	Vault
Yosemite Creek Campground	15	10	Vault
Ten Lakes	24	16	Vault
Luken to Lukens Lake	6	4	No
Lukens Lake to Yosemite Creek	6	4	No
White Wolf to Aspen Valley	15	10	Flush (in campground, when open)
White Wolf to Pate Valley	18	12	Flush (in campground, when open)
White Wolf to Smith Meadow (including Harden Lake)	15	10	Flush (in campground, when open)
White Wolf Campground	6	4	Flush (in campground, when open)
Tamarack Creek	15	10	Vault (in campground, when open)
South Fork Tuolumne River	15	10	No

Tuolumne Meadows

Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center

View trail descriptions and mileages for this area.
Reservations available May 28–October 14, 2022; first-come, first-served at other times.

Trailhead	Quota (reservable)	Quota (first-come, first-served)	Toilet	Notes
Sunrise Lakes	9	6	Vault
Murphy Creek	9	6	Vault
Cathedral Lakes	15	10	No
Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang	12	8	Flush	Park at wilderness center or Dog Lake parking
Lyell Canyon	6	4	Flush	Park at wilderness center or Dog Lake parking
Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass Eligible)	18	12	Flush	Park at wilderness center or Dog Lake parking
Young Lakes via Dog Lake	12	8	Vault
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail	6	4	Vault	Park at Lembert Dome parking
Mono/Parker Pass	9	6	Vault
Glen Aulin	15	10	Vault	Park at Lembert Dome parking
Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel (pass-through)	12	8	Vault	Park at Lembert Dome parking

Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center

View trail descriptions and mileages for this area.
Reservations available April 29–October 23, 2022; first-come, first-served at other times.

Trailhead	Quota (reservable)	Quota (first-come, first-served)	Toilet	Notes
Happy Isles to Illilouette	18	12	Flush	Park at trailhead parking lot* (Normal quota: 3/2)
Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley (LYV)	27	18	Flush	Park at trailhead parking lot* (Normal quota: 18/12)
Happy Isles to past Past LYV (Donohue Pass Eligible)	9	6	Flush	Park at trailhead parking lot*
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley (LYV) trailhead only accessible via Four Mile Trail in 2022	0	0	Vault (Drinking water available in summer)	(Normal quota: 6/4)
Mirror Lake to Snow Creek	15	10	Vault	Park at trailhead parking lot*
Yosemite Falls	15	10	Flush (in Camp 4)	Park at trailhead parking lot*
Pohono Trail (Wawona Tunnel or Bridalveil Fall parking)	12	8	(Flush toilets will be available at Bridalveil Fall starting in fall 2022)	(Normal quota: 6/4)
Old Big Oak Flat Road	6	4	No

*Trailhead parking is just beyond Curry Village (and about a half-mile from Happy Isles). Use the free Yosemite Valley shuttle bus to get to trailheads. Parking is not available at Happy Isles, Mirror Lake, or Yosemite Falls trailheads.

Wawona and Glacier Point Road

Wawona Visitor Center

View trail descriptions and mileages for this area.
Reservations available May 28–October 14, 2022; first-come, first-served at other times (Glacier Point Road reservations not available in 2022 due to road closure).

Trailhead	Quota (reservable)	Quota (first-come, first-served)	Toilet	Notes
Chilnualna Falls	24	16	Vault
Alder Creek	18	12	No
Deer Camp	15	10	No
Westfall Meadow trailhead not accessible in 2022	0	0	No	Use food lockers at McGurk Meadow (Normal quota 9/6)
Bridalveil Creek Campground trailhead not accessible in 2022	0	0	Flush (when campground is open)	(Normal quota: 15/10)
McGurk Meadow trailhead not accessible in 2022	0	0	No	(Normal quota: 9/6)
Ostrander (Lost Bear Meadow) trailhead not accessible in 2022	0	0	Vault	(Normal quota: 15/10)
Mono Meadow trailhead not acccessible in 2022	0	0	No	(Normal quota: 12/8)
Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) trailhead accessible only via Four Mile Trail in 2022	0	0	Vault (Drinking water available in summer)	(Normal quota: 9/6)
Pohono Trail (Taft Point) trailhead not accessible in 2022	0	0	Vault	(Normal quota: 6/4)
Glacier Point to Illilouette trailhead accessible only via Four Mile Trail in 2022	0	0	Vault (Drinking water available in summer)	(Normal quota: 15/10)

Badger Pass Ranger Station

Winter Only

The Badger Pass Road is typically open from mid-December through March, conditions permitting. These winter trails are not hiking trails. They are intended for use with skis or snowshoes.

Trailhead	Quota (reservable)	Quota (first-come, first-served)	Toilet	Notes
Merced Crest	0	25	Flush (when ski area is open)	Winter travel only
Horizon Ridge	0	25	Flush (when ski area is open)	Winter travel only
Dewey Ridge (#14)	0	10	Flush (when ski area is open)	Winter travel only
Dewey Meadow (#18)	0	25	Flush (when ski area is open)	Winter travel only
Pohono Trail (Taft Point)	0	10	Flush (when ski area is open)	Winter travel only
Bridalveil Creek	0	25	Flush (when ski area is open)	Winter travel only
Badger Pass	0	30	Flush (when ski area is open)	Winter travel only

Hetch Hetchy

Hetch Hetchy Entrance

View trail descriptions and mileages for this area.
Reservations available April 29–October 23, 2022; first-come, first-served at other times.

Trailhead	Quota (reservable)	Quota (first-come, first-served)	Toilet	Notes
Beehive Meadows	21	14	Flush
Rancheria Falls	21	14	Flush
Miguel Meadow	9	6	Flush
Poopenaut Valley	15	10	No
Mather Ranger Station	15	10	No
Smith Peak	9	6	No
Cottonwood Creek	12	8	No	No food lockers
Base Line Camp Road	15	10	No	No food lockers
Aspen Valley	6	4	No	No food lockers

Cross-County Trailheads

These trailheads mark the start of some cross-country routes. These do not lead to maintained or signed trails; travel on these routes requires expertise in cross-country navigation by map and compass (even if you have a GPS). These trailheads are not signed.
Reservations available May 28–October 14, 2022; first-come, first-served at other times.

Trailhead	Quota (reservable)	Quota (first-come, first-served)	Toilet	Notes
Budd Creek (cross-country only)	3	2	No	Issued at Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center.
Gaylor Creek/Lake (cross-country only)	3	0	Vault	Issued at Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center.
Nelson Lake (cross-country only)	9	6	Vault	Issued at Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center. Park at Lembert Dome parking.
Rockslides (cross-country only)	6	4	No	Issued at Yosemite Valley Valley Wilderness Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can't find your trailhead?

First, look on a map of where you are planning to go and go over the list again. If you still haven't found your trailhead name, the following information should help you.

What trail do I use to camp overnight while hiking Half Dome?

The following trailheads allow (and require) you to stay at the Little Yosemite Valley Campground on the first night of your trip:

• From Yosemite Valley: Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley
• From Glacier Point: Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley

If you have a permit for one of these two trailheads, you must spend your first night at Little Yosemite Valley Campground (no additional reservation or permit required).

A number of trails from Tuolumne Meadows also provide indirect access to Little Yosemite Valley (20- to 40-mile hike). If you have a permit for one of these trailheads, you can spend the second night of your backpacking trip at Little Yosemite Valley Campground (no additional reservation or permit required).

What is the difference between the three Happy Isles trailheads?

As that starting point is the most popular in the park, the quota is divided into three categories according to where you want to camp.

• To camp in the Illilouette basin: Happy Isles to Illilouette
• To camp at Little Yosemite Valley: Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley
• For long-distance hikers, to pass through the Little Yosemite Valley/Half Dome area and camp beyond that, in the direction of either Merced Lake or Sunrise High Sierra Camp: Happy Isles to Sunrise/Merced Lake (pass through)

Why isn't the John Muir Trail listed?

The John Muir Trail (exiting Yosemite over Donohue Pass and continuing toward Mount Whitney) can only be directly accessed via these trailheads:

• From Yosemite Valley: Happy Isles to Past LYV (Donohue Pass Eligible)
• From Tuolumne Meadows: Lyell Canyon (Donohue Pass Eligible)

Why isn't the Panorama Trail listed?

Camping is not allowed on the Panorama Trail or near Illilouette Fall. You may hike along the trail and camp at another destination beyond.

• To camp at Little Yosemite Valley: Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley
• To camp in the Illilouette basin or beyond: Glacier Point to Illilouette or Happy Isles to Illilouette

Why isn't the Tenaya Lake trailhead listed?

There are two trails that leave from Tenaya Lake, one that leads to the north and one to the south.

• To hike north to Murphy Creek and Poly Dome Lakes: Murphy Creek
• To hike south to Clouds Rest, Sunrise Lakes, or Sunrise High Sierra Camp: Sunrise

What is the difference between the two Glen Aulin trailheads?

• To camp your first night in the Glen Aulin backpackers' camp: Glen Aulin Trail

• To pass through Glen Aulin and camp (on your first night) somewhere in the direction of Waterwheel Falls or Cold Canyon: Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel (pass through)

What's the difference between the Yosemite Creek and Ten Lakes trailheads?

The Ten Lakes trailhead is for all destinations northbound on the trail along Yosemite Creek.

The Yosemite Creek Campground trailhead is for all destinations southbound on the trail along Yosemite Creek.

What is the difference between the four White Wolf trailheads?

• To camp in Pate Valley or in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne: White Wolf to Pate Valley

• To camp along the trail to Ten Lakes or Double Rock: White Wolf Campground
• To camp along the trail to Smith Peak or at Harden Lake: White Wolf to Smith Meadow (including Harden Lake)
• To camp along the trail to Aspen Valley: White Wolf to Aspen Valley

Why is the Hetch Hetchy or O'Shaughnessy Dam trail not listed?

There are three trails that originate at O'Shaughnessy Dam.

• To camp near Rancheria Falls or Tiltill Valley: Rancheria Falls
• To camp near Beehive Meadows, Laurel Lake, or Lake Vernon: Beehive Meadows
• To camp near Miguel Meadows: Miguel Meadows

Why aren't the Twin Lakes, Virginia Lakes, Chiquito Pass, Quartz Mountain, Lake Eleanor, Cherry Lake, or Saddlebag Lake trailheads listed?

All these trailheads are outside the park. Even though the majority of your trip will be within Yosemite National Park, get your permit from the land agency the trailhead is located in:

• Twin Lakes (Robinson Creek): Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
• Virginia Lakes: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
• Chiquito Pass: Sierra National Forest
• Quartz Mountain: Sierra National Forest
• Lake Eleanor: Stanislaus National Forest
• Cherry Lake: Stanislaus National Forest
• Saddlebag Lake: Inyo National Forest