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.)
Many restrooms do not have potable water. 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 May Lake)
Big Oak Flat Information Station
View trail descriptions and mileages for this area [121 kb PDF]
|
Trailhead |
Quota |
Quota |
Restroom |
Notes |
|
May Lake |
15 |
10 |
Yes |
|
|
May Lake to Snow Creek |
6 |
4 |
No |
|
|
Porcupine Creek |
12 |
8 |
Yes |
|
|
Yosemite Creek Campground |
15 |
10 |
Yes (in campground) |
|
|
Ten Lakes |
24 |
16 |
No |
|
|
Luken to Lukens Lake |
6 |
4 |
No |
|
|
Lukens Lake to Yosemite Creek |
6 |
4 |
No |
|
|
White Wolf to Aspen Valley |
15 |
10 |
Yes (in campground) |
|
|
White Wolf to Smith Meadow |
15 |
10 |
Yes (in campground) |
|
|
White Wolf to Pate Valley |
18 |
12 |
Yes (in campground) |
|
|
White Wolf Campground |
6 |
4 |
Yes (in campground) |
|
|
Tamarack Creek |
15 |
10 |
Yes (in campground) |
|
|
South Fork Tuolumne River |
15 |
10 |
No |
No food lockers |
Tuolumne Meadows
Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center
View trail descriptions and mileages for this area [124 kb PDF]
|
Trailhead |
Quota (reservable) |
Quota |
Restroom |
Notes |
|
Sunrise Lakes |
9 |
6 |
Yes |
|
|
Murphy Creek |
9 |
6 |
Yes |
|
|
Cathedral Lakes |
15 |
10 |
No |
|
|
Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang |
12 |
8 |
Yes |
Park at wilderness center or Dog Lake parking |
|
Lyell Canyon |
21 |
14 |
Yes |
Park at wilderness center or Dog Lake parking |
|
Young Lakes via Dog Lake |
12 |
8 |
Yes |
|
|
Young Lakes via Glen Aulin Trail |
6 |
4 |
Yes |
Park at Lembert Dome parking |
|
Mono/Parker Pass |
9 |
6 |
Yes |
|
|
Glen Aulin |
15 |
10 |
Yes |
Park at Lembert Dome parking |
|
Glen Aulin to Cold Canyon/Waterwheel |
12 |
8 |
Yes |
Park at Lembert Dome parking |
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center
View trail descriptions and mileages for this area [99 kb PDF]
|
Trailhead |
Quota (reservable) |
Quota |
Restroom |
Notes |
|
Happy Isles to Illilouette |
3 |
2 |
Yes |
Park at trailhead parking lot* |
|
Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley (LYV) |
18 |
12 |
Yes |
Park at trailhead parking lot* |
|
Happy Isles to Sunrise/Merced Lake (pass-through) |
6 |
4 |
Yes |
Park at trailhead parking lot* |
|
Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley (LYV) |
6 |
4 |
Yes |
|
|
Mirror Lake to Snow Creek |
15 |
10 |
Yes |
Park at trailhead parking lot* |
|
Yosemite Falls |
15 |
10 |
Yes |
Park at trailhead parking lot* |
|
Pohono Trail (Wawona Tunnel/ Bridalveil Fall parking) |
6 |
4 |
Yes (at Bridalveil Fall |
|
|
Old Big Oak Flat Road |
6 |
4 |
No |
|
*Trailhead parking is just beyond Half Dome Village (formerly 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 [216 kb PDF]
|
Trailhead |
Quota |
Quota |
Restroom |
Notes |
|
Chilnualna Falls |
24 |
16 |
Yes |
|
|
Alder Creek |
18 |
12 |
No |
|
|
Deer Camp |
15 |
10 |
No |
No food lockers |
|
Westfall Meadow |
9 |
6 |
No |
No food lockers |
|
Bridalveil Creek Campground |
15 |
10 |
Yes |
|
|
McGurk Meadow |
9 |
6 |
No |
|
|
Ostrander (Lost Bear Meadow) |
15 |
10 |
Yes |
|
|
Mono Meadow |
12 |
8 |
No |
|
|
Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) |
9 |
6 |
Yes |
|
|
Pohono Trail (Taft Point) |
6 |
4 |
Yes |
No food lockers |
|
Glacier Point to Illilouette |
15 |
10 |
Yes |
|
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 |
Quota |
Restroom |
Notes |
|
Merced Crest |
0 |
25 |
Yes |
Winter travel only |
|
Horizon Ridge |
0 |
25 |
Yes |
Winter travel only |
|
Dewey Ridge (#14) |
0 |
10 |
Yes |
Winter travel only |
|
Dewey Meadow (#18) |
0 |
25 |
Yes |
Winter travel only |
|
Pohono Trail (Taft Point) |
0 |
10 |
Yes |
Winter travel only |
|
Bridalveil Creek |
0 |
25 |
Yes |
Winter travel only |
|
Badger Pass |
0 |
30 |
Yes |
Winter travel only |
Hetch Hetchy
Hetch Hetchy Entrance
View trail descriptions and mileages for this area [157 kb PDF]
|
Trailhead |
Quota |
Quota |
Restroom |
Notes |
|
Beehive Meadows |
21 |
14 |
Yes |
|
|
Rancheria Falls |
21 |
14 |
Yes |
|
|
Miguel Meadow |
9 |
6 |
Yes |
|
|
Poopenaut Valley |
15 |
10 |
No |
No food lockers |
|
Mather Ranger Station |
15 |
10 |
No |
|
|
Smith Peak |
9 |
6 |
No |
No food lockers |
|
Cottonwood Creek |
12 |
8 |
No |
No food lockers |
|
Base Line Camp Road |
15 |
10 |
No |
|
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 can only be directly accessed via these trailheads:
- From Yosemite Valley: Happy Isles to Sunrise/Merced Lake (pass through) and Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley
- From Tuolumne Meadows exiting the park: Lyell Canyon
- From Glacier Point: Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley
- From Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley (not exiting the park): Cathedral Lakes
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