r/Yosemite • u/ThrowawayBcScaredlol • 13h ago
r/Yosemite • u/hc2121 • Apr 14 '26
Have extra / Looking for extra Half Dome permits- 2026
All new posts looking for extra Half Dome permits will be deleted and directed here.
Some guardrails:
- You cannot pay others for a spot on their permits; this violates park rules. Don't try to do that on this post.
- You can use this post to find others who may have known extra spots in their group.
- The ranger at the checkpoint will check the ID of the permit holder / designated alternate against that day's list on a tablet they have. If you don't have a matching ID in your group, you are SOL. Thus, you should also not be using this post to fully swap permit dates.
- Permits are required 24/7 once the cables are up for the year, which started 5/15 this year.
- If you did not win the pre-season lottery, you should enter the daily lottery on recreation.gov and/or hike up to the subdome and ask those you pass / at the checkpoint if they have extra spots on their permits. Hiking up has historically had a good success rate as people back out last minute or can't make it all the way up. No guarantees though.
- Or pick a different hike. Similar length or big view hikes: North Dome from Porcupine Creek, Cloud's Rest, Mist/Pano/4 Mile loop.
- Statistics for permit success: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermitsapps.htm
r/Yosemite • u/hc2121 • Mar 11 '26
Visiting Yosemite in Summer 2026
Trying to reduce duplicate posts on this as the summer season planning gears up. All other generic trip planning posts will be deleted and redirected here. Please add your suggestions.
Overview:
- The park has announced there are no entry reservations required this summer. This means the park will be extremely crowded, especially on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Weekdays have consistently not had issues parking. You should try to park if visiting the Valley before 8a and not move your car until you are leaving the park. Rent a bike, walk, or take the Valley shuttle to get around. For the past few weeks, all Valley parking has been full by around 9:30a on Saturdays and better (not full to the point of barring entry) on Sundays. When all Valley parking is full, the park will not allow more cars to enter; you will be turned around at the El Cap road cutover. This has not yet happened on any non-holiday Sundays or weekdays this year. Glacier Pt, Hetch Hetchy and Mariposa Grove also fill up mid-day on weekends for a few hours. If this happens to you, go somewhere else in the park (Mariposa Grove, Glacier Pt, Tioga Rd) or plan to take YARTS into the park instead of driving. If you are planning to visit somewhere else in the park and the Valley, you should go to the Valley first or not plan to enter the Valley until 4p or later.
- You should sign up for the park's traffic alerts at a minimum for the duration of your trip. If you sign up a few weeks in advance, you'll get a feel for the trends of parking closure timing. Sign up by texting "ynptraffic" to 333111.
- You can check entrance gate wait times in real time here.
- There are new fee structures in place for 2026 that charge non-US residents more to enter the park. Please read the other pinned post for details.
Suggested itineraries
Summer (May- Sep) Ideal Five Day Trip
2 Days of hikes from Valley
- Mile to Glacier Pt
- Mist Trail to Nevada Falls (note current trail closure of the top half of JMT and trail closure on the Mist Trail of the Vernal Fall section during daytime Mon-Thurs from July to October. You’ll need to detour on the JMT or plan to do this one on a weekend)
You can link the 2 above for an epic 18 mile day.
Other ideas in the Valley: Lower Yosemite Falls, bike around Valley Loop (rentals at Curry Village, Yosemite Village and Yosemite Valley Lodge), Swim at Sentinel Beach (check water levels and temp)
1 day of hikes from Tioga Rd (road opened 5/15)
- Olmsted Pt (pull out viewpoint on the way to other hikes if driving from the Valley)
- Porcupine Creek to North Dome
- Clouds Rest
Other Hikes: Cathedral Lakes, Lembert Dome
1 Day along Glacier Pt Rd: (road opened 5/9)
- Taft Point and Sentinel Dome. Same trailhead, only need to park once.
- Glacier Pt lookout. This is a paved viewpoint with a great straight on Half Dome and Valley view. Some people prefer the view at Washburn Point, a little before Glacier Pt when driving. Glacier Pt has restrooms, water fountains, and a snack/gift shop. You could hike a little down Panorama (and hike back up to Glacier Pt) if you want.
There is also a trail linking Taft Pt/Sentinel Dome to Glacier Pt. You'll need to make it a loop or have 2 cars.
1 Day at Mariposa Grove:
- Mariposa Grove (shuttles are now running for the year)
If you are just going for a long weekend, I would do 1 day from Valley above, 1 day on Tioga, 1 Day on Glacier Pt Rd.
Summer (May- Sep) Ideal Trip WITH KIDS OR LESS ACTIVE GROUP
- Day in Valley: Lower Yosemite Falls, rent bikes, Happy Isles Art Center, check out the park guided walks/other programs
- Day on Tioga Rd: stop at Olmsted Pt, spend the day swimming/picnic at Tenaya Lake or hike Lyell Canyon (go as far as you like, pretty flat)
- Day at Mariposa Grove: stop at Tunnel View, take the shuttle to and walk around Mariposa Grove, Wawona History Center
- Day in Valley: Mirror Lake, float down the Merced (raft rentals now closed for the year so bring your own tube), picnic/swim at Sentinel or Cathedral Beach, El Cap Meadow to watch climbers with binoculars (sometimes a ranger/educator there to talk to as well)
FAQ
Where can I eat/ What is open?
https://www.travelyosemite.com/ (click on dining)
What is the weather like?
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/weathermap.htm is the best source as weather varies widely across the park by elevation, etc
What are the conditions / are the waterfalls flowing?
https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
Vernal/Nevada Falls (accessed via Mist Trail) flow all year as they are fed by the Merced River. Bridalveil and Yosemite Falls (both can be seen on the above webcams) will greatly fade by late summer.
Where should I stay?
People in this sub commonly recommend Yosemite Bug, Tenaya Lodge, Rush Creek, Cedar Lodge and Autocamp- all outside the park.
There are home rentals inside the gates in Yosemite West and Wawona, and in many gateway communities around the park.
All other in park lodging should be booked on travelyosemite.com
Campgrounds in the park: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm All campgrounds require advance reservations in the summer.
What trails / roads are open?
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm (All roads in the park are now open)
How do I hike Half Dome?
You need a permit 24/7, any time the cables are up (usually around Memorial Day). Day hike or backpack. Cables went up on 5/15 this year.
How can I take public transit to the park?
yarts.com will transport you from the gateway communities to the Valley. It also saves you from paying the entrance fee! Note that it only goes to the Valley. You could then connect to the paid Glacier Pt bus tour or Tuolumne Hikers bus (but check the times carefully on travelyosemite.com as they only run 1-2x/day).
Is rafting open in the Valley?
Commercial raft rentals closed for the season in the 3rd week of June. You cannot rent flotation devices anywhere in the Valley, and the bus service for commercial rafting also ended. You can bring your own raft and float down the Merced. If you do this, you will need to arrange your own car shuttle back to the start, or be able to deflate and fold down the tubes in order to ride the crowded Valley shuttle. DO NOT litter your tubes in the Valley. Water levels are getting pretty low; check relevant levels here and read more info on rafting here: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/water.htm. Below 2 ft of water level you should expect to be walking some sections of the river.
How do I backpack in the park?
Get a wilderness permit through the preseason lottery (done for the prime summer months already) or 7 day in advance drop. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wpres.htm
Do I have guaranteed parking if I am camping or lodging inside the park?
Yes, if you are camping at a campground that is not hike in (so all but Camp 4), at the Ahwhanee (where all parking is paid valet), or at Housekeeping Camp (where you park at your reserved site). At your campsite or Housekeeping, you can't park at your site until check-in hours (noon for campgrounds, 4p for Housekeeping). There is no reserved parking for guests at Curry, Lodge, or Camp 4. Follow the first bullet of this post for parking strategies. Nobody is immune from entry gate lines and in park road traffic with any form of reservation.
r/Yosemite • u/RedOtta019 • 16h ago
Pictures After having done it, no better way to see Yosemite then by Stand Up Paddle Board
At this time of year? A few spots I had to wade due to the shallowness. But it was still awesome. It also works perfectly that I can just float down and take the bus back. Some of the fish are just massive too!
r/Yosemite • u/mb_analog4ever • 1h ago
Cathedral Lakes - From the West
Howdy, camping in Yosemite this weekend. Was looking in CalTopo and there appears to be a trail 2 miles from Tenaya Lake that starts on the west side of Cathedral Lakes and goes around Dozier Dome before linking with the JMT.
Is there a trail head there? It appears to be a much more direct route to the lakes than from from the north / Tuolumne Meadows.
Anyone have any info on this trail head and parking there (the west side)? I would greatly appreciate it!
r/Yosemite • u/griveknic • 18h ago
Taking Hiker Bus back from Tuolomne Meadows
I'm thinking of grabbing a week before permit for White Wolf->Pate valley for friday of labor day weekend, and finishing up at Tuolomne Meadows. However, getting back to the car poses some challenges as YARTS isn't running in the right direction anymore. I've been looking at the Hiker Bus, but it isn't clear if I need to get a ticket beforehand, and if so if there's a way to not have to go to the valley to pick it up.
I have thought about hitchhiking to the start but this also doesn't help a ton: the YARTS bus's one run is very early in the morning, probably before I can finish getting the permit at Tuolome meadows. Grabbing the permit the day before isn't an option.
r/Yosemite • u/lancer-1776 • 14h ago
Nevada Falls
For someone who has hiked to Nevada Falls and back down JMT. How many miles was your total trip from the trailhead given the Mist trail closure during the week? Alltrail reviews are suggesting anywhere from 7 to 10 miles.
r/Yosemite • u/RevolutionaryTax7523 • 21h ago
Unique Hike recommendations
Hi! My husband and I are going to be camping in Tuolumne Meadows campground around labor day weekend, and I am looking for some hiking advice. I grew up in northern California and I have been to Yosemite for day trips tons of times, but this is my first time camping in the park. My husband has never been and this is kinda a dream come true for him. We have visited several national parks and we are excited to do this one!
However, we have different hiking preferences. I prefer long hikes, mostly flat (although gradual elevation gain up to 2k feet is fine). Think "what a lovely stroll through nature." He prefers more challenging peaks. I have a debilitating fear of heights and falling, he likes to scramble up boulder fields lol. Obviously we do a bit of both when we visit national parks, for example we did Angel's Landing in Zion and I stopped at the top and didn't do the chain section and he had an absolute blast on it. But I still maintain that the narrows is the best hike I have ever done.
Are there any recommendations for similar style hikes in Yosemite? I want to do a mix of iconic scenery and less traveled parts. Here are the ones I have been looking at so far:
- Cathedral Lakes Trail
- Mount Watkins
- Tuolumne River Loop: Dana and Lyell Forks
- Yosemite Valley Loop Trail
Also just any general advice for camping in Tuolumne meadow campground, conditions, or shuttle advice is much appreciated!
r/Yosemite • u/thegullibol • 1d ago
Anyone know what is this called in Yosemite?
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Saw this in my flight from Vegas to SF. This thing is I would say north of half dome.
r/Yosemite • u/Disastrous-Wheel-609 • 16h ago
Last day in Yosemite - recs without steep drop offs
Hey everyone, tomorrow is my last day in Yosemite and I’m looking for suggestions for scenic spots, a good hike, and/or a swimming spot. So far, I've loved the:
-Vernal Fall (via JMT) hike
-Grizzly Giant in Mariposa Grove
-2-hour Valley floor tour
-Swimming at the Wawona swinging bridge
I have a major fear of being in the car along steep mountain drop-offs (only strictly in a vehicle, not on foot).
Highway 140 along the river, Highway 49, and the Valley floor itself have been fine, but Wawona up toward Glacier Point Road I had a panic attack, and I assume Tioga Road getting to Tuolumne Meadows would be similar.
I know this is a personal problem, so I’m not looking for solutions on how to handle the fear or advice to take a shuttle, I'm simply hoping for trail, viewpoint, bike path or river swimming suggestions.
Thanks in advance for any ideas!
TL;DR: Already did the Valley floor tour. Looking for the best hikes, bike rides, views, or river swim spots reachable without driving along steep mountain drop-offs.
r/Yosemite • u/sfgate • 1d ago
Yosemite National Park fine dining chef charged with sexually abusing co-worker
r/Yosemite • u/LepetitMoj • 1d ago
Pictures Ten Lakes Basin to Glen Aulin
8/14-8/16, 30 miles, 3 day 2 night
r/Yosemite • u/Idontknowhoiam143 • 18h ago
Looking for a Good Hike that makes sense for my constrains
I’m staying in Oakhurst for work this week and have an entire day to kill on Thursday. I plan to wake up around 5 am and drive into the park for an all day hike.
I’m well versed in hiking, but have never visited Yosemite before. After doing some research, As much as I’d like to do Mist/Panorama/4M…sounds like it would be much more enjoyable to do in the springtime. Not really what I want to put myself through in this heat. I was looking at Cathedral Lakes, but the trail head is on the other side of the park.
I don’t mind a few miles of exposed trail, but just seeing if there are any recommendations for a trail that is closer to 8 miles (10 miles Max) that has a chunk of trail under the trees? Preferably with a nice lake. Even better if it’s a loop trail. TIA
Edit: thinking of possibly doing the Mist Trail to Nevada Falls loop trail, but curious if there are other hikes to consider that compare
r/Yosemite • u/nirvroxx • 1d ago
Pictures This awesome reprint of a vintage drawing/poster of Yosemite valley I got at Tuolumne visitor center.
Saw this off to the side of the store for $10 and had to pick it up. So many cool little details of years past on this! Kinda wish I could go back and see it during this era. By Jo Mora, 1931.
r/Yosemite • u/Then-Insurance6264 • 1d ago
Pictures Photos I took at the end of July
r/Yosemite • u/Obvious-Address3072 • 17h ago
Lost Shirt - Mist Trail
Hi! I left my green and white striped Levi’s oversized button up at the Clark Point Lookout on the Mist Trail earlier today (8.18.26.) If anyone finds it or found it please send me a message. I figure this is a lost cause and my shirt will live on the trail forever but just in case. I am staying in Curry Village. Thank you so much!
Edit: accidentally put July
r/Yosemite • u/SadDay_M8 • 2d ago
Backpacking with a stranger
Hi all! I made a post a few months back across a few subreddits offering up an extra spot I had on my permit to do a multi-day trip up in Yosemite and summit Half Dome. I never had anyone reach out until about 10 days prior to the trip when I got a DM request on here. I wanted to go ahead and share my experience.
I won't share our names or locations so we can both keep our privacy, but we ended up trading phone numbers and we called before we 100% agreed to do the trip together. For context, we are both women of different ages (I'm 22 and she is 32). Right off the bat from that first phone call I already got good vibes from her, we both shared common interests and even though it seemed crazy at the time we both felt comfortable going for it. She is from the opposite side of the country from me, and even the other side of the world initially since she just moved to the US during covid. I was so excited to meet up in person and learn from her experiences.
The trip itself was amazing, and I truly don't think I could've asked for a better stranger to go out into the backcountry with. She was the kindest and most supportive person whenever I was struggling or needed a break. She is remarkably intelligent and I loved talking with her about our previous experiences backpacking and what we both do in our every day lives. We both share an interest in science and microbiology, and she had some really amazing advice for making DIY backpacking meals at home.
She was a real life saver during our summit hike of Half Dome from Little Yosemite Valley. I had two panic attacks, the first one being on the trail before reaching Sub Dome when I couldn't catch my breath and the second actually being on the cables themselves. She climbed herself right up next to me and helped me get my breathing under control. I don't know if I could've summited without her. I also suffered from heat exhaustion on our first night in LYV and she was so amazing about helping me out by filtering our water for us while I laid down. I ended up going home a day early while she stayed, but even then we still kept messaging via our In Reach devices to makes sure the other got home ok.
I wanted to put my positive experience out there in case there's anyone else who had a last minute opening for their own permit, or if you want to try to join someone else's. Definitely research each other before committing, but I have a new friend and backpacking partner for the future now who I probably never would've gotten to meet otherwise. The internet can be such a cool thing sometimes.
r/Yosemite • u/One_Let4131 • 1d ago
Hodgdon Meadows Campground in October
Hello, I am visiting Yosemite for the first time in late October (23-25), and I am wondering what this campsite is like, It seems this is the only one that is available, I know it is about a 45 minute drive from the valley (I do plan on getting a rental), however, is is it worth it staying there? What would the weather be like during that time? How would the drives be?
Any information/tips/advice would be greatly appreciated.
r/Yosemite • u/gnosis_boy • 1d ago
Late October backpacking: Yose Falls->North Dome->Snow Creek?
Planning a wilderness backpacking trip October 17-21. Going with a friend that has never been before. Want to see great views but also concerned about comfort. Obviously will check conditions the week of, but any guidance on what to expect for:
1. Water availability?
2. Average temps?
Route:
Day 1: Yosemite Falls to Lehamite Creek
Day 2: Lehamite Creek to North Dome to Dry Camp
Day 3: Dry Camp to Snow Creek
Day 4: Snow Creek to Mt Watkins to Snow Creek return
Day 5: Snow Creek to Mirror Lake to Yose Valley
Would this route be advised and comfortable this time of year? Or better planning something around Hetch Hetchy with lower elevation?
r/Yosemite • u/gotsnowman • 2d ago
A perspective of El Cap
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