Getting Day-of Backpacking Permits Over Labor Day

[eastcoast1234]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to plan a last minute backpacking trip to Yosemite around Labor Day weekend (Thrusday Sept. 1 - Sept. 6). In typical fashion, all of the wilderness permits are reserved. Does anyone know the likelihood of getting a day-of permit during this time period? We (myself and two friends) are hoping to hike the John Muir Trail from Tuolumne Meadows down to Yosemite Valley....the nps website says that we should bet at the Tuolumne Meadows permit station by 11:00 am the day before we want to begin our backpacking trip to try and obtain permits. Is there a greater chance that we'll win the Megabucks lottery than get a permit? How early should we show up to maximize our chances (6:00 am? 8? 10:30?)

Also, does anybody know how quickly the various first come first serve car-camping sites fill up? It looks like we can still reserve sites in the park for Thursday night (Sept. 1st) and Monday night (Sept. 6), but all reservable sites are booked in between.

Thank you so much for any and all insight!

[resttomorrow]

No answers for you but Ill be out on the trail the same time as you. I should be starting it from Tuolumne Meadows on the 4th and heading for LYV with a Clouds Rest detour.

I am in the same predicament as you. I have actually tried calling the wilderness office in Tuolumne a few times just to get an idea of my chances but the number has been busy. My bus arrives in there at 10:30, so unfortunately, I won't make it to the office much before 11:00. Really crossing my fingers on a permit.

[AlmostThere]

They start releasing walk in permits the day BEFORE. at 11 am.

"first-come, first-served wilderness permits will be available one day in advance beginning at 11:00 am (not at opening). Wilderness permit reservations can still be picked up the same day or one day in advance when the wilderness center opens. Same-day first-come, first-served permits are also available when the wilderness center opens. This model is similar to the one currently in place by surrounding US Forest Service wilderness permit issuing stations."

Here is what I would do: show up the morning before and get in line. At 10 am they release reserved permits that weren't claimed. Those will be for the day of - the day you are there, you can start hiking, get a jump on the trip, get out a ways and camp. If you don't succeed with released permits, try for the walk in FCFS at 11 for the NEXT DAY. If unsuccessful go to the backpacker campground and stay the night if you can't get a campsite. Come back to the office the next morning and get in line. 10 am, the unclaimed reserved permits for the day you actually wanted to start are released, hopefully that will work. Otherwise just look at what's left and go there instead.

The TM campground has a line early in the morning for walk in sites (50% of sites are walk in). If you can't get one then, you can go on a waiting list. We did this and got 2 sites at 3 pm because people finally checked out and left. That was a Friday. A friend had to do the same thing Thursday before.

[eastcoast1234]

Thanks for the insight. I'm wondering if we should just forget about the backpacking component and focus on getting a walk-in tent site on friday where we can stay for the remainder of the trip and just do day hikes. If we don't get one of the day-of or next day permits on Friday (Sept. 2), then we've "lost" a day in the Park since having to wait until 11:00 am puts a crimp in things. Then again, if we do get the permits, it would make everything easier logistically (don't have to worry about where to stay, and we could hike half dome).

Does anybody have any idea how many people get turned away each day at the TM permit station for day-of or day-before permits?

resttomorrow- good luck with your trip! I reached somebody at the Yosemite Valley permit station...he was helpful but couldn't really tell me how early to arrive at TM to try and get permits/how many people are usually there waiting.

[balzaccom]

Do you have to hike JMT the whole way? Another option is to use a different trailhead and then join the JMT further along. For example, you could look at the Nelson Lake trailhead, and then xcountry over to JMT. As far as I can see, that trailhead is still open for early September

[eastcoast1234]

Thank you for the wonderful suggestion!! We don't need to hike the JMT the whole way, it just looked like the most straight forward trail on my map (National Geographic). I didn't even know there was a trail to Nelson Lake (I see the lake on the map, but not a trail head). The trailhead report shows that the Nelson Lake trail is still available.....please excuse my ignorance, but what maps would show the Nelson Lake trailhead? And when you say "xcountry," do you mean xc ski trails connect Nelson Lake with the JMT, or would we need to use a map/compass to bushwhack our way over?

[AlmostThere]

I thought the Nat Geo maps showed the whole park? The Tom Harrison map for the Yosemite High Country is a good one for the Tioga Rd/Yosemite Valley trailheads.

Cross country always means off trail. There are no ski trails in that area. YOu have to be careful with cross country, if you are not used to it, it will slow you down a lot, especially where there are steep places between the contour lines - that area can get steep.

[bbmq]

AlmostThere - I wasn't aware until now of the new policy of 11:00 AM being the time they issue permits, as compared to the old way of 7:30 AM as soon as the Wilderness Office opens. It wasn't too bad for getting a permit before, all you had to do is get there between 6:00 and 6:30 and you usually got what you wanted. But this new arrangement of 11:00 AM makes it easy for everybody to get over there and get in line beforehand. Any idea of how early one should expect to get in line? Do you think 9:00 would be safe or should I go earlier? I wouldn't be trying it on a Friday or Saturday, more likely a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday morning.

I guess I should bring a chair and some breakfast and be prepared to kick back for a while.

[eastcoast1234]

After a little google searching, it seems that the Nelson Lake trailhead isn't an official park trail, so that's probably why it isn't on the Nat Geo map. In any case, I haven't done much off trail stuff, so this probably isn't the best time to put my orienteering skills to the test. Good suggestion though!

[AlmostThere]

Remember that unclaimed reserved permits are handed out at 10 am. You would be surprised how many people abandon those.

Part of the rationale behind the 11 am release for next day walk ins was they were tired of people sleeping on the porch. Not sure when you would have to get there to be in line - last time I went by the TM office there were 8 people there at 7 am. I'd bet all of them got permits.

It's unpredictable - I got a same day walk in for the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne last year. You have a better chance showing up midweek, I think.

[Alex]

Are you planning to spend the night on the trail? Because this is the only reason why you would need a wilderness permit. If you plan to camp in the valley you can do so in Camp 4 (if you can get a spot there that is). Also, I am planning a trip to Yosemite for Labor Day weekend myself. So I called the wilderness office a few days ago and they told me they have PLENTY of wilderness permits left for Labor Day for less popular trailheads. As was stated by some people earlier, you don't need to get a JMT or Mist trail permits to hike there but instead can easily (from what I understand) get a wilderness permit for a less popular trailhead. Moreover, wilderness permit allows you to camp one night before and one night after your trip at a backpacker's camp in the valley which is important becaise there's a good chance you may not get a spot at first-come first-serve Camp 4.