Trailhead Quota System Acquiring A Wilderness Permit Acquiring A Wilderness Permit Continued Welcome! Yosemite is a popular destination for backpackers, By reservation. Advance reservations are available From May through October, you can get permits at and it includes over 700 miles of trail and 54 for trips occurring from May through October. the following locations: The greater the obstacle, •  Wilderness Center in Yosemite Most of is trailheads. Yosemite National Park has a trailhead Reservations are available up to 24 weeks (168 days), the more glory quota system limiting the number of overnight but no later than two days, before your start date. Village next to the Post Office in overcoming it. designated Wilderness—designated by •  Wilderness Center, one mile visitors entering a particular trailhead on a given Jean Baptiste Molière Congress because the American people To reserve a permit, download a reservation form east of the Tuolumne Store, off Tioga Road wanted areas where nature and its day. This system is designed to reduce impacts from www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wild and to avoid overcrowding, in keeping with the • Big Oak Flat Information Station, immediately community of life remain unchanged by permits.htm, completely fill out the form, and Wilderness Act’s mandate of providing after the 120 West park entrance humans. You will experience nature on its fax to 209/372-0739. You may also call “outstanding opportunities for solitude.” The • The Wawona Visitor Center at Hill’s Studio own terms in Yosemite’s wilderness– 209/372-0740 or write to Wilderness Permits; quota system is based on where you begin your •  Entrance Station natural fires, falling rocks, high water stream PO Box 545; Yosemite, CA, 95389. A processing fee hike, and in some cases, on where you camp the Overnight Winter Permits crossings, and sudden stormy weather can of $5 per permit + $5 for each person in the group first night of your trip. After the first night, you may is applied to each confirmed reservation. Wilderness permits for overnight camping are occur at any time. These are all part of the hike to another section of the wilderness without required in winter (Nov.- April), and are available wilderness experience. restriction. For this reason, even if you have a To make a reservation please include the name on a self-registration basis at the Yosemite Valley This brochure will help you plan for your permit lasting for several days, you may not begin the permit will be under, mailing address, daytime Visitor Center, Wawona Visitor Center at Hill’s phone number, number of people, number of stay in the wilderness while minimizing your your trip on any day except the first day your Studio, Badger Pass Ranger Station, Hetch Hetchy stock, start and end dates, beginning and ending impacts. With your help and care, we can permit is valid. Entrance Station, or the Big Oak Flat Information trailheads, principal destination (to help clarify keep the land wild for future generations. Call Station. No reservations are necessary. Overnight Wilderness Permits trailhead), and method of payment (credit card, Backpackers’ Campgrounds 209/372-0200 or visit online at www.nps. check, or money order). All wilderness permits A permit is required for all overnight wilderness gov/yose/planyourvisit/backpacking.htm must be picked up in person by a member of the Wilderness permit holders may spend one night use and must be in your possession while in the for more information on trip planning, hiking group during open hours the day of or one prior to, and one night after a backpacking trip wilderness. Permits are not required for day hikes. obtaining a wilderness permit, and trails. day prior to your hike. Reserved permits are held in one of the first-come, first-served, walk-in Group size is limited to 15 people or less if until 10 am on the day of your trip. backpackers’ campgrounds. This may be helpful if travelling on trail, or eight people or less for any 1 you receive your first-come, first-served permit the cross-country hiking more then /4 mile off trail. First-come, first-served. From May to October, day before beginning your hike. The cost is $5 per A maximum of 25 head of stock are allowed per forty percent of available permits are held for person and they are located behind North Pines group, and stock must stay on the trail. In addition, walk-up visitors. These first-come, first-served campground in Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy, pets, bicycles, motorized vehicles, and hunting are permits become available one day before you plan White Wolf, and Tuolumne Meadows. not permitted in Yosemite Wilderness. to leave for your trip.

Planning Your Trip Planning Your Trip Continued. Popular Trailheads Yosemite National Park Planning your trip is the most important step in • Check weather and be prepared for anything. Because of Yosemite’s popularity, certain Wilderness Use preparing for an enjoyable wilderness experience. Rain is always possible. At higher elevations, trailheads fill up regularly. Reservations for these Here are a few suggestions: significant amounts of snow can remain well into trailheads are likely to fill up in the first few weeks July. Water levels at creek crossings fluctuate; they are offered for advance reservations, and the • Choose a reasonable route for your group’s creeks that are dangerously cold and high in early first-come, first-served quota is likely to be abilities. Keep in mind the physical condition season can become dry by August. Also be entirely allocated within the first hour it becomes of the group’s least experienced member. Think prepared for high temperatures, and bring plenty available. about what type of wilderness experience you of water to stay hydrated. would like to have and be aware of trip length and The most popular trailheads are: • Check road conditions. The Tioga and Glacier elevation changes. Let someone know your plans A lake is the landscape’s •  to Point Roads close to overnight parking on including when you will return. Do not go alone most beautiful •  to Little Yosemite Valley unless you are very experienced. Plan your route October 15 of every year. In the event of a winter • Happy Isles Pass Thru to Merced Lake, Sunrise and expressive feature. with the help of guidebooks, wilderness centers in storm, the roads close to all traffic and remain ( Trail entry point) the park and www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit. closed until the snow melts from the road. It is earth’s eye; • Sunrise Lakes (entry at Lake heading These roads usually open in late May or early looking into which south) • Have more than one trip in mind. When June but may still be closed as late as July. Call the beholder measures • Cathedral Lakes 209/372-0200 to check current road conditions. selecting a route of travel you should plan your the depth of trip before you make a reservation and have his own nature. The following trailheads are also at least one backup option in mind. • Arrive ready to go. You can purchase food, likely to fill in high season Henry David Thoreau cooking fuel, and some backpacking gear in (July and August, weekends, and holidays): • Consult a topographical map. Yosemite ranges Yosemite Valley, but selection is limited and some • Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang Climb the mountains from 3,000 - 13,000 feet in elevation. In addition items may be unavailable. The nearest grocery • Glen Aulin to considering total trip miles, factor elevation store outside the park is approximately 50 miles • Glen Aulin Pass-Thru to Cold Canyon and get their good tidings. changes into your trip planning. Many trips are from the Valley floor. Arrive prepared and save and Nature’s peace will flow into you quite strenuous due to steep gradients, and high yourself time. • Lyell Canyon as sunshine flows altitude can have a major effect on physical into trees. • Be ready to store your food properly. Bear abilities. Temperatures also vary significantly at Whatever your intention, before you acquire your John Muir different elevations within Yosemite. Depending canisters are required for all overnight trips. permit, research trips to ensure a backup option. on the season and elevation, temperatures can be They are available at wilderness centers in the extremely hot or cold. park with a $5 rental fee and $70 deposit. Photo courtesy Lincoln Else Photo courtesy Lincoln Else

Do Your Part to Protect Yosemite Wilderness

Leave no trace of your visit. While you are in the wilderness, you may encounter hazards due to human influences, such as contaminated water and animals that want to eat your food. With your help and care, we can reduce these human-caused changes to keep these wild lands unimpaired for future generations. Keeping wilderness wild depends on you.

Prevent new trail ruts: Waste Disposal: Bury CAmpfires: Only use pre-existing Proper campsite selection: Pack it in, pack it out: Stay on the trail even if it is human waste and pack out toilet fire rings. Don’t leave permanent Camp on a durable surface such as Carry all garbage out with you and muddy or the route is longer to paper and hygiene products to blackened scars by creating sand, gravel, or rock 100 feet away do not burn or bury trash. avoid creating unintended trails avoid unsanitary and unsightly campfires at the base of rocks. from water sources and the trail. items in the wilderness.

• Pl a n a h e a d a n d p r e p a r e . For both day and • Re s t r o o m s . Bathroom facilities do not exist • Ca m p f i r e s . Campfires are prohibited above • Ca m p s i t e Se l e c t i o n . Plan your trip to allow Ho w t o p a c k a b e a r c a n i s t e r . overnight trips, always tell someone where in the majority of the park. Bury all human 9,600 feet to protect fragile high-elevation plenty of time for campsite selection. Your • Choose foods that are compact, compressible you are going, and carry the “10 Essentials.” waste in a hole 6-8 inches deep, and at least ecosystems. Campfires are allowed below campsite must be four trail miles from and high in calories. Plan out and measure out This includes map & compass, sun protection, 100 feet (30 meters; 50 steps) from water, 9,600 feet in elevation in existing fire rings Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Valley, Glacier every meal. Repackage your food and toiletries extra water, rain gear & clothing that insulates camp areas, and trails to preserve water only. Constructing new fire rings or enlarging Point, Hetch Hetchy, or Wawona, and one air into baggies or small containers. from cold, headlamp/flashlight, first aid kit, quality and trail aesthetics. Do not bury toilet existing fire rings is prohibited. Wildfires are mile from any road. Choose a previously • Before you leave, make sure that ALL food, matches in a waterproof container, pocket paper—animals frequently dig it up—and do a real risk in Yosemite so keep your fire small. impacted campsite at least 100 feet (30 meters; trash, toiletries, and scented items will fit inside knife, extra food, and an emergency shelter not burn it due to wildfire risk. Pack out all Use only dead wood that is on the ground 50 steps) away from water and trail. Campsite the canister the first night. such a tent or extra-large garbage bag. Be toilet paper and hygiene products so that and smaller than your wrist, and never leave should not be visible from the trail. Avoid places prepared for bad weather and emergencies. unsanitary items are not left for others to fires unattended. Do not burn or leave where vegetation is just beginning to be lost or • Put the canister and your camp kitchen 50 feet come across. garbage in your campfire ring. Make sure fires bare earth is just beginning to show. Using an from your sleeping area. Leave the canister on • Be c o n s i d e r a t e o f o t h e r v i s i t o r s . Give the are fully out before you leave. Gas stoves are existing campsite or camping on durable ground the ground. Do not hang canister from a tree. right of way to stock (horses and mules), and • Wa t e r . Human waste that has entered the encouraged for cooking. (rock, gravel, or snow) protects wilderness stand quietly on the trail while they pass. Be water can spread giardia and other pathogens. quality because additional plants aren’t Food Storage: Use a aware that sound carries in Yosemite, and Purify all drinking water from open sources • Le a v e w h a t y o u f i n d . Leave rocks, plants, impacted and soil isn’t eroded. bear canister to store all respect the quiet atmosphere so that other (rivers, lakes, springs) by boiling, treating and natural objects as you found them. This scented items and food. visitors can also enjoy the sounds of nature. chemically, or filtering. Do all washing at least helps prevent the spread of non-native • Fo o d St o r a g e . Keep wildlife wild. View animals Camp at least 100 feet away from trails and 100 feet (30 meters; 50 steps) from water— species and also leaves the natural world for from a distance, and never feed or provoke water sources so that views are clear of tents. even biodegradable soap pollutes the water others to enjoy. Additionally, help to preserve them. When animals eat human food, it alters and can injure fish and other aquatic life. Yosemite’s past by leaving archeological their natural behavior, and they may become • T r a i l s . Help maintain the existing trails Biodegradable soap is only biodegradable in objects as you found them. Archeologists more aggressive in order to get human food by staying on the trail. Don’t shortcut soil. Additionally, scatter strained wastewater learn from artifacts and sites when they are in the future. Bear canisters (available at switchbacks—it causes soil erosion, trail at least 100 feet from any water sources. left in place. It is illegal to damage or remove wilderness centers in the park) are required by destruction, and hazardous conditions such as archeological objects from federal lands. law for overnight trips. Bear canisters must be new, undesignated trails which may confuse • Ga r b a g e . Pack out everything you pack in, used to store all food, toiletries, trash and other other hikers. Pets and bicycles are prohibited in and do not burn or bury trash. Don’t leave scented items. In developed areas, place food wilderness. Keep your group size to 15 people trash or toilet paper for someone else to see, in bear-proof food lockers, throw garbage into or less, and hike in single-file lines on trails. clean up, or for animals to eat. dumpsters, and clip locks shut. Do not leave Walking next to one another widens trails and scented items in your vehicle as animals can increases erosion. If hiking off-trail, hike in smell them and may damage your car to obtain

dispersed groups to prevent creating new trails. food. Printed by the Yosemite Association.