Wilderness Regulations

Wilderness Permit Conditions

General Regulations

• A wilderness permit is required for all overnight wilderness use and must be in your possession and available and presented upon request to an authorized person while in the wilderness.
• This permit is valid only for the trip leader, entry trailheads, dates and number of people specified on the permit.
• This permit is valid with a continuous travel itinerary in which the user does not exit the wilderness. Exiting the wilderness at any time during a wilderness itinerary invalidates the wilderness permit. Two exceptions are: crossing a road by foot or with stock in continuation of an itinerary and a one-night stop in the Tuolumne Meadows or White Wolf Backpackers Campground as part of an ongoing and continuous long-distance hiking permit. Travel by vehicle or bus at any time during a wilderness itinerary invalidates the wilderness permit.
• Maximum group size is 15 people, or 8 people for any cross-country hiking more than ¼ mile off any trail. Stock use is limited to 25 head.
• Pets, wheeled vehicles, motorized equipment, and drones are prohibited in the wilderness. Weapons must comply with applicable federal and state law. Using firearms is prohibited.
• Short-cutting trails is prohibited. Stay on trails to reduce erosion and preserve vegetation. Do not build rock cairns or other trail markers.
• You are responsible for regulations outside of Yosemite if you exit the park.

Campsite Selection

• Camp on established sites, do not make new ones.
• Camp at least 100 feet (30 meters/40 paces) from both any water source and trail.
• Camp on a durable surface, such as rock, sand, dirt, snow—never on vegetation or in meadows.
• Do not construct rock walls, new fire rings (or add rocks to an existing ring), furniture, trenches, etc.

Specific Area Camping Restrictions

• You must camp at least four trail miles from Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Hetch Hetchy, Wawona, and at least one mile from any road. The trailheads map (1.5 mb PDF) shows minimum legal camping distances for each trail (beyond the arrows).
• Camping is prohibited at:
  • Lukens Lake,
  • the Lost Lake Basin
  • the top of Half Dome
  • as well as in the watersheds of: the Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River, Parker Pass Creek, Gaylor Creek, Elizabeth Creek, and Budd Creek.
  • See map for more information.
• Camping is restricted to the Little Yosemite Valley Campground in the area between Happy Isles and Glacier Point and the junction of Sunrise Creek trail, Half Dome trail, and Moraine Dome area with the exception of the Little Yosemite Valley Campground.
• Camping within a mile of the High Sierra Camps is restricted to the designated campgrounds.

Water Quality and Sanitation

• Pack it in, pack it out: Pack out all trash.
• All human waste must be buried in organic soil 4 to 6 inches deep and at least 100 feet from all water sources, trails, and camp areas.
• Any used toilet paper or hygiene products must be packed out. Do not burn or bury any toilet paper.
• Do all washing at least 100 feet from water sources. Do not put any soap in water: even biodegradable soap pollutes. Strain dishwater to remove food particles to the extent reasonable and scatter water.
• Within streams and high water mark of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, all washing and human waste disposal is done 300 feet from water.

Campfires

• Campfires are allowed in existing fire rings below 9600 feet and at least 100 feet from water and trail only. Construction of new fire rings is prohibited. Fires must be attended at all times.
• Fires safety and awareness is essential. Ensure Yosemite is not in fire restrictions. Use only dead and downed wood in fire, that can completely fit in the fire ring. Ensure there is sufficient water near by to extinguish fire.
• In Little Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra Camp campgrounds (except Vogelsang HSC) fires are allowed only in the communal fire rings provided.
• Campfires are prohibited above 9,600 feet in elevation. Additional areas where campfires are prohibited:
  • the top of Half Dome,
  • the Upper and Lower Cathedral Lake basins,
  • within ¼ mile of the shoreline of Kibbie Lake,
  • and on beaches.
• Extinguish fires with water and stir the ashes at least a ½ hour before leaving your campsite or going to bed. Do not use dirt or rocks to put out fires.
• Do not burn ANY trash.

Food Storage

• Proper food storage is mandatory. Allowed bear-resistant food canisters are required for food storage in all areas of Yosemite Wilderness.
• “Food” includes all food (regardless of packaging: sealed, freeze-dried, canned), drinks (including alcohol), grain or other sweet stock food, trash, toiletries, including but not limited to sunscreen, soap, toothpaste, and cosmetics, as well as medications and tobacco.
• All “food” must be stored in an allowed bear canister, pannier, or bear box, or within arm’s reach of an awake person when the food is being eaten or prepared. Overnight, bear canisters should be stored within eye and ear shot of sleeping location.
• Hanging, counter balancing, or guarding food, trash or scented items is not legal.
• Cleanup of food and debris if a bear gets your food is your responsibility. Report any bear incidents to the nearest ranger. You can also report bear incidents by calling the Save-a-Bear Hotline [phone].
• Bear spray is not allowed in Yosemite. Do not carry or use.

Other Information

• All trip participants are responsible for knowing and obeying the following conditions of the wilderness permit
• There is a 30-night camping limit within Yosemite National Park in a calendar year; however, from May 1 to September 15, the camping limit in Yosemite is 14 nights (this includes wilderness camping).
• Exiting the wilderness by passing through Yosemite Valley invalidates your permit. With a valid permit, trips can begin or end in Yosemite Valley, but Yosemite Valley can't otherwise be part of a single wilderness trip

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I have to camp in designated campsites?
  No, in the vast majority of the park. Only at the five High Sierra Camps and in the Little Yosemite Valley area must you camp at a designated site. Otherwise you may camp anywhere you like, provided you follow all the regulations listed above.
• Can I use a Sierra stove above 9,600 feet?
  No, you may not use a Sierra stove (stick stove) above 9,600 feet in elevation. The small twigs used to fuel Sierra stoves are just as valuable a part of the ecosystem as is the larger wood used in traditional campfires. Regrowth at higher elevations is extremely slow and the soil is low in nutrients. Removing this wood from the system further slows growth.
• Can I change my first night's camp location?
  Yes, usually. This information is only needed to process the wilderness permit reservation request. Some trailheads specify a required first night camping location (e.g., Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley) or that you camp before or beyond a certain point. As long as you abide by these restrictions, you can camp anywhere your first night as long as you're starting from the same trailhead and camping the minimum distance from development and roads.

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