High Sierra Topix

I'm assuming pretty much all the reservable permits are taken and it's first come first served at this point. True? I want to take a last minute trip next week and usually I'd just hit up Desolation... but why not Yosemite?

The park keeps a helpful list of what is fully reserved. Check it out:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/u ... lheads.pdf

If you are flexible, then the first come first serve permit system will work perfectly for a last second trip like this.

Ballpeen wrote:The park keeps a helpful list of what is fully reserved. Check it out:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/u ... lheads.pdf

Ah thanks! I had seen this list previously but for some reason couldn't find it today...

I was at Yosemite last week and easily secured a walk-in permit albeit it was a Thursday morning. The Wilderness Center (permit office) begins issuing permits at 11am for next day backpack trips although the day I arrived there were still several same day permits available. Even though there were a number of trailhead options available, it's a good idea to have a few tentative trailhead trips in mind in order of preference by the time you get to the counter and talk to the issuing ranger. We spent the first night at the Tuolumne Meadows backpacker campground ($6 per day per person) and headed out on our trip the next morning. Have fun!

I'm assuming pretty much all the reservable permits are taken and it's first come first served at this point. True?

True, as others noted, you should be able to score some first come first serve permits, especially if your starting mid-week. Try to visit Cathedral Lake, and then go over to Echo, and Matthes Lake, great scenery, and solitude.

The wilderness office closest to the intended trailhead you are starting at controls "first come" privileges on permits.
To clarify by example...
Camped at TM backpacker on Thursday. Met/camped next to two other dirt-baggers (BTW, a term held in high esteem by yours truly) - they fed me Brats/Swiss cheese/onions & pickles - nice bread/bun - Schat's?...anyway, one a drunken Scot, the other a French heathen - the latter deciding to do the Muir on a whim that night...no permit in hand - nothing. Not knowing jack about how the system works or even where the TM permit shack was, we both hiked over to the wilderness permit cabin at 7:20 from TM backpacker camp, arriving at ~ 7:45, (just before they opened). Maybe 10 - 15 in line already - some since 5:00 AM.
As they just opened, someone from the Valley had just requested a JMT permit, also intending to start from Toulumne.
The TM ranger there said, "I have to check in line here in TM if anyone wants this slot first, before I can release it to the Valley." - (all done via a phone call from the Valley Wilderness office...one slot open only.)
He came outside and asked. "Anybody in line here doing the Muir? The French amigo got the permit and was on the trail, 10 minutes later.
If ready to hike that day, starting out TM, be in the TM line, before 8.
"Next day permits", unless going over Donahue, or Sunrise -> HD -> LYV, 10:00 AM will get you a solo or a two permit, anywhere from TM - weekdays.