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High Sierra Camps Sunrise Yosemite National Park Lodging and Activities - California - United States
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Explore Yosemite’s High Sierra Camps

Experience the freedom of backpacking without the weight at Yosemite High Sierra Camps! Nestled in pristine wilderness, these camps provide rustic accommodations and meals, so you can carry just a day pack while exploring Yosemite's backcountry. Accessible on foot, camps are spaced 6 to 10 miles apart along a loop trail. Guided hiking trips are perfect for those new to wilderness travel, offering an unforgettable adventure in the High Sierra. 
More than 13,000 visitors stay at the High Sierra Camps every year—and several thousand backpackers stop by for meals. We work hard to limit our impact on the fragile subalpine ecosystem by recycling and composting waste and using solar-powered composting toilets. 
The High Sierra Camps in Yosemite National Park will not open in 2025.
Unfortunately, the utilities which support the High Sierra Camps — potable water and toilets — will not be available and the camps will not be operated this summer. This decision was made in collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS), which manages the utilities necessary to run the camps. Impacted guests have been contacted and can book alternate accommodations within the park and will be offered priority booking for next year's lottery.
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General Information

The 2025 loop will begin at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge. Travel on foot to Tuolumne Meadows, Glen Aulin, May Lake, Sunrise, and finish back at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge for the full five-night loop of the High Sierra Camps. Read up on our Trip Preparation and FAQs before starting your High Sierra adventure.

See printable PDF charts for more information about your High Sierra Camping experience!

High Sierra Hiking Chart
Camp Comparison Chart
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Showers, Restrooms, & Laundry Facilities

A true luxury for any back country experience—showers are available at May Lake and Sunrise Camps (subject to water availability). After you return from your day of adventuring, clean up with a nice shower and enjoy a delectable, hearty meal, your evenings will be filled with campfire conversations about the surrounding wilderness. All camps have restrooms. May Lake and Sunrise have basins for washing clothing.
Sunrise view of High Sierra Camps in Yosemite National Park Lodging and Activities - California - United States

High Sierra Camp Lottery

The 2025 lottery has closed. The lottery for the 2026 High Seirra Camps will open 11/1/2025 and will close at the end of the day on 11/30/2025.
Camp Locations & Distance
From To Level Distance & Time
Tuolumne
Meadows Lodge
Glen Aulin Moderate 8.0 miles, 12.0 km
4 hours
Glen Aulin May Lake Strenuous 8.5 miles, 13.7 km
5 hours
May Lake Sunrise Strenuous 8.25 miles, 13.0 km
4.5 hours
Sunrise Merced Lake Moderate 9.5 miles, 15.5 km
5 hours
*Total loop 49 miles, 79 km 

High Sierra Camps

At 7,800 feet above sea level, Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp, established in 1929, is nestled beside a stunning waterfall and pool along the Tuolumne River. Guests staying in one of the eight cabins can enjoy spectacular sunsets each evening with breathtaking views of Mt. Conness in the distance.
Accessible via a challenging 1.2-mile uphill hike from the May Lake parking lot, May Lake High Sierra Camp offers incredible views of the surrounding mountain wilderness. Perched high in the mountains beside a pristine lake, this camp is a haven of peace and tranquility. Photographers treasure the ridge behind the camp for its breathtaking sunsets. Spend your days fishing, relaxing, or, for the more adventurous, hiking to the summit of Mount Hoffman, the geographic center of Yosemite, reflected beautifully in May Lake. The camp features eight cabins accommodating up to 36 guests. 
Facing east, Sunrise High Sierra Camp lives up to its name, offering awe-inspiring sunrises as the morning light paints the sky with vivid colors over the distant mountain ranges. Nestled at 9,400 feet above sea level near a lovely alpine meadow, the camp provides stunning views of Mt. Florence and Mt. Clark. Built in the early 1960s, Sunrise was the last camp added to the 50-mile High Sierra Camp Loop. Guests can enjoy excellent hiking and accommodation in nine cabins, which sleep up to 34 people.
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