Backpacking Yosemite: Happy Isles to Illilouette & Half Dome!

[@BB-lg1ji]

thanks for the great video …I too have a Permit for Happy Isles to Illilouette first night campsite. I know the route is Happy Isles follow JMT to just before Nevada Falls …take a right onto the switchback trail which connects with the Panorama trail. The trail to the Illilouette Basin is q quick left. I was wondering how far down this trail did you hike before setting up camp? The Orange arrow on the map is vague and surprisingly there is very little nearly nothing written about where to camp at Illilouette Basin. Thanks a lot

[@WillardJamesJackson]

Yes, there is a real lack of info out there on the paths less travelled. I’d say we probably went about 1.5 miles. We kept thinking we’d hit a water source but didn’t, hence the rush back to Nevada falls that night. There aren’t many left behind camp spots out there so unless you’re wanting see something specific, I wouldn’t go as far as we did. On the way out the next morning others had camped closer back to than we’d went.

[@BB-lg1ji]

Ok cool thanks for the info …so once I make that left off the Panorama Trail …don’t expect water & 1 mile in should be enough!!! Thx again

[@steveparra8618]

Thanks WillVlog for the great video! I am doing the exact 3 days 2 night happy isles > illilouette permit backpacking trip with Half Dome permits for day 2. Glad to see that it’s doable to hike up from illilouette to little Yosemite valley to half dome and back to LYV on the same day. We are planning to start the hike bright and early at 5am. I have read mixed comments on being able to camp at LYV with the happy isles to illilouette permit. Did you have any issues with rangers in camping overnight at LYV for night 2?

[@WillardJamesJackson]

Hi Steve, After the first night you will have no issues camping at LYV. It’s just the first night you’re not allowed to. However I did not run into any rangers except at Half Dome.

[@RoadtrippinwithTakacs]

Congratulations to Abby on her first backpacking trip! 🎉🔥 The views never disappoint! I almost died on the cables many years ago. A swarm of bees went after me and then a strong gust of wind came through. 😯 Great hike and vlog! Subscribed to watch more of your adventures (#766). 👍 I hope our channels grow together on KZbin! 🔥

[@WillardJamesJackson]

Roadtrippin' with Takacs Wow, that sounds scary! Glad you made it down okay though! Thanks for checking the video out 🤗

[@RoadtrippinwithTakacs]

@@WillardJamesJackson Of course! 😀

[@majorsimmons22]

We did a 4 day yosemite trip in 2015. Clouds rest was one of my favorite hikes and views. I agree, it is exhausting! It’s well worth it and I’d like to get back out there again.

[@WillardJamesJackson]

majorsimmons22 I hear Clouds Rest is amazing. We secured another permit starting from Cathedral Lakes, so hoping to see Clouds Rest, but it will depend on the weather. Always appreciate you checking the videos out!

[@skkeech]

Very cool!

[@elizabethrucci81]

Great video! My boyfriend and I just secured our permit for Happy Isle to Illilouette for a 2 night, 3 day backpacking trip as well. Can you share with me the trails/route you hiked? And any recommendations for where to set up camp? This is our first camping trip at a national park and are trying to get our bearings. Thanks!!!

[@WillardJamesJackson]

Thank you so much for watching! That is exciting news that you got a permit. There is a serious lack of "how to's" on the Illouette hike, but this is what we did. We took the JMT up to Nevada Falls where you'll split towards Illouette. When you pick your permit up they'll map this all out for you. The first night we stayed about 3-4 miles from this juncture. This area is truly wilderness, we saw zero people on this path until the next morning. You could easily check out Illouette falls on Day 1, but you can't camp near there. Also, I recommend filling up water at Nevada as we saw no water source after that and had to backtrack to Nevada the first night. The next day we went from our campsite to LYV, which took about 2ish hours. After setting up camp at LYV we did Half Dome that afternoon. It was about 5ish hours round trip and we were back before sunset. The next day we hiked out as we wanted to get back to the Bay Area. Hope this helps! You'll have a blast. We got a permit for Tuollome to Happy Isles in May. Hoping the snow is melted a bit before then! Cheers!