In about 10-15 minutes with a partner (15 solo), you will have a roomy 6-person tent with a massive vestibule for chairs, bikes, or gear.
With Partner
10-15 minutes
Solo
15 minutes
Capacity
Sleeps 6 | Peak height 6'6"
Vestibule
Adds 45 sq ft of covered space
Front door is mesh-only under the vestibule; back door has an arched double layer with pockets.
Orientation
Clear the pad, lay out your parts, and spot the color coding so setup flows smoothly.
Find a flat 14 ft x 10 ft area. Clear rocks and sticks. Plan for the vestibule length in front.
Lay everything out before you start so nothing is missing mid-setup.
Key pole identification
One gray/black pole is straight (front door). The other has two curved bends (vestibule). Spot them early to avoid confusion.
Know your doors
Front door: single mesh layer under the vestibule with no pockets. Back door: arched, double-layered with equipment pockets that opens directly outside.
main body
Raise the structure quickly and lock in the dome shape.
Place the ground sheet (footprint) on your cleared campsite. This protects the tent floor and defines exactly where your tent will sit. Orient the ground sheet so the 'doormat' flap extends toward the front - this flap goes under the vestibule area where you'll enter the tent, protecting the floor from dirty shoes and gear.
Doormat flap orientation
The ground sheet has an extended flap on one side - this is the 'doormat' that goes under your vestibule. Position it toward the front door so you have a clean surface under the vestibule entrance.
Spread the tent body with the floor down and mesh up. Face the mesh-only front door toward the vestibule area; the arched door marks the back.
Snap the two identical yellow/orange poles together. Ensure every joint clicks securely.
Follow the X-shaped YELLOW/ORANGE sleeves across the tent top and thread each pole corner-to-corner.
Solo setup tip
If alone, insert both poles into sleeves before seating pole ends. It is much easier to raise the dome this way.
Insert pole ends into the corner grommets so the poles bend and the dome stands up. Each pole end goes through TWO grommets: the tent's grommet AND the grommet on the ground sheet beneath it.
Common mistake to avoid
Seat the bottom pole first. Doing the top one first makes the second pole much harder to secure.
Snap all plastic clips from the tent body onto the yellow poles to tension the walls.
Thread the straight gray pole through the gray sleeve above the front mesh door. Important: The gray pole goes UNDER the yellow pole where they cross. Seat the pole ends into BOTH grommets at each corner - the tent's grommet AND the orange grommet on the ground sheet (which has an orange loop attached). This lifts the front wall to full height.
Important detail
The gray pole must go UNDER the yellow pole, not over. And make sure the pole ends go through both the tent grommet AND the orange ground sheet grommet with the orange loop.
rain fly
The oversized vestibule is the star-45 sq ft of covered living space. Note: the fly does not cover the back door by design; the back door has its own rain layer.
Both the front and back of the rain fly have 'THE NORTH FACE' logos, so you can't use the logo to identify the front. Instead, look for the GRAY SLEEVE above the logo - this is the vestibule pole sleeve and marks the FRONT of the fly. The back side has a logo but no gray sleeve above it.
Front vs. back identification
Both sides have North Face logos! Look for the gray sleeve running above one logo - that's the front. The back logo has no sleeve above it.
Drape the fly with zippers over the front door. Start at the back: thread the fly toggles through the rings above the back door corners.
Toggle tip
Push the toggle through, then rotate it 90 degrees so it catches. It gets easier with practice.
Wrap all velcro loops on the underside of the fly (including the center strap) around the poles to stop flapping and keep alignment.
Thread the curved gray pole through the front fly sleeve. Important: When seating the pole ends, insert them into the grommet that has the STRETCHY STRAP running across the front of the vestibule - NOT the other nearby grommets. This strap helps tension and stabilize the vestibule arch properly.
Choose the right grommet
There are multiple grommets near each vestibule pole end. Use the one with the stretchy strap attached - this is critical for proper vestibule tension and shape.
Before staking the corners, find the grommet with the WEBBING STRAP attached - this is located between the tent body and vestibule. Stake this grommet first to anchor the vestibule to the tent structure. Pull it taut at a 45-degree angle away from the tent.
Why webbing grommet first?
Staking this grommet first anchors the vestibule to the tent body and creates proper tension for the rest of the staking sequence.
Now stake the two YELLOW STRAPS at the front of the vestibule. Pull the vestibule forward to its full extension and stake these straps at 45-degree angles to create the vestibule's front corners.
Find the small gray clips on the vestibule fabric and snap them onto the vestibule pole. This tensions the vestibule roof and keeps the fabric from sagging or flapping.
At each front corner of the tent, there are vestibule grommets that need to be attached UNDER the tent's corner grommets. Slip the vestibule grommet onto the same stake as the tent corner grommet, with the vestibule grommet on the bottom (closer to the ground). This creates a secure, layered connection.
Grommet order matters
The vestibule grommet goes UNDER (below) the tent corner grommet on the stake. This prevents the vestibule from pulling away from the tent.
Stake all four tent corners at a 45-degree angle away from the tent. The vestibule front corners should already be staked from step 13. Ensure all stakes are driven at an angle for maximum holding power.
If you expect windy conditions, attach the included guy lines to the loops on the rain fly and stake them out at 45-degree angles away from the tent. The guy lines add significant stability in gusty weather but are not necessary in calm conditions.
When to use guy lines
Guy lines are optional in calm weather but highly recommended if wind is expected. They prevent the fly from flapping and add structure stability.
Finally, stake down the doormat flap of the ground sheet with two stakes at its front corners. This keeps the doormat flat and secure under the vestibule entrance, giving you a clean surface to step on when entering the tent.
Doormat purpose
The staked doormat keeps the vestibule floor clean and prevents the ground sheet from sliding around when you enter and exit the tent.
Walk the perimeter once and confirm these items before moving in.
Your Wawona 6 is ready for adventure!
Unzip and roll the large side windows. Fold the angled end first, then roll and secure with the loop and toggle. The back door's outer layer can roll up too.
Both vestibule sides unzip and roll open. Secure with toggles for a breezy shaded hangout space.
Width
8 ft (2.44 m)
Length
9 ft 6 in (2.9 m)
Peak height
6 ft 6 in
Floor area
85 sq ft
Vestibule
Adds ~75 in length, ~45 sq ft
Interior features
Wall and door pockets, 5 ceiling loops, vestibule gear loops, tension strap across vestibule.
I cannot tell the gray poles apart
Lay them flat. The vestibule pole has two clear bends creating an arch; the front-door pole is essentially straight with a slight curve.
I cannot tell which side of the rain fly is the front
Both sides have North Face logos! Look for the GRAY SLEEVE running above one logo - that's the front. The back logo has no sleeve above it.
The rain fly looks off-center
Align the fly so the gray sleeve is over the front door, adjust back toggle connections, then re-wrap velcro straps.
The vestibule sags or wrinkles
Make sure the gray clips are attached to the vestibule pole, and ensure the vestibule grommets are properly staked UNDER the tent corner grommets. If still sagging, add guy lines.
Which grommets do the vestibule pole ends go into?
Use the grommets that have the STRETCHY STRAP running across the front of the vestibule. Not the closest grommets to the tent body.
The toggles are hard to use
Push the toggle fully through the ring, then rotate 90 degrees so it catches. One hand on the toggle and one stabilizing the ring helps.
The back door seems exposed
That is intentional. The back door has a built-in double layer (mesh + rain cover) and does not need the fly.
Setting up solo is difficult
Insert both yellow poles into sleeves before seating ends, and when securing poles use the bottom-crossing pole first, then the top.
I forgot the ground sheet
You can still set up without it, but the tent floor is more vulnerable to punctures and moisture. Consider using a tarp if available, or be extra careful clearing the ground.