The National-Park Permit Cheat Sheet
The hardest US hiking permits in one place, when each lottery window opens, your real odds, and a backup plan if you strike out.
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The National-Park Permit Cheat Sheet
The hardest hiking permits in the US, when each window opens, your real odds, and a backup plan if you strike out. Bookmark it, and get an email before each one opens.
Canyonlands overnight river permit
Utah- Window opens
- released in advance at 8:00 AM MST, and bookable up to 3 days before launch. There is no lottery.
- Odds
- Cataract Canyon launches in the May and June high-water weeks are the contested ones. Flatwater above the Confluence is far easier.
- Backup plan
- Move the launch date, or book a commercial trip: outfitters hold their own allocation and need no permit from you. Non-motorised flatwater boaters must arrange a commercial upriver shuttle before the permit can be reserved at all.
Yellowstone Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program
Wyoming- Window opens
- the lottery is open 1 to 31 August only, winners are notified in early September, and any unclaimed or cancelled permits go first-come on Recreation.gov from 1 October.
- Odds
- A small number of permits against everyone who does not want to pay for a commercial guide. Holiday and February weekends are the contested dates.
- Backup plan
- Book a commercially guided snowmobile day instead, which needs no lottery and reaches the same destinations, or take a snowcoach. Cancelled permits also go first-come from 1 October, so the August result is not the last word.
Four Rivers Lottery (Middle Fork Salmon, Main Salmon, Selway, Snake)
Idaho- Window opens
- applications are accepted 1 December to 31 January, results go out on 14 February, and a winning reservation must be confirmed by 15 March or it is revoked. The controlled season runs 28 May to 3 September.
- Odds
- One of the hardest float permits in the country. The Middle Fork in July is the single worst draw of the four rivers.
- Backup plan
- Apply for all four rivers, not just the famous one, and take shoulder dates. Cancelled permits are re-released through the season, so the post-lottery pool is worth watching rather than writing the year off.
Central Cascades Wilderness overnight permit
Oregon- Window opens
- about 40% of each trailhead’s daily quota is released on the first Tuesday in April at 7:00 AM PDT, and the other 60% opens exactly 7 days before the trip date. Permits are required 15 June to 15 October.
- Odds
- The April release goes fast for Green Lakes and the Obsidian area. The rolling 7-day window is much softer and most trips are got that way.
- Backup plan
- Wait for the 7-day window, which releases 60% of the quota and is how most people actually get in. Failing that, move to a quieter trailhead: the quota is per trailhead, not per wilderness.
Olympic National Park wilderness permit
Washington- Window opens
- the whole summer season, 15 May to 15 October, is released in one go on 15 April at 7:00 AM Pacific. Quota areas are bulk released and no further availability opens later in the season.
- Odds
- Grand Valley, Sol Duc and Seven Lakes Basin go on the morning of the release. The East Fork Quinault approach to the Enchanted Valley is quota-limited too.
- Backup plan
- Cancellations are the only route in after 15 April, and there is no scheduled second release, so watch rather than wait. A non-quota zone on the same trip is the reliable fallback.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness permit
California- Window opens
- a rolling six-month window, with new dates released daily at 7:00 AM Pacific. The 2026 quota season runs 22 May to 26 September.
- Odds
- The Rae Lakes Loop and the Whitney-bound trailheads go at release. Most other entry points survive the six-month mark comfortably.
- Backup plan
- Walk-ups open at 1:00 PM the day before your start, and any no-show permits go first-come from 10:00 AM on the entry date. A permit issued here is also valid onward into Sequoia, Sierra and Inyo National Forests and Yosemite.
Canyonlands backcountry permit
Utah- Window opens
- released four months before each season opens, at 8:00 AM Mountain Time: 10 November for spring (10 March to 9 June), 10 February for summer, 10 May for autumn and 10 August for winter.
- Odds
- Spring is the hard one, and March is the hardest fortnight of it. Summer heat in the Needles thins the field to almost nothing.
- Backup plan
- Sites nobody reserved are released first-come at the visitor centres, so an unbooked trip is not a lost one. Autumn holds the same weather as spring against a fraction of the demand.
Shenandoah backcountry camping permit
Virginia- Window opens
- booked through Recreation.gov up to 3 months ahead, including on the day you start. Since 11 January 2024 this permit must be purchased; it is no longer the free trailhead self-registration most sources still describe.
- Odds
- Rarely a problem. This is a permit you must remember, not one you have to win.
- Backup plan
- Same-day bookings are allowed, so a forgotten permit can usually be fixed from the trailhead if you have signal.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness overnight permit
Minnesota- Window opens
- first come, first served from 9:00 AM CST on the last Wednesday in January, covering the 1 May to 30 September quota season. There is no longer a lottery.
- Odds
- Entirely down to the entry point. The well-known ones go the first morning; remote entry points stay open for months.
- Backup plan
- Change the entry point rather than the dates. The quota is per entry point, not per trip, and the quieter ones are open all season. Walk-up permits are also issued at cooperator stations on your entry date or the day before.
Rocky Mountain National Park timed entry
Colorado- Window opens
- a month at a time at 8:00 AM MDT on the 1st: 1 May opens late May and June, 1 June opens July, 1 July opens August, 1 August opens September, 1 September opens October. A further 40% of each day is released at 7:00 PM MDT the evening before.
- Odds
- Straightforward if you book at release or take the 7pm drop the night before. Bear Lake Road is the one that goes first.
- Backup plan
- Arrive before 9am or after 2pm, when no timed entry permit is required at all. Failing that, the 7pm release the evening before your visit is a genuine second chance.
North Cascades Backcountry Permit
Washington- Window opens
- an early-access lottery in spring, then a general on-sale. About 60% of backcountry sites go in advance; the other 40% are held back for walk-ups.
- Odds
- Sahale, Copper Ridge and Ross Lake are the three worth entering the lottery for. Most other zones are gettable on the general on-sale.
- Backup plan
- The 40% held back for walk-ups. Collect one in person at the Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount up to 24 hours before you start, or self-register when it is closed.
Everglades Wilderness Camping Permit
Florida- Window opens
- a rolling 90-day window: your date opens at 10:00 AM ET exactly 90 days before your first night. There is no lottery.
- Odds
- Winter and spring chickees and beach sites go at release. Summer is wide open, and brutal.
- Backup plan
- Move a night either side, or take a ground site. It is the chickees and the beaches that sell out, not the park.
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness overnight permit
Colorado- Window opens
- released on three fixed dates, 15 February, 15 June and 15 October, each at 8:00 AM Mountain Time, and you reserve a zone for every single night you camp.
- Odds
- Four Pass Loop zones in July and August go at release. Shoulder dates survive much longer.
- Backup plan
- Book the zones you can get and walk the loop in the other direction, or shift to September. Snowmass Lake is the zone that goes first.
Cougar Rock Campground (Mount Rainier)
Washington- Window opens
- six month rolling window, so a July date opens in January
- Odds
- Tough for July and August weekends, fair midweek
- Backup plan
- Ohanapecosh on the south east corner or White River for the Sunrise side, or a cabin in Ashford outside the Nisqually gate.
The Enchantments (Core Zone)
Washington- Window opens
- mid-February to early March
- Odds
- Brutal (~2–3% for Core Zone)
- Backup plan
- Day-hike Colchuck Lake (no permit), or try daily walk-up permits at the Leavenworth ranger station.
Half Dome Cables (Yosemite)
California- Window opens
- the month of March (preseason lottery)
- Odds
- Moderate (~20–30% preseason)
- Backup plan
- Daily lottery 2 days before your hike, or stop at the sub-dome viewpoint (no permit needed).
Mt. Whitney
California- Window opens
- February 1 to March 1 lottery, results March 15
- Odds
- Hard on weekends, easier midweek
- Backup plan
- Apply for weekday dates, or grab unclaimed walk-up permits at the Lone Pine ranger station.
The Wave (Coyote Buttes North)
Arizona / Utah- Window opens
- a 4-month advance lottery plus a daily lottery
- Odds
- Very low (~4–6%)
- Backup plan
- Enter the daily geolocation lottery, or hike White Pocket instead (no permit, needs 4x4).
Grand Canyon Backcountry (Corridor)
Arizona- Window opens
- the 16th of every month at 8:00 a.m. MT, five months before your trip month
- Odds
- Moderate if flexible on dates
- Backup plan
- Join the walk-in waitlist at the Backcountry Office, or day-hike rim-to-river (no permit).
Angels Landing (Zion)
Utah- Window opens
- seasonal lotteries plus a day-before lottery
- Odds
- Seasonal lottery moderate; day-before harder
- Backup plan
- Enter the day-before lottery, or hike to Scout Lookout (no permit, same views minus the chains).
The Narrows Through-Hike (Zion)
Utah- Window opens
- calendar reservations plus a last-minute drawing
- Odds
- Summer dates go fast
- Backup plan
- Enter the last-minute drawing 2 days before, or do the bottom-up day hike (no permit needed).
The Subway (Left Fork, Zion)
Utah- Window opens
- a quarterly seasonal lottery, applied for the 1st to 25th two months before each three-month season, plus a daily last-minute lottery
- Odds
- Hard in spring and fall, better midweek
- Backup plan
- Enter the daily canyoneering lottery 2 days out, or hike the Angels Landing area instead.
Wonderland Trail (Mt. Rainier)
Washington- Window opens
- an early-access lottery in late winter, then general reservations in spring
- Odds
- Brutal, the lottery awards only about 4 to 6 percent of entries
- Backup plan
- Grab one of the first-come walk-up permits held back, or section-hike a quieter stretch.
Mount St. Helens Summit Climb
Washington- Window opens
- a first-come release, each month opens at 7:00 AM PT on the 1st of the prior month
- Odds
- Tough mid-May to October, easier early season and midweek
- Backup plan
- Take a weekday or shoulder-season date, or climb free with a self-issue permit November to March.
Conundrum Hot Springs (Colorado)
Colorado- Window opens
- permits release on three fixed dates, February 15, June 15 and October 15, each at 8:00 a.m. MT, and sell out within minutes
- Odds
- Very hard for summer weekends, about 20 sites a night
- Backup plan
- Take a weekday or shoulder-season date, or camp elsewhere in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass zones.
Lost Coast Trail (King Range)
California- Window opens
- a rolling release, permits open daily at 7:00 AM PT on a 90-day advance window
- Odds
- High demand for summer and weekend dates, more open midweek
- Backup plan
- Watch the next daily drop 90 days out, or shift dates to line up with a passable low tide.
Glacier NP Backcountry
Montana- Window opens
- early-access lotteries in March, then general reservations open May 1
- Odds
- Competitive for marquee routes, more open on the May 1 release
- Backup plan
- Grab a May 1 general reservation, or a walk-in first-come permit held back at permit offices.
Kalalau Trail (Na Pali Coast)
Hawaii- Status
- Kauai state parks closed until further notice after Hurricane Lowell (2026-09-08).
- Odds
- Brutal in summer, all 60 daily spots can go in under a minute
- Backup plan
- Book a shoulder-season date, or day-hike the first 2 miles to Hanakapiai Beach, which needs only an entry reservation.
Many Glacier Hotel
Montana- Window opens
- roughly 13 months ahead, with cancellations reappearing all season
- Odds
- Brutal, summer rooms go the day the calendar opens
- Backup plan
- Swiftcurrent Motor Inn cabins next door, or St. Mary outside the east entrance.
Phantom Ranch
Arizona- Window opens
- a monthly lottery, entered 15 months before your stay
- Odds
- Brutal, a lottery for the only beds at the bottom of the canyon
- Backup plan
- Bright Angel Campground on a backcountry permit, which is a separate and easier draw.
Sperry & Granite Park Chalets
Montana- Window opens
- a lottery being piloted for 2027, with instructions published in autumn 2026 and reservations from January 2027
- Odds
- Brutal, backcountry chalets with a handful of rooms and no road to them
- Backup plan
- Backcountry camping at Sperry or Granite Park on a Glacier wilderness permit.
The Ahwahnee, Yosemite
California- Window opens
- a rolling 366-day window, so rooms open exactly a year out
- Odds
- Very hard for summer and for firefall week in February
- Backup plan
- Yosemite Valley Lodge, or Rush Creek and Evergreen just outside the park.
Havasu Falls (campground & lodge)
Arizona- Window opens
- a first come, first served annual sale announced by the tribe
- Odds
- Brutal, first come first served and the good dates go in minutes
- Backup plan
- Midweek dates in March or late October survive far longer than any weekend.
Grand Canyon rafting (Colorado River)
Arizona- Window opens
- commercial trips sell out a year or more ahead; the private lottery runs each February
- Odds
- Brutal for a private launch, very hard for a summer commercial seat
- Backup plan
- A one-day smooth-water trip from Glen Canyon Dam, or a Hualapai day run in the western canyon.
Denali Road Lottery
Alaska- Window opens
- suspended for the foreseeable future, with no application window announced
- Odds
- Not currently drawn
- Backup plan
- A transit bus in summer, which now runs to Mile 43 and covers everything the road still reaches.
Paradise Inn
Washington- Window opens
- roughly 13 months ahead, with cancellations all season
- Odds
- Brutal for July and August, easier in late September
- Backup plan
- National Park Inn at Longmire stays open year-round, or Ashford just outside the Nisqually entrance.
Old Faithful Inn
Wyoming- Window opens
- roughly 13 months ahead for the following season
- Odds
- Brutal for the Old House, hard for the rest in summer
- Backup plan
- Old Faithful Snow Lodge next door, or the Lake Yellowstone Hotel on the other side of the park.
Zion Lodge
Utah- Window opens
- roughly 13 months ahead
- Odds
- Brutal from March to October
- Backup plan
- Springdale is a 10-minute shuttle ride from the entrance and has far more rooms.
El Tovar Hotel
Arizona- Window opens
- roughly 13 months ahead
- Odds
- Brutal for a rim-view room, hard for anything in spring and summer
- Backup plan
- Bright Angel Lodge cabins are on the same rim walk for a fraction of the price.
Crater Lake Lodge
Oregon- Window opens
- usually opens for the whole season the previous autumn
- Odds
- Brutal, a small lodge with a very short season
- Backup plan
- The Cabins at Mazama Village, seven miles from the rim, or Union Creek outside the park. Mazama Campground books through recreation.gov.
LeConte Lodge
Tennessee- Window opens
- one release day each October for the following season
- Odds
- Brutal, the hardest bed to get in the eastern US
- Backup plan
- Backcountry shelters on the Appalachian Trail nearby, reserved through the park.
Lake McDonald Lodge
Montana- Window opens
- roughly 13 months ahead
- Odds
- Brutal in July and August
- Backup plan
- Apgar Village cabins at the foot of the lake, or West Glacier just outside the entrance.
Dates shift a little each season, we always send you to the official page for the exact details. Verify before you plan.
Permit questions, answered
Which US hiking permits are hardest to get?
The Wave in Coyote Buttes North and the Wonderland Trail lottery both award somewhere around 4 to 6 percent of entries, and the Kalalau Trail can sell its nightly camping spots in under a minute. Conundrum Hot Springs and Glacier's two backcountry chalets are limited less by a lottery than by how few spaces exist at all.
When do national park permit lotteries open?
There is no single date. Most large lotteries open several months ahead of the season, some permits release on fixed calendar dates, and others run a rolling window that opens a set number of days before your trip. Each entry on this page carries its own window, and the alert signup emails you before the one you care about opens.
What happens if you do not win a permit lottery?
Almost every permit has a second route in: a daily or last-minute draw, a walk-up allocation held back from the reservation system, or cancellations that surface through the season. Every entry on this page lists its specific backup, because that is the question the official pages answer least well.
Do you need a permit to hike in a national park?
For most day hikes, no. Permits are used where demand outstrips the ground: overnight backcountry camping, a handful of very popular day hikes, technical canyon routes, and summit climbs with a quota. Entry reservations and timed-entry systems are a separate thing again from wilderness permits.
Can you buy a national park permit from someone else?
No. Permits are issued to a named person who normally has to be present with photo identification, and reselling them is against the terms on every system listed here. Permits offered for sale privately are either a scam or will be refused at the trailhead.
What is the easiest way to track permit opening dates?
Pick the permits you want on this page and let the alerts email you before each window opens. The live release dates are pulled from the booking systems, so they follow the rolling windows as they move, and the windows, odds and fallbacks are curated by hand rather than scraped out of prose.
Want a heads-up before each window opens?
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