US Hiking Permit Lotteries Explained

America's most famous hikes are protected by permit lotteries. Demand is far higher than the number of places, so a little strategy helps. Most lotteries run on Recreation.gov, and exact dates change each year, so always check the official page for your hike.

The big ones

Hike	What needs a permit	How it's allocated
Half Dome	The cables section	A preseason lottery in spring, plus a daily lottery two days ahead
Mount Whitney	Day hikes and overnights on the main trail	A lottery early in the year, then leftover dates released later
The Enchantments	Overnight stays in the core zones	An early-year lottery; day hikes need only a self-issued permit
Angels Landing	The chains section	Seasonal lotteries and a day-before lottery
Wonderland Trail	Every night on the trail	An early-season lottery for wilderness camping permits

How to improve your chances

Be flexible. Weekdays and the edges of the season have far better odds.
Apply as a group, once. Check each lottery's rules about how many people can apply for the same trip.
Watch for cancellations. Cancelled permits reappear on Recreation.gov, often at odd hours. Free alert services can notify you.
Have a plan B nearby. Most parks have great hikes that don't need a lottery at all.

When you don't need a lottery

Plenty of classics need only a parking reservation or nothing at all, such as McAfee Knob, Guadalupe Peak and Mount Marcy. Browse all US treks.

Where to apply

Recreation.gov: almost every federal lottery and permit, including Half Dome, Mount Whitney, the Enchantments, Angels Landing and Old Rag. Create your account before the lottery opens.
National Park Service: each park's own page explains the current rules, dates and closures. Always check it before you go, as rules change most years.
Havasupai reservations: Havasu Falls is run by the Havasupai Tribe, not the Park Service, and has its own system.
Baxter State Park: Katahdin parking reservations are handled by the state park.