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🎟️ Hiking permits, lotteries and park timed entry
The most famous hikes and some busy parks need a permit or a reservation to enter. Most are won by lottery or released at a set time. Each link goes to the official page with this year's dates.
Most people go to:
| Site | Best for | Coverage | Cost | App | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Dome, Yosemite ↗ Official | Cables-route permits | Preseason and daily lottery | Application + permit fee | Recreation.gov | Visit ↗ |
| Angels Landing, Zion ↗ Official | Chains-section permits | Seasonal and day-before lottery | Application + permit fee | Recreation.gov | Visit ↗ |
| Mount Whitney ↗ Official | Day and overnight Whitney Zone permits | Annual lottery, then open dates | Application + per-person fee | Recreation.gov | Visit ↗ |
| Mount Whitney: Inyo NF info ↗ Official | Rules, quota season and trail info | Inyo National Forest | Free | Web | Visit ↗ |
| The Wave and Coyote Buttes ↗ Official | Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) and other Arizona BLM lotteries | Advance and daily lottery | Application + permit fee | Recreation.gov | Visit ↗ |
| Grand Canyon backcountry ↗ Official | Overnight backcountry and rim-to-rim camping | Grand Canyon NP | Permit fee | Web | Visit ↗ |
| Rocky Mountain timed entry ↗ Official | Park entry reservations in peak season | Rocky Mountain NP | Small booking fee | Recreation.gov | Visit ↗ |
| Arches timed entry ↗ Official | Timed entry tickets when required | Arches NP | Small booking fee | Recreation.gov | Visit ↗ |
| Glacier vehicle reservations ↗ Official | Going-to-the-Sun Road and other entry reservations | Glacier NP | Small booking fee | Recreation.gov | Visit ↗ |
| Yosemite reservations ↗ Official | Peak-season entry and other reservations | Yosemite NP | Small booking fee | Recreation.gov | Visit ↗ |
| All open lotteries ↗ Official | Every lottery taking applications right now | US federal lands | Varies | Recreation.gov | Visit ↗ |
💡 Lotteries usually open months before the season. Put the application window in your calendar.
Links open in a new tab. “Official” means a government site. Links are tagged so each site can see the visit came from Recreation.org. Prices and features change; check each site before you book. Last checked October 2026.
Questions
How do permit lotteries work?
You apply during an application window, usually months before the season, often with a small application fee. Winners are drawn at random and must pay for the permit by a deadline.
What is timed entry?
Some busy national parks require a reservation to enter at peak times, in addition to the entrance fee or pass. Reservations are usually made on Recreation.gov.
More topics
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