Never Miss a Permit Again

The fastest way to snag backcountry permits, thru-hike entries, and lottery spots. 490+ permits across National Parks, National Forests, Wild Rivers, and BLM lands.

Backcountry Permits
Thru-Hike Entries
Day-Use Lotteries
Canyoneering
River Permits

Free for early adopters. iOS first.

2,847 backcountry adventurers already waiting

Getting into the backcountry is broken

The most incredible places require permits. Getting those permits? That's where dreams go to die.

Lotteries are brutal

The Wave has a 5% success rate. JMT lottery gets 20,000 applications for 1,500 spots. Hope isn't a strategy.

Cancellations are random

Someone cancels their Enchantments permit at 2am. Someone else drops their Whitney slot at 2pm. You can't refresh all day.

Thru-hike windows are tiny

JMT permits release once a year. Miss the lottery? Your only shot is cancellations. Miss those? See you next year.

Every major backcountry permit. One app.

Day-use lotteries. Thru-hike entries. Backcountry zones. Canyoneering permits. River access. If it requires a permit to access wilderness, we track it.

490+ permits across NPS, USFS, BLM, and state lands

More permits from OR · WA · CO · AZ coming 2025

From “I wish” to “I'm going” in 5 steps

STEP 1

Tell us your adventure

"JMT thru-hike, July, party of 2." Pick your permit, dates, and group size. Add alternates if flexible.

STEP 2

We watch 24/7

Our system checks availability every few minutes. Even at 3am when someone cancels their Enchantments permit.

STEP 3

Get alerted instantly

Push notification the moment a Zion Narrows spot opens. Optional SMS for critical permits.

STEP 4

Book in 2 taps

Our Fast Lane drops you straight into checkout - no searching, no forms, no lost permits.

STEP 5

Hit the trail

Whitney permit secured. Calendar synced. August 15th circled. The backcountry awaits.

Built for the moments that matter most

2 taps to booking

Half Dome lottery cancellation just opened. Tap the alert, tap "Book Now." You're in checkout before anyone else loads the page.

Half Dome OPEN - Book Now
PermitSnag Alert

Backup plans that actually work

Can't get The Wave? We'll suggest Coyote Buttes South. JMT full? Try the High Sierra Trail. We know which permits are similar.

Similar: Coyote Buttes South
PermitSnag Alert

Never forget a deadline

JMT lottery opens Feb 15. Whitney claims close March 1. Wake-up alert set for 6:45am. Every deadline synced.

JMT Lottery Opens: Feb 15
PermitSnag Alert

We watch harder when it matters

Storm forecast for Zion? Cancellation deadline tomorrow? We scan 3x more frequently when backcountry permits are most likely to open.

Scan frequency: 3x
PermitSnag Alert
Coming in v1.1

Know your chances

The Wave has a 5% lottery success rate. Whitney cancellations peak 48 hours before trip date. We'll show you the real odds so you can plan smarter.

Better together

Apply with friends, win together.

When 5 friends each apply for a 10% lottery, your group has a 41% chance someone wins - vs 10% alone. PermitSnag coordinates your applications and tracks results together.

Share permit status with trip partners
Coordinate lottery applications as a group
Everyone gets notified when someone wins
1
2
3
4
5
10%
Solo odds
41%
Group of 5

From early users

We tried for Mount Whitney for 3 years. PermitSnag found us a cancellation on our second week.

Sarah M.
San Francisco, CA

I'd given up on ever seeing The Wave. Got an alert at 6am, booked by 6:02. Still can't believe it.

Jake R.
Denver, CO

Our group of 5 all applied for the JMT lottery. PermitSnag tracked everyone's status - two of us won.

Mike & Friends
Portland, OR

Why PermitSnag?

Feature
PermitSnag
Campnab
Wanderlog
Rec.gov
Focus
Backcountry permits
Campgrounds
Trip planning
Government portal
Every major federal permit
Partial
Thru-hike permits (JMT, etc.)
Partial
Day-use lotteries (Wave, Half Dome)
Partial
State permits (CA, UT + expanding)
Fast Lane (2-tap booking)
Smart alternates
Calendar sync with alerts
Partial

This isn't about campgrounds.

PermitSnag covers every major backcountry permit in the US:

200+ Federal permits — Recreation.gov, NPS, USFS, BLM
120+ Utah permitsZion, Canyonlands, Arches, slot canyons
Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Arizona coming 2025

Half Dome · Mount Whitney · John Muir Trail · The Wave · Angels Landing · Zion Narrows · The Subway · Enchantments · Grand Canyon · and hundreds more

Plans that fit how you adventure

One subscriber can invite their entire hiking group for free. Only the trip creator needs a paid plan.

MonthlyAnnualSave 12%

Free

Browse and plan your backcountry adventures

$0
  • Browse all permits
  • View rules & key dates
  • Calendar reminders
  • Push notifications
  • SMS alerts
  • Fast Lane 2-tap booking
Best Value

Pro

For serious backcountry adventurers

$6.99/mo
$79.99/yr billed annually
  • Unlimited permit tracking
  • Push notifications
  • SMS alerts
  • Fast Lane 2-tap booking
  • Smart alternates
  • Invite friends FREE

A la Carte

Perfect for a single trip

$12/permit
  • Track one permit
  • Push notifications
  • SMS alerts
  • Fast Lane 2-tap booking
  • Smart alternates
  • Group features

What is Fast Lane?

Fast Lane is our 2-tap booking system. When a permit opens up, you get an instant push notification. Tap it to jump straight to our Fast Lane screen, which auto-rechecks availability and gives you a direct link to the booking page — all in under 3 seconds.

Push notification
Fast Lane screen
Book permit
Push + SMS in paid plans
2+ permits? Pro saves money
Invite friends for free

Questions?

No. PermitSnag is specifically for backcountry permits, thru-hike entries, day-use lotteries, and wilderness access. If you're looking for a campground at Yosemite, try Campnab. If you're trying to get a permit to hike Half Dome or thru-hike the JMT, that's us.