Risk
Lottery terrain is steep
High-demand permits can have single-digit odds, so one attempt rarely works.
PermitSnag Trail Desk
Catch openings like a seasoned trail guide,
not a frantic refresh machine.
We watch sold-out permits and campgrounds around the clock and ping you when something opens. Fast Lane gets you to Recreation.gov while the spot still shows available. Chasing a lottery? Start a pool. Each friend adds another application to your crew's shot.
We'll show exact matches first, then the next-best options with clear reasoning.
Coverage
623+
permit types
Campgrounds
3,961
actively listed
Campsites
119,208
currently tracked
Result
~3 sec
Fast Lane to booking page
No credit card required. Set up your first watch in under 2 minutes.
Timing
Openings appear off-hours
Cancellations often surface early morning, late evening, or right before weather shifts.
Speed
Booking windows close fast
When inventory appears, you usually have minutes before it disappears again.
Crowding
Demand compresses around classics
Iconic parks and shoulder-season weekends create heavy competition every release cycle.
Step 1
Pick your target trips
Tell us where you want to go, when you can travel, and group size. We support permits and campgrounds in the same watchlist.
Step 2
We keep watch around the clock
Our system checks availability every few minutes so you do not have to babysit reservation pages.
Step 3
We ping you when something opens
Email on every watch. Add SMS on Pro or a $12 alert when you need your phone in the loop.
Step 4
Fast Lane takes you straight in
Open the alert and jump into checkout in two taps, before the next person even loads the page.
Step 5
You go hike
Permit secured. Campsite booked. Calendar synced. Now focus on route prep, weather, and snacks.
Tools That Feel Human
Built for real trip planning, not just monitoring screens
Every feature is designed to get you from "maybe" to "booked" with less friction and fewer dead ends.
Most used during bookings
Fast Lane gets you to checkout in 2 taps
A Half Dome permit opens, you tap once from the alert, then tap again to reserve. No searching through tabs while everyone else races you.
Typical race window
Under 3 minutes
Goal
Open checkout first
Pro
Similar permits when yours is full
If The Wave is closed, we suggest nearby permits like Coyote Buttes South. Your trip plan stays moving.
Learn moreFree + Pro
Deadline reminders are built in
Track timing for lotteries like JMT and Whitney, with calendar-ready reminders.
Learn morePro
We scan more often when it counts
Paid watches get checked more often around lottery drops, weather shifts, and busy weekends for places like Zion permits and holiday campsites.
Coverage
Built for the places people actually dream about
Half Dome, Enchantments, Zion, The Wave, high-demand campgrounds, and hundreds more. If access depends on permits or cancellations, it belongs on your PermitSnag watchlist.
Expand your shortlist
Browse by region
National Park permits50+
National Forest permits100+
River permits20+
California permits200+
Utah + BLM permits120+
Thru-hike permits15+
Expanding coverage across Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona.
Lottery pools
Better odds with a trail crew, not solo luck
Tracking handles cancellations. For lotteries, start a pool: each friend who joins adds another application. When five people each apply to a 10% lottery, your crew's combined shot is around 41%.
You start the pool. Friends join free. Everyone applies separately, so your group gets more shots at the same permit.
- Invite link or QR code for your crew
- Tracks who applied and who won
- One organizer, everyone else joins free
- Alerts when someone in the pool gets a win
- Included with Pro or any a la carte alert
Example crew
YM
JK
SR
MC
+
Solo
10%
4-person crew
34%
6-person target
47%
Example: 6 people can mean about 6× solo entries (odds vary by permit).
How the pool works
Apply together. Win together. Hike together.
You start the pool and send invites. Everyone applies on their own account. We keep headcount, deadlines, and outcomes in one place.
Coordinate lottery deadlines without a side spreadsheet
Share permit watchlists with the same trip crew
Cancellation tracking still runs while you wait on lottery results
Quick comparison
Solo vs crew of five
Solo applicant
10%
One application, one lottery window.
Crew of five
41%
Five applications, one shared plan.
“We chased Whitney for three seasons. PermitSnag found a cancellation in week two.”
Sarah M.
San Francisco, CA
“Got a Wave alert at 6:00am, booked at 6:02. First time it felt possible.”
Jake R.
Denver, CO
“Our 5-person JMT group had two lottery wins because we ran it as a pool.”
Mike + Crew
Portland, OR
Referral perk
Give one month, get one month
Refer a hiking partner. When they subscribe, both of you get one free month. No referral cap.
PermitSnag Users Are Winning
Real results from real adventurers
...
Permits Secured
...
Campsites Booked
...
Adventurers Helped
Stats updated hourly from actual PermitSnag usage
Where We Fit
PermitSnag is your trail-access guide, not a generic travel planner
PermitSnag
Catch openings quickly
Monitor permit and campsite cancellations, then move to checkout with minimal friction.
Wanderlog
Organize the trip
Good for itinerary building and notes, but not designed for permit release timing or cancellation races.
Recreation.gov
Official booking portal
Required for reservations, but manual refresh and fragmented discovery make hard permits easy to miss.
Capability
PermitSnag
Wanderlog
Rec.gov
Backcountry permit coverage
Yes
No
Partial
Campsite cancellation tracking
Yes
No
Partial
Fast path to checkout
Yes
No
No
Lottery + cancellation strategy
Yes
No
No
Trip planning docs and itinerary tools
Partial
Yes
No
Official booking/account portal
No
No
Yes
One place to track permits and campsites together
Explore coverage across National Parks, National Forests, California, Utah + BLM, and 3,961 campgrounds covering 119,208 campsites.
Browse all tracked permitsPro Plan
Free helps you explore. Pro helps you secure the trip.
Best for active planners
Pro
For hikers planning multiple trips each year.
$7.99/month
or $79.99/year (save 17%)
Cancel anytime. Upgrade only when you need speed and volume.
Pro
Fast Lane booking
Alert to Recreation.gov booking in two taps.
Pro
SMS and email alerts
Get a ping when a spot opens, not when you remember to refresh.
Pro
Unlimited tracking
Follow every permit and campsite you care about.
Pro
More scans when it matters
We check paid watches more often around lottery drops and busy weekends.
4.9/5 member ratingTrusted by thousands of hikers
Yes. PermitSnag tracks 3,961 campgroundsand 119,208 campsites alongside wilderness permits, so you can pair permit alerts with nearby camping.
Ready To Start
Spend less time refreshing.
More time outside.
Set your first watchlist in under 2 minutes. No credit card required.
Start Tracking for FreeStrategy
How to Win Permit Lotteries
Practical strategies to improve your odds with timing, flexibility, and group planning.
10 min read
Strategy
Cancellation Hunting Guide
Where openings show up, when to watch, and how to move quickly when they appear.
8 min read
Getting Started
Understanding Permit Systems
A clear walkthrough of lotteries, FCFS releases, and reservation windows.
8 min read
Comparison
Half Dome vs Angels Landing
Compare two iconic permit hikes by demand, difficulty, and trip fit.
12 min read
Permit Directory
Browse Backcountry Permits
Find permits for day hikes, overnight backpacking, thru-hikes, canyoneering, and river trips across federal and state lands.
National Park Permits
Day-use, overnight, and wilderness permits at America's crown jewels
California Wilderness Permits
Sierra Nevada, Lost Coast, and backcountry access
Utah & BLM Permits
Red rock canyons, slot canyon permits, and desert wilderness
National Forest & Wilderness Permits
USFS wilderness areas with quota systems
Thru-Hikes & Long Trails
Multi-day point-to-point traverses and epic long-distance trails
River Permits
Multi-day rafting and river access permits
California State Park Permits
Backcountry camping and trail permits
Mountaineering & Summit Permits
High-altitude summit permits and technical climbing routes
Campgrounds
Browse Campsites
Monitor campsite availability across federal and state parks. Get alerts when sites open up at sold-out campgrounds.
California
8 popular campgrounds
- Pfeiffer Big Sur SP
- Crystal Cove SP
- El Capitan SB
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP
- San Clemente SB
- Doheny SB
- Leo Carrillo SP
- Morro Bay SP
Colorado
7 popular campgrounds
- Cherry Creek SP
- Chatfield SP
- State Forest SP
- Steamboat Lake SP
- Mueller SP
- Ridgway SP
- Golden Gate Canyon SP
Washington
7 popular campgrounds
- Deception Pass SP
- Moran SP
- Fort Worden SP
- Cape Disappointment SP
- Lake Chelan SP
- Lake Wenatchee SP
- Palouse Falls SP