Half Dome Lottery: Dates, Odds and How to Apply
The Half Dome lottery is the only way onto the cables. NPS allows about 225 day hikers past the base of the subdome each day, out of a 300-hiker cap. The March preseason draw and the daily lottery are separate entries with separate deadlines, and the daily draw is where every cancelled permit ends up — so a lost preseason application is not the end of the season.
Half Dome permit alertsThis guide covers the Half Dome permit.
Half Dome lottery at a glance
The Half Dome preseason lottery awards about 22% of applications. The daily lottery, held two days before each hiking date, runs about 19% overall but roughly 22% on weekdays.
When the Half Dome lottery runs
| Applications open | March 1 |
|---|---|
| Applications close | March 31 |
| Results announced | Mid-April |
The window the managing agency publishes for this permit. Agencies move it, so check the official permit page before you apply.
Half Dome lottery odds
| Year | Lottery | Applications | Awarded | Success rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Preseason lottery (March)NPS allows about 225 day hikers each day (of a 300-hiker cap) | 35,289 | Not published | 22% |
| 2024 | Daily lottery (2 days ahead)Weekdays ran 22%, weekends 14% | 35,561 | Not published | 19% |
| 2023 | Preseason lottery (March) | Not published | Not published | 22% |
| 2023 | Daily lottery (2 days ahead)Weekdays ran 23%. NPS publishes no 2023 weekend rate — its 12% weekend figure is from 2021. | 29,292 | Not published | 19% |
Sources: NPS Half Dome Permit Lottery Statistics · NPS — Half Dome Permits
Last checked against the agency August 6, 2026. See the full Half Dome odds breakdown
Apply as a crew
Five people each entering the Half Dome lottery for the same dates turns 22% into about 71%. Whoever wins takes the group.
22%
Preseason Odds
225
Day Hikers/Day
$10
Permit Cost
May-Oct
Season
14-17 mi
Round Trip
Let's Be Real About the Odds
NPS counted 35,289 applications in the preseason lottery and reports a 22% success rate, the same rate it published the year before. The daily lottery runs 19% overall, and the split inside that number is where the strategy lives: 22% on weekdays against 14% on weekends.
Two Ways to Get a Permit
Preseason Lottery
Your best shot • March
day hikers are allowed each day, per NPS (of a 300-hiker cap)
Apply once during March for the entire season
Select up to 7 preferred dates
$10 application fee (non-refundable)
Daily Lottery
Last-minute option • Ongoing
of applications win. NPS sets the daily supply by the estimated rate of under-use and cancellation, so it is not a fixed number of permits
Apply 2 days before your hike date, midnight to 4pm PT
Results announced same evening
19% overall, and only 14% on weekend dates
Key Dates
Lottery Timeline
Hiking Season
Get Half Dome Lottery Reminders
Both draws close on the clock. We tell you when to apply.
5 Strategies to Improve Your Odds
Target Weekdays
NPS puts daily-lottery weekday success at 22% against 14% on weekends. Lean your 7 preseason date choices toward Tuesday through Thursday.
Go Shoulder Season
The cables go up in late May and come down in mid-October. Those edge weeks are easy to overlook when you pick your 7 dates, though the weather is less predictable.
Form a Lottery Pool
Coordinate with friends to each apply for the same dates. Winners can add up to 6 people total to their permit.
Double Dip with Daily Lottery
Didn't win preseason? Apply to the daily lottery 2 days before your trip. It's a second chance at the same dates.
Play the Cancellations Through the Daily Draw
Plans change and permits get cancelled every day, but they never reappear on the calendar. NPS feeds them straight into the daily lottery, which is why the daily supply moves. Enter it for every date you can reach.
What Happens When You Win
Pay permit fee
$10 per person
Add group members
Up to 6 total
Download permit
Or print it
Check in
At Happy Isles station
Show permit
Rangers at Sub Dome
Didn't Win? You Still Have Options
Daily Lottery
Apply 2 days before your trip. Lower odds, but people do win.
Deadline Reminders
Both draws close on the clock. PermitSnag tells you the day the March window opens, before each deadline, and when results post.
Hike to Sub Dome
No permit needed. Same trail, 95% of the elevation. Just can't summit.
Pro Tips for Summit Day
Start by 5am
The hike takes 10-14 hours. You want to summit before afternoon thunderstorms roll in.
Watch the weather
Lightning on exposed granite is deadly. Check forecasts and be willing to turn back.
Train for the cables
The final 400 feet are steep, exposed, and exhausting. Practice incline training beforehand.
Bring gloves
The steel cables will shred your hands. Grippy work gloves are essential.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the odds of winning the Half Dome lottery?
+
NPS reports a 22% application success rate in the preseason lottery, on 35,289 applications, with about 225 day hikers allowed each day. The daily lottery, held two days before each hiking date, ran 19% overall in 2024: 22% on weekdays and 14% on weekends.
When does the Half Dome lottery open?
+
The preseason lottery opens March 1 and closes March 31, with results in mid-April. Daily lotteries then run from mid-May through mid-October, taking applications from midnight to 4pm PT two days before each hiking date.
Can I hike Half Dome without a permit?
+
You can hike to the Sub Dome (the shoulder below the cables) without a permit. However, ascending the cables to the summit requires a valid permit when the cables are up, typically late May through mid-October. Rangers check permits at Sub Dome.
What happens if I don't win the Half Dome lottery?
+
Enter the daily lottery. It runs every day of the hiking season, takes applications from midnight to 4pm PT two days before your date, and it is where cancelled permits go — NPS sets the daily supply "based on the estimated rate of under-use and cancellation of permits". Nothing on Half Dome comes back to the calendar for you to grab, so the draw is the route. PermitSnag reminds you to enter it, and tells you when the March window opens and when results post.
How hard is the Half Dome hike?
+
Very demanding. The round trip is 14-17 miles with nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain. The cables section ascends 400 feet at a 45-degree angle on exposed granite. Most hikers take 10-14 hours. Start before sunrise to finish before afternoon storms.
Don't Miss the Half Dome Window
Half Dome is won in two draws, and both close on the clock. PermitSnag tells you the day the March lottery opens, before every deadline, and when results post — so the only thing between you and the cables is the draw.
Get Permit Alerts
Other permits on the same trip
Most people who chase Half Dome are chasing one of these in the same season.
- John Muir Trail Yosemite entry permitsThe Donohue Pass-eligible trailheads, where a northbound-to-southbound JMT actually starts. Quota belongs to the trailhead, not the trail.
- Mount Whitney day hike permitThe 14,505-foot finish line for half the Sierra. February lottery, 100 day hikers a day, and cancellation alerts after it.
- Inyo National Forest wilderness permitsEvery Eastern Sierra trailhead quota in one place, from Whitney Portal to the Ansel Adams entries. Each trailhead has its own daily cap.