2026 Wilderness Permit Lottery Calendar
Complete deadline calendar for JMT, Half Dome, The Wave, Glacier, and the most competitive backcountry permits. Key dates, odds, and strategies to improve your chances.
| Permit | Lottery Opens | Lottery Closes | Results | Odds | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolling weekly lottery | 24 weeks before entry | Following Monday | Varies by trailhead | Apply during the Sunday-Saturday window 24 weeks out. Happy Isles has the longest odds. | |
| March 1, 2026 | March 31, 2026 | Mid-April 2026 | ~22% | Missed preseason? The daily lottery runs 2 days before each hike date, all season. | |
| Monthly, year-round | Apply 4 months ahead | 1st of next month | 2-12% | Apply every month with all 3 dates. Winter dates run near 10-12% odds. | |
| March 15, 2026 | One-day application | March 17, 2026 | Early access | Skipped the lottery? Remaining sites went on sale May 1, and 30% are held for walk-ups. | |
| Monthly, year-round | 1st of each month | Early that month | Varies by month | Monthly early access lottery about 4 months ahead. North Kaibab closes October 15, 2026. | |
| February 15, 2026 | March 1, 2026 | March 17, 2026 | ~2% Core Zone | Other zones run far better odds than the Core. Unclaimed permits returned April 1. | |
| February 1, 2026 on-sale | Until sold out | Instant (first come) | No lottery | Not a lottery since 2026. Book at havasupaireservations.com. Cancellations return to the public calendar. | |
| Seasonal releases | Ongoing | Instant (first come) | No lottery | About half the sites reserve in advance on Recreation.gov, half are walk-up the day before. Bottom-up day hikes need no permit. | |
| February 1, 2026 | March 1, 2026 | March 15, 2026 | ~22% | Weekdays roughly triple your odds vs Saturdays. Unclaimed dates returned April 22. | |
| February 10, 2026 | March 3, 2026 | March 14, 2026 | ~4-6% | Early access booking started March 21. General reservations opened April 25. |
Don't Miss the Lottery
Set up PermitSnag to monitor your permit. We'll alert you the moment spots open from cancellations — many hikers get their permits this way.
Start Monitoring FreeFrequently Asked Questions
When do most wilderness permit lotteries open?
The big annual lotteries cluster in late winter: Mt. Whitney runs February 1 to March 1, the Enchantments February 15 to March 1, Wonderland February 10 to March 3, and Half Dome all of March. Rolling systems like Yosemite wilderness, The Wave, and Grand Canyon backcountry accept applications year-round. Always check Recreation.gov for exact dates.
How can I improve my lottery odds?
Multiple strategies: (1) Apply for weekday dates, which can run double or triple the weekend odds, (2) Target shoulder season (May, June, September, October), (3) List every date choice your application allows, (4) Set up PermitSnag alerts for cancellations.
What happens if I don't win the lottery?
Don't give up! Unclaimed permits return after results (Whitney on April 22, the Enchantments on April 1), and cancellations come back all season. The key is being fast. PermitSnag monitors cancellations 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens.
Can I get a permit without entering the lottery?
Yes! Many top permits are straight first-come reservations with no lottery at all: Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Olympic, and Havasupai among them. Many parks also hold back a share of permits for walk-ups the day before entry.
What's the hardest permit lottery to win?
The Enchantments Core Zone runs around 2%, and summer dates for The Wave run 2-3%. Wonderland Trail full circuits are roughly 4-6%. By comparison, Mt. Whitney and Half Dome at about 22% feel almost generous.