Question 1

How does PermitSnag find cancellations?

Accepted Answer

We check permit availability around the clock. Pro and $19 single-permit watches are checked about every minute; free watches are checked hourly. When someone cancels a permit like Half Dome or a JMT slot opens, you get notified instantly via email and optional SMS.

Question 2

Which permits do you track?

Accepted Answer

Every major backcountry permit across National Parks, National Forests, California, and Utah & BLM - 682 permits total. That includes Half Dome, Mt Whitney, the JMT, The Wave, Angels Landing, the Enchantments, and hundreds more.

Question 3

Do you track campgrounds too?

Accepted Answer

Yes. PermitSnag tracks thousands of campgrounds and over 100,000 campsites in addition to backcountry permits, monitoring cancellations 24/7.

Question 4

Will you book the permit for me?

Accepted Answer

No - and that's intentional. Automatic booking would violate provider terms and your account could be banned. Fast Lane opens the official page for that exact permit; you complete the booking yourself in your own account.

Question 5

Do I need to log into Recreation.gov?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on your phone. When we alert you that a permit just opened, you need to be logged in already so you can book without stopping to sign in. We'll remind you to stay logged in before high-priority windows.

Question 6

Do I need to download an app?

Accepted Answer

No download needed. PermitSnag runs in your browser and alerts you by email or SMS when spots open up. On a phone, add PermitSnag to your home screen from the browser menu. It opens like an app and sends push notifications. No app store required.

Question 7

What are real-time alerts?

Accepted Answer

Real-time alerts notify you when a permit spot becomes available. Pro watches are checked about every minute — 60x more often than the hourly free tier — and we send an email (and SMS if enabled) the moment we detect availability.

Question 8

How does pricing work?

Accepted Answer

Free: one permit watched around the clock, with an email the moment it opens. No card needed. Browsing, rules, and key-date calendar reminders come with it. Pro ($79.99/yr, or $9.99/mo monthly): watch as many permits as you like and swap them any time, with priority scan frequency, real-time alerts, Fast Lane, similar permits, SMS, and lottery pools. A la Carte ($19/permit): one permit with alerts, Fast Lane, and a pool for that lottery. Only the pool organizer pays. Friends join free.

Question 9

What's the difference between Free and Pro?

Accepted Answer

Free lets you browse permits, view dates and rules, create trips, add to calendar, and set one watch with real email availability alerts. Pro adds unlimited alert-enabled watches, priority scan frequency, Fast Lane, similar permits, SMS, and lottery pools (friends join free).

Question 10

Can I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can cancel anytime from your Settings page. Your Pro features stay active until the end of your billing period.

Question 11

Why are my alerts showing as 'Off'?

Accepted Answer

Free accounts include one alert-enabled watch. Once you've used it, any further watches are calendar-only, so their alerts show as 'Off' until you upgrade to Pro or buy an A la Carte alert for that permit.

Question 12

How do I enable SMS alerts?

Accepted Answer

Go to Settings and add your phone number. You'll receive a verification code. Once verified, you can enable SMS alerts for any of your tracked permits.

Question 13

How quickly will I be notified?

Accepted Answer

Pro permits are checked about every minute and free permits hourly. When we detect availability, alerts are sent immediately - typically within seconds. Make sure your email isn't filtering our messages to spam.

Question 14

How do lottery pools work?

Accepted Answer

You start a pool for a lottery permit (Pro or a $19 alert required). Friends join free with your invite link. Everyone applies separately, which adds more entries to your crew's odds. Pool members can also track cancellations on the same permit.

Question 15

How do I invite friends to my trip?

Accepted Answer

From your trip page, click 'Invite Members' to share an invite link. When they click it, they're added to your trip automatically.

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