Backcountry permits
PermitSnag lists 753 backcountry permits across 11 regions and categories, from national parks and forests to wild rivers and state parks. Find yours by name, then set an alert where we check for cancellations. Search by park, trail, or permit name below.
753
permit types tracked
11
regions & categories
1 min
Pro scan interval (free: hourly)
Browse every tracked permit
Core Zone
LotteryPopularEnchantments · National Forests & Wilderness
Half Dome
LotteryPopularYosemite · California
The Wave
LotteryPopularVermilion Cliffs · Utah & BLM
Mt. Whitney Day
LotteryPopularSEKI · California
Enchantments Thru
LotteryPopularEnchantments · National Forests & Wilderness
GC Rafting
LotteryPopularColorado Rivers · Wild & Scenic Rivers
Moenkopi Yurts
ReservationDead Horse Point · Utah State Parks
Steep Ravine Cabins
LotteryMt. Tam · California State Parks
Wingate Yurts
ReservationDead Horse Point · Utah State Parks
Angels Landing
LotteryPopularZion · Utah & BLM
Wonderland
LotteryPopularMt. Rainier · National Parks
Denali
ReservationPopularDenali · Mountaineering & Summit Permits
Havasupai Falls
ReservationPopularHavasupai · National Parks
JMT Yosemite
LotteryPopularYosemite · California
Rim-to-Rim
LotteryPopularGrand Canyon · National Parks
Wave Daily Lottery
LotteryVermilion Cliffs · Utah & BLM
Aravaipa Canyon
ReservationPopularAravaipa Canyon · Utah & BLM
Bright Angel
LotteryGrand Canyon · National Parks
Daily Lottery
LotteryEnchantments · National Forests & Wilderness
Env Site 1
ReservationJulia Pfeiffer Burns · California State Parks
About Backcountry Permits
America's most spectacular wilderness areas require permits to protect fragile ecosystems and ensure quality experiences. From the granite walls of Half Dome permits to the sandstone waves of The Wave permit, these protected lands see millions of visitors each year.
Permit systems vary by agency and location. National Park permits use Recreation.gov for reservations and lotteries. National Forest permits and wilderness areas often have different quota systems. Utah & BLM permits like the Vermilion Cliffs manage their own lottery systems.
Agencies publish very different odds for the hardest permits, and several publish none at all. The Forest Service puts the Enchantments advance lottery, across all zones, at under 10%. NPS recorded 8,043 applications for 482 launch dates in the 2025 Grand Canyon river Main Lottery, about 6%. Yosemite publishes no success rate for the JMT permits and their Donohue Pass trailheads. Cancellations happen on all of them, and PermitSnag monitors availability around the clock so you can catch those openings.
Browse by Region
National Parks
America's crown jewels managed by the National Park Service. These iconic landscapes require permits to protect their pr...
National Forests & Wilderness
Designated wilderness areas within National Forests, managed by the US Forest Service. Home to some of the most competit...
Wild & Scenic Rivers
Multi-day river expeditions on America's protected wild and scenic rivers. Managed by various federal agencies including...
Thru-Hikes & Long Trails
Multi-day point-to-point traverses and iconic long-distance trails. From the 211-mile JMT to the 93-mile Wonderland Trai...
Mountaineering & Summit Permits
High-altitude summit permits and technical climbing routes across America's greatest peaks. From the glaciers of Denali ...
Long Trails
America's long-distance trails that cross state lines and agencies, from the Appalachian Trail to the Arizona Trail. Eve...
California
From the granite domes of Yosemite to the ancient sequoias, California's wilderness offers unparalleled diversity. Home ...
Utah & BLM
Utah's red rock country and BLM-managed lands contain some of the most otherworldly landscapes on Earth. From slot canyo...
California State Parks
California State Parks manage backcountry camping from coastal bluffs to mountain forests. Reservations open 6 months ah...
State Parks
Backpack, cart-in, canoe-in and boat-in sites in state park systems outside California and Utah. Small facilities (often...
Utah State Parks
Utah State Parks offer primitive camping at reservoirs, desert islands, and red rock valleys. From Antelope Island's bis...
Featured Destinations
Bucket-list permits that draw adventurers from around the world
Enchantments
Core Zone
“Twenty-four people a day enter the Core Enchantment Zone, the high lake basin between Aasgard Pass and Upper Snow Lake, and every cancellation puts a place back on Recreation.gov.”
Yosemite
Half Dome
“Stand atop one of America's most iconic granite monoliths, 4,800 feet above Yosemite Valley floor.”
Vermilion Cliffs
The Wave
“Stand in the flowing lines of 190-million-year-old sandstone, a geological masterpiece formed when dinosaurs roamed the earth.”
SEKI
Mt. Whitney Day
“Stand atop the highest point in the contiguous United States, where on a clear day you can see over 100 miles in every direction.”
Most Competitive Permits
High demand, limited spots. These require planning and persistence.
Core Zone
Enchantments
Half Dome
Yosemite
The Wave
Vermilion Cliffs
Mt. Whitney Day
SEKI
Enchantments Thru
Enchantments
GC Rafting
Colorado Rivers
Angels Landing
Zion
Wonderland
Mt. Rainier
Backcountry permit questions
- How many backcountry permits does PermitSnag track?
- 753 backcountry and wilderness permits, in 11 regions and categories: National Parks, National Forests & Wilderness, Wild & Scenic Rivers, Thru-Hikes & Long Trails, Mountaineering & Summit Permits, Long Trails, California, Utah & BLM, California State Parks, State Parks, Utah State Parks.
- Where do I book a backcountry permit?
- Almost every wilderness permit, river launch and permit lottery on federal land is sold on Recreation.gov. State parks sell their permits on the state's own booking system.
- How do backcountry permit cancellation alerts work?
- On a permit we check for cancellations, set an alert on its page. When a canceled permit goes back on sale, we text or email you. Pro alerts check every minute and free alerts check every hour.
- Does PermitSnag book backcountry permits for me?
- No. You book the permit yourself on the agency's booking system. Each alert includes a booking link.
Browse Permits by State
Jump to every permit we track in a given state, with upcoming lottery and reservation dates.
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