Lottery10/10
JMT permit
The legendary 211-mile trail from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney. Two Donohue ...
LotteryDay UseVery High Demand
Half Dome Day Hike Permit
Required permit to climb the famous cables on Half Dome. One of the most sought-after day hikes in America.
“Stand atop one of America's most iconic granite monoliths, 4,800 feet above Yosemite Valley floor.”
How to get Half Dome
Half Dome is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
How to get Half Dome
Half Dome is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
Two ways to land it
Get lottery reminders or run a lottery pool
Core feature
Lottery reminders
We remind you when the Half Dome lottery opens, before the deadline, and when results post, so you never miss your window. This permit is awarded by lottery, so there are no cancellations to catch.
Set lottery remindersPro or $19 alert
Lottery pool
Apply with a crew. Each person multiplies your combined odds (solo ~22% preseason (NPS, 2024)). We coordinate invites, deadlines, and outcomes.
See plans to start a poolBest odds: run a pool and let us remind you before every deadline.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
Start a plan — it's free
No permit needed to start
Half Dome Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodLottery
Demand LevelExtremely High10/10
SeasonLate May - October
Cost$10 per application + $10 per person if awarded
Daily Quota225 people
Lottery Odds22% preseason (NPS, 2024)
Max Group Size6 people
Half Dome Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California requires a permit issued via lottery.
- Half Dome is one of the most competitive permits in the United States, rating 10/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The Half Dome lottery typically opens March 1 and closes March 31, with results announced Mid-April.
- The permit season for Half Dome runs Late May through October.
- The Half Dome route covers 14.2 miles with 4,800 feet of elevation gain, rated strenuous.
Who issues Half Dome permits
Source: National Park Service, Yosemite National Park. Read the official permit page.
“The application period for this lottery is from March 1 through March 31 (eastern time).” Published under the heading "Preseason Lottery".
Checked against the agency page on August 20, 2026.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery OpensMarch 1
Lottery ClosesMarch 31
ResultsMid-April
SeasonLate May - October
Permit Details
TypeDay Use
Booking MethodLottery
Demand Level10/10
LocationSierra Nevada, CA
Pro Tips
- •Apply for weekdays in March lottery
- •Try daily lottery 2 days before
- •Start at 5am or earlier
- •Bring gloves and 4+ liters of water
- •Check weather for thunderstorms
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
14.2 miles
Elevation Gain
4,800 ft
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
10-14 hours
Difficulty
StrenuousElevation Range
4,035 - 8,846 ft
Highlights
- •A 10-14 hour day hike covering 14-17 miles depending on route choice
- •Nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain with significant exposure on Sub Dome and cables
- •The Mist Trail is steeper and wetter; the JMT is longer but more gradual
- •Steel cables for the final 400-foot ascent at a 45-degree angle
- •Crowded conditions on summer weekends—expect to wait at the cables
Best Time to Visit
Late June through early September offers the most reliable conditions. July and August have warm temperatures but also afternoon thunderstorm risk. September has fewer crowds and stable weather but shorter days.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Lightning strikes—do not attempt if thunderstorms are in the forecast
- !Slick granite when wet—cables become extremely dangerous
- !Severe exposure on cables—not recommended for those with fear of heights
- !Dehydration and heat exhaustion in summer
- !Hypothermia if caught in rain unprepared
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (4,035 ft)
⚠️
Backcountry Tips
- Today: Expect 17°F colder at summit. Layer up.
- Today: Freezing temps at elevation. Bring insulation even if warm below.
- Tomorrow: Expect 17°F colder at summit. Layer up.
Today
☀️
58°
45°
Mon
☀️
60°
44°
Tue
☀️
65°
39°
Wed
☁️
63°
35°
Thu
☁️
62°
35°
Fri
☀️
63°
35°
Sat
☁️
67°
41°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Verify your email and add payment info ahead of time.
2
Apply during the lottery window
Submit your application between March 1 and March 31. Apply for multiple dates to increase your odds.
3
Wait for lottery results
Results are typically announced Mid-April. Check your email and your Recreation.gov account.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: July-AugustShoulder: June and September
Conditions
Cables typically down. Waterfalls spectacular but snow may block upper trail.
Crowd Level
ModerateAdvantages
- +Powerful waterfalls
- +Fewer crowds on lower trail
Challenges
- !Cables not installed
- !Snow on upper trail
- !Cold water crossings
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand5/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill3/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk4/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment4/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Well-conditioned hikers comfortable with significant exposure and heights. Must be able to maintain grip strength for the 400-foot cable ascent.
Recommended Experience
Should have completed at least one 10+ mile, 3,000+ ft elevation gain hike. Prior cable or scrambling experience helpful but not required.
Not Recommended For
Those with fear of heights, limited upper body strength, or anyone who has not completed a strenuous 10+ mile hike before.
About This Permit
Half Dome is one of the most demanding day hikes in any National Park—a 14 to 17-mile round trip that climbs nearly 5,000 feet from the valley floor to the summit at 8,846 feet. The hike passes two of Yosemite's most spectacular waterfalls before ascending the granite shoulder of Half Dome itself.
The final 400 feet are ascended using steel cables bolted into the rock, allowing hikers to climb what would otherwise require technical rock-climbing gear. This cable section is only accessible when the cables are 'up,' typically from late May through mid-October.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Half Dome has been a symbol of Yosemite since the park's founding. Its distinctive shape—carved by glaciers over millions of years—has inspired artists, photographers, and adventurers for over 150 years. For many, summiting Half Dome represents a personal milestone and a connection to the wilderness vision of John Muir.
The Route
From Happy Isles, the trail splits into two paths that reunite above Nevada Fall. The Mist Trail is shorter but brutal—600 granite stairs rising through the spray of Vernal Fall, each step more slippery than the last. The John Muir Trail switchbacks more gently, offering views of Liberty Cap's granite dome.
Above Nevada Fall, the forest closes in as you traverse Little Yosemite Valley. The crowds thin as you climb through silent pine forests toward the shoulder of Half Dome. Then the trees fall away, and you see it: the Sub Dome rising like a wall, and beyond it, the cables ascending into the sky.
The Sub Dome's steep switchbacks are merely a prelude. The cables themselves stretch 400 feet up polished granite at a 45-degree pitch. You grip cold steel, plant your feet on wooden planks, and pull. Pause. Breathe. Pull again. And then, suddenly, you're standing on top of the world.
The Feeling
The final ascent up the cables is unlike anything else in hiking. Your arms burn as you pull yourself up the 45-degree granite face, pausing at each wooden plank to catch your breath and steady your nerves. The exposure is intense—a sheer drop on either side with nothing but your grip and the steel cables between you and a very long fall. But when you crest the summit and step onto that broad granite dome, the entire Sierra stretches before you in an infinite sea of peaks and valleys.
Trailhead Information
Happy Isles Trailhead
4,035 ft elevationThe primary and most popular starting point for Half Dome, located at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley at Shuttle Stop #16.
Restrooms
Water on site
Weak Signal
Parking
No direct parking at trailhead. Use the Half Dome Village day-hiker lot (0.5 miles) or Curry Village (0.75 miles). Lots fill by 7am on summer weekends.
Getting There
Take the free Yosemite Valley shuttle to Stop #16. Shuttles run every 12-22 minutes from 7am to 10pm.
Nearest Services
Half Dome Village (Curry Village) has a general store, showers, and dining 0.75 miles from the trailhead.
Rules & Regulations
- •Valid Half Dome permit required to hike beyond Sub Dome when cables are up
- •Permits checked by rangers at the base of Sub Dome
- •Hiking without a permit is a federal violation (fine up to $5,000 and/or 6 months jail)
- •Up to six permits (six people) per preseason lottery application
- •Camping prohibited at the summit or on Sub Dome
- •Dogs, bikes, and drones are prohibited on the trail
Gear Checklist
Required
- Sturdy hiking boots with excellent traction
- Headlamp with extra batteries (most hikes start pre-dawn)
- At least 4 liters of water per person
- Grippy work gloves for the cables (essential)
Recommended
- Trekking poles (helpful for steep descent)
- Via ferrata harness and lanyard (optional for nervous hikers)
- Lightweight rain jacket (afternoon thunderstorms common)
- Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
- High-calorie snacks and lunch
- Water filter (can refill at Merced River in Little Yosemite Valley)
Plan Your Trip
Better odds with a crew
Half Dome is a lottery — solo odds run about 22%. Every friend who applies adds another entry. Five of you, each applying: about 71%.
One of you runs the pool (Pro or a $19 alert). Everyone else joins free.
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Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Half Dome
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Key Landmarks
↑
4,800ft
Gain↓
4,800ft
Loss⛰️
8,846ft
High📏
8.2mi
Distance📐
11.1%
Avg GradeClick on a marker to view details•7 landmarks
Landmarks (7)
Lottery Statistics
22% preseason (NPS, 2024)
estimated success rate
Get detailed lottery statistics and tips. Sign up to track this permit.
Boost Your Chances
Apply with a crew to multiply your combined odds, and let auto win-detection tell you the moment you win — you never have to check Recreation.gov. Win-detection reads the result email you forward us, so it takes a one-time setup in your inbox (about two minutes, and we walk you through it). Pool and auto win-detection are on Pro or a $19 permit alert.
Apply these for the best odds
- Apply for weekdays. NPS reports weekday daily-lottery success at 22% in 2024 and 23% in 2023, against 14% on weekends in 2024.
- Cancelled preseason permits do not come back to the calendar — NPS folds them into the daily lottery, which is why the daily supply moves day to day. The way to catch them is to enter that draw.
Opens the official lottery — you submit your entry. We never automate or store your Recreation.gov login.
Full lottery odds & strategy →Safety & Planning
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Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Half Dome.
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Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Half Dome FAQ
Do you need a permit to hike Half Dome?
Yes, whenever the cables are up, seven days a week. NPS caps the trail beyond the base of the subdome: "A maximum of 300 hikers are allowed (about 225 day hikers and 75 backpackers) each day on the Half Dome Trail beyond the base of the subdome." Rangers check permits at the bottom of the subdome, and the permit holder or the named alternate has to be standing there with the group.
When is the Half Dome permit lottery?
The preseason lottery runs March 1 through March 31 eastern time, with results emailed in mid-April. After that there is a daily lottery all season: you apply two days before you want to hike, between midnight and 4 pm Pacific, and hear back late that night. NPS says the daily permits exist "based on the estimated rate of under-use and cancellation of permits," so the number floats day to day.
What are the odds of getting a Half Dome permit?
NPS publishes this one, unlike its wilderness trailheads. For 2024 the park reports 35,289 preseason applications and a 22% application success rate, the same as 2023. The daily lottery ran 35,561 applications at a 19% success rate, splitting to 22% on weekdays and 14% on weekends. Note the preseason weekday and weekend numbers are counted differently: those are per-choice rates, 1.0% and 0.8%, not per-application.
How much does a Half Dome permit cost?
Two separate charges. $10 when you submit the application, which is per application and not per person, and is not refundable. Then $10 per person, charged only if you actually get the permit. That second $10 is fully refundable if you cancel by 11:59 pm Pacific the day before your hike, or if the cables are not up on your date.
How many people can be on one Half Dome permit?
Six. NPS allows "up to six permits (six people)" on one preseason application. A person's name can appear on only one application in the preseason lottery, as either permit holder or alternate, and applying more than once cancels all of your applications. Daily lottery applications allow a permit holder only, with no alternate.
When are the Half Dome cables up?
"The Half Dome cables usually go back up the Friday before the last Monday in May (Memorial Day) and come down the day after the second Monday in October." Both dates move with conditions, so check the park's status page before you count on them. If the cables are not up on your date, your $10 per-person fee comes back.
How hard is the Half Dome hike?
NPS calls it 14 to 16 miles round trip with 4,800 feet of gain, and "most hikers take 10 to 12 hours to hike to Half Dome and back; some take longer." The last 400 feet are the cables. Park rangers assist hundreds of people on this trail every summer, and the park is blunt that the hike "is not for you if you're out of shape or unprepared."
Can backpackers get a Half Dome permit?
Yes, and through a different door. Backpackers, including anyone camping in Little Yosemite Valley, request Half Dome with their wilderness permit rather than through the day-hiker lottery. If your permit is for a Half Dome eligible trailhead you add it when you pick the permit up, no advance reservation, $10 per person. One catch from NPS: start your JMT hike outside Yosemite and finish inside it, and your permit is not valid for Half Dome.
👥Community
Trail Conditions(2)
Photography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunset from Glacier Point offers the most iconic Half Dome photography, with alpenglow turning the granite face pink, orange, and red.
Best Light
Midday light on the summit provides even illumination for the 360-degree panorama. For the classic Ansel Adams view, shoot from Valley View at sunrise with Merced River reflections.
Beat the Crowds
For summit photography, arrive by first light (5am start) or stay until the last shuttle—midday crowds thin significantly after 2pm on the summit.
Classic Shots
- 📍Glacier Point sunset view with alpenglow on the dome face
- 📍Reflection in the Merced River from Sentinel Bridge at sunset
- 📍The cables ascent from Sub Dome (wide angle)
- 📍Panoramic summit view toward Clouds Rest and Tenaya Canyon
- 📍Nevada Fall with Half Dome in background from John Muir Trail
Can't Get a Half Dome Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Clouds Rest
Similar ExperienceA 14.5-mile hike with a knife-edge summit ridge that offers views looking DOWN on Half Dome from 1,000 feet above. Many argue the views are superior to Half Dome itself.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
No cables or permit hassle, but requires Tioga Road access (seasonal). Less crowded but equally strenuous.
North Dome
Same AreaA 10-mile hike offering face-to-face views of Half Dome from directly across the valley. Includes optional side trip to Indian Rock natural arch.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
Much less crowded and no permit needed, but you're looking at Half Dome rather than standing on it.
Four-Mile to Panorama Trail Loop
Easier AlternativeA 13-16 mile valley-rim loop passing Glacier Point and three major waterfalls (Illilouette, Nevada, and Vernal Falls).
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
No permit required and spectacular waterfall views, but no summit experience.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Half Dome trip
Trip planning
Articles that plan a trip around this permit.
- Cancellation Hunting: A Complete GuideEverything you need to know about finding and booking cancelled permits. When to look, what to watch for, and how to act fast.
- Half Dome vs Angels Landing PermitsTwo of America's most iconic permit hikes compared. Difficulty, demand, lottery odds, and which one is right for your experience level.
- How to Win Permit Lotteries: Real StrategiesStrategies for improving your permit lottery odds: timing, flexibility, and the techniques that actually work, drawn from thousands of lottery results.
- Permit Lottery vs First-Come-First-ServedA comprehensive comparison of permit lottery and FCFS systems. Learn the pros and cons of each, which permits use which system, and strategies for both.
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