Half Dome permit
Half Dome lottery dates
Half Dome runs two lotteries, and only the preseason lottery has application dates you can plan around.
- Preseason lottery
- One application window, in March. Results post after it closes.
- Daily lottery
- No date to apply for in advance. During the hiking season you apply two days before the day you want to hike.
Published odds
What the agency publishes about Half Dome odds
22% (Preseason lottery (March), 2024).
“Applications: 35,289 (35,289 in 2023) … Application success rate: 22% (22% in 2023)”
How the Half Dome draw works
- Cost
- $10 per application + $10 per person if awarded
- Daily quota
- 225 permits
- Max group size
- 6 people
Applications are filed through Recreation.gov. Open the official Half Dome page
Half Dome lottery questions
When is the Half Dome lottery?
The preseason lottery takes applications in March, and results post after the window closes. The daily lottery has no advance window: during the hiking season you apply two days before the day you want to hike.
Can I apply for the Half Dome daily lottery in advance?
No. During the hiking season you apply two days before the day you want to hike, so there is no deadline to put on a calendar ahead of time.
What are the odds of winning the Half Dome lottery?
22% (Preseason lottery (March), 2024), published by NPS Half Dome Permit Lottery Statistics.