NC Backcountry lottery dates
Winners cancel all season. Set a cancellation alert and we tell you the moment a NC Backcountry spot opens.
Applications open March 1, 2027 and close March 12, 2027.
The NC Backcountry lottery calendar
| Stage | Date | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Applications open | The first day the agency accepts an application for this draw. | |
| Applications close | The deadline. An application filed after it is not in the draw. |
Dates come from the managing agency’s own published schedule. We re-read it every day, so a date the agency moves moves here too.
How the NC Backcountry draw works
- Cost
- $10 per person per trip for adults 16 and over, youth free, plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee.
- Max group size
- 12 people
Applications are filed through Recreation.gov. Open the official NC Backcountry page
Apply as a crew
Most lotteries let every member of a party apply, and only one entry has to win. A pool keeps the applications, the dates and the result in one place so nobody in the crew misses the deadline.
Start a pool for NC BackcountryNC Backcountry lottery questions
What if I miss the NC Backcountry lottery?
Set a cancellation alert. Winners cancel all season, and PermitSnag tells you the moment a NC Backcountry spot opens. We remind you about the lottery dates too.
When does the NC Backcountry lottery open?
Applications open March 1, 2027 and close March 12, 2027.