How to Book Recreation.gov: Cancellations, Release Times and Alerts
You book a permit or a campsite on Recreation.gov yourself, at recreation.gov. PermitSnag does not take reservations. When the dates you want are full, a PermitSnag alert checks Recreation.gov for cancellations and texts or emails you when one opens.
How Recreation.gov works
Recreation.gov is the single federal booking system: nearly every wilderness permit, river launch, lottery and federal campground in the country runs through it, sold by the Park Service, Forest Service, BLM, Army Corps and Bureau of Reclamation on one shared site. This page is PermitSnag's guide to booking on it; the reservation itself happens on recreation.gov.
When cancellations show up
Recreation.gov opens booking windows on its own schedule, and it varies permit to permit and campground to campground. The individual listing on recreation.gov is the source for that date. What's constant is what happens once a window is full: cancellations happen, and they go straight back onto the calendar the moment someone gives up their spot. PermitSnag checks the permits and campgrounds you tell it to and texts or emails you the moment a cancellation opens one back up.
How a PermitSnag alert helps
A PermitSnag alert checks Recreation.gov on your behalf and texts or emails you the moment a cancellation lands, so you are not the one refreshing the page. Set an alert on any permit or campground you can reach from the links below, or search for it from the full permit directory.
What we check here
Permits we check on Recreation.gov
- Half Dome cables permit availability
- Enchantments Core Zone permit availability
- Middle Fork Salmon launch dates
- Wonderland Trail camp availability
Wiring last verified 2026-10-29.
Recreation.gov questions
Where do I book Recreation.gov reservations?
On recreation.gov. Recreation.gov is operated by the U.S. federal government. PermitSnag is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. federal government.
When do Recreation.gov reservations open?
Recreation.gov sets its own booking window, and it varies from listing to listing. The listing on recreation.gov is the source for the exact date.
How do I get an alert for a canceled Recreation.gov permit or campsite?
Set a PermitSnag alert on the permit or campsite and the dates you want. PermitSnag checks Recreation.gov and texts or emails you when a canceled permit or campsite opens. You then book it yourself on recreation.gov.
Recreation.gov is operated by the U.S. federal government. PermitSnag is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. federal government.