August 18, 2026
Four Pass Loop just opened for today, plus Middle Fork dates in Sept and Oct
What dropped this week
Four Pass Loop (Maroon Bells) opened up for today, August 18 — if you can move fast, that's a same-day shot. Middle Fork of the Salmon threw three separate openings this week: September 8, September 15, and October 4. Needles Peekaboo picked up October 8 and October 9. St. Helens climbing permits opened a September 9 date. Enchantments Core Zone opened August 20. High Sierra Trail opened August 31. Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit opened September 11. And two Utah state park permits both dropped the same date — Snow Canyon Hike-In and Dead Horse Point's Wingate Hike-In both opened September 28.
Open right now
Permits currently showing availability: St. Helens climbing, Lost Coast Trail (King Range), Lyell Canyon in Yosemite (Donohue Pass eligible), Grand Gulch on Cedar Mesa, Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit, Elephant Canyon in the Needles, Mt. Whitney Zone day-use, and High Sierra Trail. Worth a look if any of these are on your list — availability changes fast on the popular ones, so don't sit on it.
Lotteries opening/closing soon
The Wave lottery closes August 31, less than two weeks out. If you haven't put in for it yet, get your entry in before then.
This week's data insight
Looking at this month's availability changes by day of week, Monday leads with 195, followed by Tuesday at 173. Wednesday is the quietest day at 117, with Thursday close behind at 121. If you're refreshing permit pages, early week is when the churn happens most — worth checking Monday and Tuesday mornings before you assume nothing's moving.