The Half Dome Lottery, Explained

Climbing the Half Dome cables requires a permit awarded by lottery. It is a separate system from Yosemite wilderness permits, and it is a day-use style lottery: Permit Ranger does not watch it, and this page explains honestly how it works and what we can watch instead.

How the Half Dome lottery works

About 300 hikers per day are allowed on the cables while they are up (roughly late May through early October): most spots go to day hikers, with a share reserved for backpackers.

There are two ways in. The preseason lottery accepts applications on recreation.gov during March, with results in mid-April; you pick up to seven ranked dates per application. The daily lottery releases a smaller batch of permits two days before each date, with applications open from midnight to 1:00 PM Pacific and results that evening.

Backpackers do not use those lotteries: a Yosemite wilderness permit on an itinerary that reasonably passes Half Dome can add Half Dome cables access during booking, subject to its own daily backpacker quota.

What Permit Ranger watches instead

Permit Ranger does not watch the Half Dome day-use lottery: lottery applications are not availability, so there is nothing to poll. What we do watch, around the clock, is Yosemite wilderness permit availability, including the JMT and Happy Isles trailheads backpackers use to reach Half Dome with the wilderness-permit add-on. Cancellations at those trailheads reopen constantly.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a Half Dome permit without the lottery?

Yes, two ways: the daily lottery two days before your hike, or a Yosemite wilderness permit on a qualifying overnight itinerary with the Half Dome add-on.

Does Permit Ranger alert on Half Dome day-use permits?

No. The day-use lottery has no availability to watch. Permit Ranger watches Yosemite wilderness permits, which are the backpacker route to Half Dome.