# Permit Ranger > Permit Ranger tracks wilderness-permit availability on recreation.gov and sends a push notification the moment a sold-out permit you're watching opens on one of your dates: cancellations, quota drops, and release-day openings included. It covers 37 permit areas across 17 US states. It never books for you. This file contains the complete text of every Permit Ranger permit guide (37 guides). The index version lives at https://permitranger.com/llms.txt. Last generated: 2026-07-28 ## Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/apostle-islands - State: Wisconsin - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/251865 - When permits are released: Island/kayak campsites open on a rolling 30-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). Group sites are the exception - reservable up to 12 months ahead. One reservation covers your whole party. - Fee, per night: $15 per night (individual and zone sites; $30 per night for group sites) Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin protects a scattering of Lake Superior islands famous for sea caves, sandstone cliffs, and paddle-in and island camping. A camping permit reserves a specific individual or zone site - or a group site - for your party during your stay. Popular island sites and summer weekends can be competitive, so it helps to plan around the reservation window. ### How to get a Apostle Islands National Lakeshore permit 1. Choose your island site or camping zone and trip dates. Each reservation covers your whole party. 2. For individual and zone sites, reservations open on a rolling 30-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). Your entry date becomes bookable 30 days ahead. 3. Group sites are the exception - they are reservable up to 12 months in advance, so plan those trips much earlier. 4. Book on recreation.gov when your dates open, since popular island sites fill quickly for summer weekends. 5. If a site is already reserved, keep watching - cancellations return sites to inventory. Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a sold-out Apostle Islands site reopens. ### Notable trails - Sand Island Lighthouse (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wisconsin/sand-island-lighthouse - Trout Point (3.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wisconsin/trout-point ### Frequently asked questions **When do Apostle Islands camping permits become available?** Individual and zone sites open on a rolling 30-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific), so each entry date becomes bookable 30 days ahead. Group sites are the exception and can be reserved up to 12 months in advance. **How far ahead can I book a group site?** Group sites are reservable up to 12 months in advance, much further out than the 30-day window for individual and zone sites. **Are dogs allowed at Apostle Islands camp areas?** No. As a National Park Service lakeshore, pets are barred from most camp areas at Apostle Islands. Check park pet rules before planning a trip with a dog. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancelled reservations are returned to inventory, so sold-out sites frequently reopen. Watching your preferred site and dates and booking the moment a cancellation appears is often the best way to secure a popular island camp. ## Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/aravaipa - State: Arizona - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/251864 - When permits are released: First-come-first-served: each entry date opens 13 weeks (91 days) ahead on a rolling window, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific - the single online release moment. 50 people/day total (East 20, West 30); permits are required year-round, even for day hikes. - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per day: $5 per person per day An Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness permit covers trips into a lush, perennial desert stream canyon on BLM land in Arizona, where the hike is the creek itself - wading between towering canyon walls. A permit is required year-round for everyone, even day hikers, and access is split between an East and a West entrance. Because the daily quota is small, prime spring and fall dates go fast. ### How to get a Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness permit 1. Pick your entrance (East or West) and your entry date; note that a permit is required for day hikes as well as overnight trips. 2. Each entry date opens 13 weeks (91 days) ahead on a rolling window, advancing every morning at 7:00 AM Pacific - the single online release moment. 3. Book your permit on recreation.gov as soon as your date enters the window, since the daily quota is limited. 4. If your dates are sold out, keep watching: cancellations return to the pool, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Notable trails Aravaipa is accessed from two entrances, each leading into the same creek-bed canyon. Here are the notable hikes mapped to the permit's entrances. - Aravaipa Canyon Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/aravaipa-canyon-trail - Aravaipa Canyon - East Entrance (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/aravaipa-canyon-east-entrance ### Frequently asked questions **When do Aravaipa Canyon permits become available?** Each entry date opens 13 weeks (91 days) in advance on a rolling window that advances every morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. This single rolling opening is the only online release moment. **Can I bring my dog into Aravaipa Canyon?** Yes. As a BLM wilderness area, Aravaipa Canyon allows dogs. Keep your dog under control and be prepared for a wet canyon hike through the stream. **What if my dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates can reopen when other parties cancel. Keep checking recreation.gov, and Permit Ranger can notify you the moment a watched date becomes available. **Do I need a permit just for a day hike in Aravaipa Canyon?** Yes. A permit is required year-round for all visitors, including day hikers, not just for overnight backpacking trips. **How far ahead can I book an Aravaipa Canyon permit?** You can book up to 91 days (about 13 weeks) ahead. Because the window rolls forward each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific, a new day of quota becomes bookable every day. ## Black Canyon of the Gunnison Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/black-canyon - State: Colorado - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675344 - When permits are released: Inner-canyon wilderness permits for May 1 – Oct 31 sell in two releases at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific): Apr 1 (May–Jul entries) and Jul 1 (Aug–Oct). Quota is per person per route. Nov–Apr permits are first-come-first-served in person at the visitor center. - Quota seasons: May 1 to October 31, 2026; May 1 to October 31, 2027 - Off-season: Nov–Apr inner-canyon permits are first-come-first-served IN PERSON at the South Rim Visitor Center - there is no online booking to watch. - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit - Fee, per person: $4 per person Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park protects one of the steepest, deepest, and narrowest gorges in North America, where the Gunnison River carves through sheer walls in southwestern Colorado. A wilderness permit is required to descend into the inner canyon overnight, issued for one of three steep, unmaintained scramble routes - Warner, Gunnison, and Tomichi. Quota is limited and the routes are demanding, so competitive summer dates can be hard to secure. ### How to get a Black Canyon of the Gunnison permit 1. Choose one of the three inner-canyon routes - Warner, Gunnison, or Tomichi - that matches your experience and party. 2. Identify your release: the May 1 to October 31 online season sells in two fixed releases at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific) - April 1 for May–July entries and July 1 for August–October entries. 3. Book your permit on recreation.gov as soon as your entry date's release opens, since quota is per person per route. 4. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations reopen quota, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a watched route frees up. ### Notable trails - Gunnison Route (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/gunnison-route - Warner Point Nature Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/warner-point-nature-trail - Tomichi Trail (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/tomichi-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Black Canyon of the Gunnison permits become available?** The May 1 to October 31 online season sells in two fixed releases at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific): April 1 (for May–July entries) and July 1 (for August–October entries). **Can I bring my dog on a Black Canyon inner-canyon trip?** No. As a national park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison does not allow dogs on the inner-canyon routes. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancellations reopen quota, so sold-out dates can free up. Watch the route you want and grab an opening when it appears; Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **How do I get a permit in the off-season?** November through April inner-canyon permits are first-come, first-served in person at the South Rim Visitor Center - there is no online booking to watch during those months. **Is the quota per person or per group?** Quota is per person per route, so party size counts against each route's daily limit rather than a single group slot. ## Boundary Waters Canoe Area Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/boundary-waters - State: Minnesota - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233396 - When permits are released: All quota-season (May 1 – September 30) entry-point permits for the ENTIRE season go on sale at once on the last Wednesday of January at 9:00 AM Central (7:00 AM Pacific) - no rolling window, no lottery, no later drop. After opening day, cancelled permits are randomly returned to inventory within 24 hours, so watching a sold-out entry point still pays off. Off-season permits are free self-issue at the entry point. - Quota seasons: May 1 to September 30, 2026; May 1 to September 30, 2027 - Off-season: No quota October 1 – April 30: self-issue a free permit at the entry point kiosk - no reservation needed. - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable) - Fee, per adult: $16 per adult per trip - Fee, per youth: $8 per youth (17 and under) per trip The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Superior National Forest is a vast maze of interconnected lakes and portages along the Minnesota–Ontario border, world-famous for canoe tripping and remote paddle-in camping. An overnight permit is required for each entry point during the quota season and lets your group launch a multi-day trip into the wilderness. Because every entry point and every season date goes on sale at once, the most popular launches for prime summer weekends sell out quickly. ### How to get a Boundary Waters Canoe Area permit 1. Choose your entry point and trip start date. Quota-season permits (May 1 – September 30) are tied to a specific entry point and date, so decide where and when you want to launch before the sale opens. 2. Mark the release: all entry points and all season dates go on sale at once on the last Wednesday of January at 9:00 AM Central (7:00 AM Pacific). There is no rolling window, no lottery, and no later percentage drop - this single opening is the moment to book. 3. Book on recreation.gov the instant the season opens, since the most sought-after entry points and summer weekends can fill fast. 4. If you missed the opening or your entry point is sold out, keep watching: cancelled permits are randomly returned to inventory within 24 hours. Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a sold-out entry point reopens. ### Your odds There is no lottery here, so your odds are a pure race: every entry point and every quota-season date goes on sale in one moment on the last Wednesday of January. Superior National Forest publishes an annual Permit and Visitor Use Report tracking overall visitation, but it does not publish per-entry-point sell-out statistics, so no official fill rates exist. The observed pattern is consistent: the marquee entry points near Ely and the Gunflint Trail (Moose Lake, Lake One, Sawbill and their neighbors) can lose their prime July and August weekend dates within the opening morning, while dozens of quieter entries keep availability for weeks or all season. Midweek launches and May, June, or September dates dramatically improve your chances everywhere. These demand notes are estimates from booking-day behavior, not published statistics. The second chance is real and continuous: cancelled permits are returned to inventory at a random time within 24 hours of cancellation, all season long. Catching one of those random returns on a sold-out entry point is exactly what Permit Ranger watches for. *Source: Superior National Forest BWCAW Permit and Visitor Use Report (visitation trends) and recreation.gov booking rules; per-entry-point demand notes are estimates since the Forest Service publishes no sell-out statistics. Last checked July 2026.* ### Notable trails While the Boundary Waters is best known for paddling, several designated hiking entry points reach classic overland trails. A few notable routes into the wilderness: - Brule Lake Trail to Eagle Mountain (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/brule-lake-trail-to-eagle-mountain - Angleworm Lake Trail (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/angleworm-lake-trail - Eagle Mountain Trail (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/eagle-mountain-trail - Powwow Trail Full Loop (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/powwow-trail-full-loop - Sioux Hustler Trail (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/sioux-hustler-trail - Kekekabic Trail (4.4 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/kekekabic-trail--2 - Border Route Trail (4.1 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/border-route-trail--3 - Herriman Trail (4.1 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/herriman-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Boundary Waters permits become available?** All quota-season (May 1 – September 30) overnight permits for every entry point and every date go on sale at once on the last Wednesday of January at 9:00 AM Central (7:00 AM Pacific). There is no rolling window, lottery, or later drop. **Do I need a permit outside the May–September quota season?** Outside the quota season (October 1 – April 30) there is no quota. You self-issue a free permit at the entry point kiosk - no reservation is needed. **Are dogs allowed in the Boundary Waters?** Yes. As a national forest wilderness, the Boundary Waters generally allows leashed dogs on its trails and canoe routes. **What if my entry point is sold out?** After the January opening, cancelled permits are randomly returned to inventory within 24 hours, so sold-out entry points frequently reopen. Watching a specific entry point and date and booking the moment a cancellation appears is often the only way to grab a prime summer launch. ## Canyonlands National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/canyonlands - State: Utah - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675315 - When permits are released: Backcountry permits are quota'd year-round and sold in four seasonal releases at 8:00 AM Mountain: Nov 10 (for Mar 10 – Jun 9 entries), Feb 10 (Jun 10 – Sep 9), May 10 (Sep 10 – Dec 9), and Aug 10 (Dec 10 – Mar 9). Online booking closes 2 days before entry; unreserved sites then convert to walk-up at visitor centers. One reservation covers your whole party. - Fee, reservation: $36 per permit (non-refundable, includes the recreation.gov fee) - Fee, per person, per night: $5 per person per night A Canyonlands backcountry permit covers overnight trips across the park's four districts - the Needles, Island in the Sky and its White Rim Road, and the remote Maze - including 4WD campsites, designated backpacking sites, and at-large zones. It is required year-round, and popular sites like the White Rim Road and the Needles backpacking loops fill quickly for prime spring and fall dates. ### How to get a Canyonlands National Park permit 1. Choose your district and specific campsite or zone (for example a White Rim Road site, a Needles backpacking site, or a Maze zone) and set your entry date. 2. Watch for the seasonal release covering your date: sites go on sale at 8:00 AM Mountain in four drops - Nov 10 (Mar 10 – Jun 9), Feb 10 (Jun 10 – Sep 9), May 10 (Sep 10 – Dec 9), and Aug 10 (Dec 10 – Mar 9). 3. Book online on recreation.gov when the window opens; one reservation covers your whole party. 4. Note that online booking closes 2 days before entry - after that, unreserved sites convert to walk-up at park visitor centers. 5. If your dates are sold out, keep watching: cancellations return to the pool immediately, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Notable trails - Chesler Park Loop Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/chesler-park - Druid Arch Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/druid-arch - Salt Flat, Big Springs, and Wooden Shoe Canyon Loop (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/squaw-flat-big-springs-and-squaw-canyon-loop - Salt Flat Trail to Lost Canyon Peekaboo Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/salt-flat-trail-to-lost-canyon-peekaboo-trail - Murphy Hogback Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/murphy-point - Lost Canyon (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/lost-canyon - Syncline Loop (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/syncline-loop - Lathrop Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/lathrop-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Canyonlands permits become available?** Backcountry permits are quota'd year-round and sold in four seasonal releases at 8:00 AM Mountain: Nov 10 (for Mar 10 – Jun 9 entries), Feb 10 (Jun 10 – Sep 9), May 10 (Sep 10 – Dec 9), and Aug 10 (Dec 10 – Mar 9). **Can I bring my dog into the Canyonlands backcountry?** No. As an NPS park, Canyonlands does not allow dogs or other pets in the backcountry or on trails. **What if my dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates often reopen. Cancellations return to the pool immediately, so keep checking recreation.gov, and Permit Ranger can notify you the moment a watched site opens up. **Can I get a Canyonlands permit at the last minute?** Online booking closes 2 days before your entry date. After that, any unreserved sites convert to walk-up permits issued in person at park visitor centers. **How far ahead can I book a Canyonlands permit?** Each seasonal release opens a three-month block of dates roughly four months in advance, so you can plan trips several months out around the fixed Nov, Feb, May, and Aug drops. ## Cedar Mesa (Bears Ears) Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/cedar-mesa - State: Utah - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445861 - When permits are released: First-come-first-served: each entry date's trailhead quota (20/day) opens 3 months ahead on a rolling window, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific - the single online release moment. Spring and fall walk-up permits are also sold at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station. - Fee, reservation: $6 per reservation (non-refundable) - Fee, per person: $15 per person per trip (overnight backpacking) A Cedar Mesa backpacking permit covers overnight trips into the canyons of the Bears Ears region on BLM land - Grand Gulch, Road, Mule, Slickhorn, and the Fish & Owl canyons among them - a landscape famous for its Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and rock art. Permits are quota'd year-round by trailhead, and the popular spring and fall dates in Grand Gulch and Fish & Owl fill fast when they open. ### How to get a Cedar Mesa (Bears Ears) permit 1. Choose your entry trailhead - such as Kane Gulch, Bullet Canyon, or Collins Canyon - and your entry date. 2. Each entry date's trailhead quota opens exactly 3 months ahead on a rolling window, advancing every morning at 7:00 AM Pacific, which is the single online release moment. 3. Book your permit on recreation.gov as soon as your date comes into the window, especially for the busy spring and fall seasons. 4. If you can't reserve online, spring and fall walk-up permits are also sold at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station. 5. For sold-out dates, keep watching: cancellations return to the pool, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Notable trails Each Cedar Mesa trailhead opens onto a distinct canyon route. Here are notable hikes mapped to the permit's entry trailheads. - Bullet Canyon Trail to Grand Gulch and Sheiks Canyon (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/bullet-canyon-trail-to-grand-gulch-and-sheiks-canyon - Stock Pond to Grand Gulch via Government Trail (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/stock-pond-to-grand-gulch-via-government-trail - Collins Spring to The Narrows (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/collins-spring-to-the-narrows - Fish and Owl Loop (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/fish-and-owl-loop - Road Canyon via Fallen Roof Trail (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/road-canyon-via-fallen-roof-trail - Mule Canyon South (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/mule-canyon-south - Kane Gulch to Todie Canyon (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/kane-gulch - Slickhorn Canyon (3.4 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/slickhorn-canyon ### Frequently asked questions **When do Cedar Mesa permits become available?** Each entry date's trailhead quota opens 3 months in advance on a rolling window that advances every morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. This single rolling opening is the only online release moment. **Can I bring my dog to Cedar Mesa?** Yes. On this BLM land, leashed dogs are generally allowed in the backpacking canyons. Keep your dog under control and pack out waste to protect the fragile archaeological sites. **What if my dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates can reopen when other parties cancel. Keep checking recreation.gov, and Permit Ranger can notify you the moment a watched trailhead date becomes available. **Are there walk-up permits for Cedar Mesa?** Yes. In spring and fall, walk-up permits are sold in person at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station, which is a good option if online dates are gone. **How far ahead can I book a Cedar Mesa permit?** You can book up to 3 months ahead. Because the window rolls forward each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific, a new day of quota becomes bookable every day. ## Central Cascades Wilderness Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/central-cascades - State: Oregon - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675311 - When permits are released: Quota season is June 15 – October 15: about 40% of each trailhead's overnight quota goes on sale for the whole season in one early-April opening at 7:00 AM Pacific (2026: April 7); the remaining ~60% is released rolling 7 days before entry at 7:00 AM Pacific. Off-season, permits are still required (and still bought on recreation.gov) but have no quota - they never sell out. - Quota seasons: June 15 to October 15, 2026; June 15 to October 15, 2027 - Off-season: Permits are still required and bought on recreation.gov, but with no quota they never sell out - book anytime. - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable, covers the whole group) The Central Cascades Wilderness permit covers overnight trips in the Three Sisters, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Washington Wildernesses of Oregon's Deschutes and Willamette National Forests, a landscape of volcanoes, alpine lakes, and Pacific Crest Trail high country. A permit is required for overnight backcountry trips at the area's quota trailheads during the summer season, and the most popular trailheads sell out quickly. ### How to get a Central Cascades Wilderness permit 1. Choose your trailhead (each has its own quota) and your entry date within the quota season, June 15 – October 15. 2. For competitive dates, be ready for the early-April opening at 7:00 AM Pacific, when about 40% of each trailhead's quota goes on sale for the whole season (in 2026 this was April 7). 3. If you miss the season opening, watch for the remaining ~60% of the quota, which is released rolling 7 days before the entry date at 7:00 AM Pacific. 4. Book your permit on recreation.gov under the Central Cascades Wilderness permit (4675311). Outside the quota season, permits are still required but never sell out. 5. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to recreation.gov at no set time, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Notable trails The Central Cascades quota trailheads reach volcano climbs, PCT segments, and alpine lakes across three wildernesses. A few of the most popular hikes: - Metolius-Windigo - Trail 99: Three Creek Meadow to Sisters (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/metolius-windigo-trail-99-three-creek-meadow-to-sisters - No Name Lake and Bend Glacier via Crater Ditch Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/no-name-lake-and-bend-glacier-via-crater-ditch-trail - South Sister Climber Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/south-sister-trail - Green Lakes and Soda Creek Loop (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/green-lakes-and-soda-creek-loop - Canyon Creek Meadows Loop (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/canyon-creek-meadows - Obsidian Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/obsidian-trail - Tam McArthur Rim Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/tam-mcarthur-rim-trail - Marion Lake Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/marion-lake-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Central Cascades Wilderness permits become available?** About 40% of each trailhead's season quota goes on sale in one early-April opening at 7:00 AM Pacific (April 7 in 2026), and the remaining ~60% is released rolling 7 days before the entry date, also at 7:00 AM Pacific. **Are dogs allowed on Central Cascades Wilderness trails?** Yes. These are national forest wildernesses, where leashed dogs are generally permitted on the trails. **What if my Central Cascades dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates frequently reopen when other hikers cancel, returning quota to recreation.gov at no set time. Watching the specific trailhead and date is the most reliable way to catch a cancellation, and Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **Do I need a permit outside the quota season?** Yes. Permits are still required and are still bought on recreation.gov, but outside June 15 – October 15 there is no quota, so they never sell out - you can book anytime. **What is the difference between the April opening and the 7-day drop?** The early-April opening releases about 40% of each trailhead's quota for the entire season at once, while the remaining ~60% is held back and released rolling 7 days before each entry date. Both happen at 7:00 AM Pacific. ## Desolation Wilderness Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/desolation - State: California - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233261 - When permits are released: First-come-first-served: each entry date's zone quota opens 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery, no later drop). Quota season is roughly the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30 (recreation.gov's grid can start a couple of days earlier - 2026 runs May 20 – Sep 30). Off-season, permits are still required (and still bought on recreation.gov) but have no quota - they never sell out. - Quota seasons: May 20 to September 30, 2026; May 28 to September 30, 2027 - Off-season: Permits are still required and bought on recreation.gov, but with no quota they never sell out - book anytime. - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable) - Fee, per person: $5 per person for 1 night, $10 per person for 2-14 nights (ages 13 and up; children 12 and under free) Desolation Wilderness spans the granite basins and alpine lakes just southwest of Lake Tahoe, in the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, with destinations like Lake Aloha, the Velma Lakes, and Dicks Pass. An overnight Desolation permit is quota-controlled by zone, and because it is one of the most-visited wildernesses in the country, the summer season books up fast. ### How to get a Desolation Wilderness permit 1. Choose your destination zone and entry date within the quota season, which runs roughly from the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30. 2. Each entry date's zone quota opens six months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on a rolling window - first-come-first-served, with no lottery and no later drop. 3. Book your permit on recreation.gov under the Desolation Wilderness overnight permit (233261). 4. Outside the quota season, permits are still required but have no quota and never sell out - you can book anytime. 5. If your zone and dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to recreation.gov at no set time, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Notable trails Desolation's zones map to classic Tahoe-area lake and pass hikes. A few of the most popular routes: - Phipps and Grouse Lakes Loop (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/phipps-and-grouse-lakes-loop - Dicks Peak (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/dicks-peak--2 - Middle Velma Lake (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/middle-velma-lake - Eagle Lake Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/eagle-lake-trail - Granite Lake, Dick's Lake, Velma Lake, and Eagle Lake Loop (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/granite-lake-dicks-lake-velma-lake-and-eagle-lake-loop - Island and Twin Lakes (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/island-and-twin-lakes - Lake Aloha Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/lake-aloha-trail - Grouse, Hemlock, and Smith Lake via Twin Lakes Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/grouse-hemlock-and-smith-lake-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Desolation Wilderness permits become available?** Each entry date's zone quota opens six months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on a rolling window. It is first-come-first-served with no lottery and no later drop. **Are dogs allowed on Desolation Wilderness trails?** Yes. Desolation is national forest wilderness, where leashed dogs are generally permitted on the trails. **What if my Desolation dates are sold out?** Sold-out zones and dates frequently reopen when other hikers cancel, returning quota to recreation.gov at no set time. Watching your specific zone and date is the most reliable way to catch a cancellation, and Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **Do I need a permit outside the quota season?** Yes. Permits are still required and are still bought on recreation.gov, but outside the quota season there is no quota, so they never sell out - you can book anytime. **How does the Desolation zone system work?** Desolation's overnight quota is allocated by destination zone rather than trailhead, so your permit is tied to the zone where you plan to camp your first night. Each zone has its own quota that opens six months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific. ## Everglades National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/everglades - State: Florida - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675314 - When permits are released: First-come-first-served: each entry date's campsite quota opens 3 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery, no later drop). Permits are itinerary-based - every night books a specific chickee, beach, or ground site, most reached by kayak/canoe. - Fee, reservation: $21 per trip (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per night: $2 per person per night Everglades National Park in South Florida protects a vast subtropical wilderness of mangroves, marsh, and coastline, best explored by kayak or canoe along the Wilderness Waterway and coast. A wilderness camping permit reserves a specific chickee (elevated platform), beach, or ground site for each night of your itinerary. Popular paddle-in sites in the cooler dry season can be competitive, so plan around the booking window. ### How to get a Everglades National Park permit 1. Plan your paddling or hiking route and choose which chickees, beaches, or ground sites you want for each night of your trip. 2. Reservations are first-come-first-served: each entry date's campsite quota opens 3 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on a rolling window, with no lottery and no later drop. 3. Book on recreation.gov the morning your dates open, since sought-after dry-season sites can fill quickly. Every night of the itinerary books a specific chickee, beach, or ground site, most reached by kayak or canoe. 4. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to inventory. Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a sold-out Everglades site reopens. ### Frequently asked questions **When do Everglades National Park permits become available?** Each entry date's campsite quota opens on a rolling 3-month window at 7:00 AM Pacific. It is first-come-first-served with no lottery and no later drop, so the site becomes bookable exactly three months ahead. **Are dogs allowed in the Everglades backcountry?** No. As a National Park Service wilderness, Everglades does not allow dogs at its backcountry campsites or on wilderness routes. **How far ahead can I book?** You can book up to three months in advance. The window rolls forward one day at a time, so the furthest bookable entry date is always about three months from today. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancelled reservations are returned to inventory, so sold-out sites frequently reopen. Watching your preferred site and dates and booking the moment a cancellation appears is often the best way to secure a popular chickee or beach site. ## Glacier National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/glacier - State: Montana - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675321 - When permits are released: Advance reservations cover June 15 – September 30 and go on sale all at once on May 1 at 8:00 AM Mountain Time (after the March lotteries). Cancellations reopen sites all summer. October trips are walk-up only. - Quota seasons: June 15 to September 30, 2026; June 15 to September 30, 2027 - Off-season: Outside June 15 – September 30 there are no advance reservations - backcountry permits are walk-up only at ranger stations. - Fee, reservation: $7 per reservation (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per night: $7 per person per night A Glacier National Park wilderness permit covers overnight backpacking trips to the park's designated backcountry campgrounds, from the Highline and Gunsight Pass corridors to remote lakes in the North Fork and Many Glacier. It protects a spectacular stretch of the Northern Rockies, and permits are in high demand. Advance reservations cover the summer season (June 15 – September 30), and prime dates at popular campgrounds go fast. ### How to get a Glacier National Park permit 1. Choose your route and the backcountry campgrounds you want to string together (for example along the Highline, Gunsight Pass, or Boulder Pass), and set your dates. 2. If you want a large-group or standard early-access permit, apply in the March lotteries for trips June 15 – September 30 (the lottery is separate and not tracked here). 3. General advance reservations for the whole June 15 – September 30 season go on sale May 1 at 8:00 AM Mountain Time, first-come, first-served on recreation.gov. 4. Book the moment your sites open; cancellations then reopen sites throughout the summer. 5. For October trips or after online dates fill, permits are walk-up only at ranger stations. For sold-out summer dates, Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Your odds Glacier has not published application totals for its March lotteries, so exact odds are unknown. What the lottery awards is an early-access booking appointment, not a permit: standard-lottery winners book between late March and the end of April, ahead of the May 1 general on-sale. What is certain is that demand far exceeds supply. Prime itineraries along the Highline, Gunsight Pass, and Boulder Pass corridors are typically claimed during the early-access window, and the remaining high-demand summer dates go quickly once the May 1 general sale opens. The honest takeaway: treat the lottery as a bonus rather than a plan. Build flexible itineraries, and lean on cancellation watching, because individual campgrounds reopen throughout the summer as parties re-route or cancel. *Source: NPS Glacier wilderness camping advance reservation pages; the park publishes no official application statistics. Last checked July 2026.* ### Notable trails Glacier's backcountry campgrounds sit along its classic hiking corridors. Here are notable trails that reach the permit's most popular sites. - Pitamakan - Dawson Loop (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/pitamakan-pass-trail - Highline Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/highline-trail - Cracker Lake (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/cracker-lake-trail - Gunsight Pass Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/gunsight-pass-trail - Cobalt Lake (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/cobalt-lake - Upper Two Medicine Lake (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/upper-two-medicine-lake - Sperry Chalet (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/sperry-chalet-trail - Goat Haunt Ferry via Boulder Pass and Waterton Lake Trail (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/boulder-pass-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Glacier permits become available?** Advance reservations cover June 15 – September 30 and go on general sale May 1 at 8:00 AM Mountain Time, after the March lotteries. Cancellations reopen sites throughout the summer. **Can I bring my dog on a Glacier backpacking trip?** No. As an NPS wilderness, Glacier does not allow dogs or other pets on backcountry trails. **What if my dates are sold out?** Sold-out summer dates frequently reopen as other parties cancel. Keep checking recreation.gov, and Permit Ranger can notify you the moment a watched campground opens up. **How do I get a permit outside the summer season?** Outside June 15 – September 30 there are no advance reservations - backcountry permits are walk-up only at ranger stations. October trips are always walk-up. **Is there a lottery for Glacier permits?** Yes. A large-group lottery and a standard lottery run in March for early access to summer trips. Lottery winners book before the May 1 general on-sale; the general sale is first-come, first-served. ## Grand Canyon National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/grand-canyon - State: Arizona - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675337 - When permits are released: Public reservations open on the 1st of each month at 8:00 AM MST (Arizona time) for all start dates in the month 3 months ahead (e.g. Aug 1 opens all of November). An early-access lottery runs upstream of each public opening (apply by 5 PM MST on the 1st, one month earlier) - the lottery itself isn't tracked here. One reservation covers your whole group. - Fee, application: $10 per permit application (non-refundable) - Fee, below rim, per person, per night: $24 per person per night (below rim) - Fee, above rim, per person, per night: $6 per person per night (above rim) A Grand Canyon backcountry permit covers overnight trips below the rim, from the corridor campgrounds at Bright Angel, Havasupai Gardens, and Cottonwood to the remote designated campsites and at-large use areas deeper in the canyon. It is one of the most sought-after backpacking permits in the country, and popular corridor sites for prime spring and fall dates sell out the moment they release. ### How to get a Grand Canyon National Park permit 1. Choose your route and campsites (corridor campgrounds like Bright Angel or Cottonwood, or a deeper at-large itinerary) and pin down your start date. 2. Public reservations open on the 1st of each month at 8:00 AM MST (Arizona time, no daylight saving) for all start dates in the month three months ahead - for example, August 1 opens all of November. 3. An early-access lottery runs upstream of each public opening; apply by 5 PM MST on the 1st one month earlier if you want a shot before the general release (the lottery itself is not tracked here). 4. Book on recreation.gov the moment your window opens - one reservation covers your whole group. 5. If your dates are already gone, keep watching: cancellations and platform leftovers trickle back into the pool, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Your odds Since 2024 the park has routed roughly 80 percent of backcountry permits through the monthly early-access lottery, which awards up to 750 applicants a timed booking slot ahead of each public opening. The park does not publish how many people apply each month, so no official win rate exists; the structure alone tells you the corridor campgrounds (Bright Angel, Havasupai Gardens, Cottonwood) on prime spring and fall dates are the hardest draws. Unofficial estimates from guide services put corridor success in peak season around 1 in 4, and winners get a booking window, not a guaranteed itinerary: what is left when your slot opens depends on the winners ahead of you. Off-corridor routes and summer or winter dates are far easier. Losing the lottery is not the end. Non-winners get access later in the lottery month, the public opening releases whatever remains, and cancellations trickle back all season. That returning inventory is exactly what Permit Ranger watches. *Source: NPS Grand Canyon backcountry permit pages (lottery structure, 750 monthly winners, roughly 80 percent of permits via lottery); success rates are unofficial estimates because the park publishes no lottery statistics. Last checked July 2026.* ### Notable trails - Bright Angel Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/bright-angel-trail--11 - Havasupai Gardens Campground via Bright Angel (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/havasupai-garden-campground-via-bright-angel-one-way - South Bass Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/south-bass-trail - Hermit Camp to Monument Creek Camp via Tonto Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/hermit-camp-to-monument-creek-camp-via-tonto-trail - North Bass Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/north-bass-trail - Widforss Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/widforss-trail - The Escalante Route (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/the-escalante-route-trail - Hermit Trail, Tonto Trail, and Bright Angel Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/hermit-trail-tonto-trail-bright-angel-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Grand Canyon permits become available?** Public reservations open on the 1st of each month at 8:00 AM MST (Arizona time) for all start dates in the month three months ahead. So an August 1 opening releases every night in November. An early-access lottery runs one month before each public opening. **Can I bring my dog on a Grand Canyon backcountry trip?** No. As an NPS park, Grand Canyon does not allow dogs or other pets below the rim or on backcountry trails. **What if my dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates frequently reopen. Cancellations return to the pool and the platform releases leftovers on a staggered schedule, so keep checking recreation.gov. Permit Ranger can notify you the moment a watched site opens up. **Is there a lottery for Grand Canyon backcountry permits?** Yes. An early-access lottery runs ahead of each monthly public opening, with applications due by 5 PM MST on the 1st of the month one month before the general release. Winners book before the public window; the lottery is separate from the standard first-come reservations. **How far ahead can I book a Grand Canyon permit?** You can book roughly three to four months out. Each monthly opening releases the full month that falls three months ahead, so the furthest bookable dates advance one month at a time. ## Grand Teton National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/teton - State: Wyoming - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675342 - When permits are released: About a third of each camping zone is reservable in advance. The advance window for the whole May–October season opens in early January (2026: January 7) at 8:00 AM Mountain Time; cancellations reopen sites all season. Advance booking closes 2 days before entry - after that it's walk-up only. - Quota seasons: May 1 to October 31, 2026; May 1 to October 31, 2027 - Off-season: Outside May – October there are no advance reservations - winter backcountry camping is walk-up / self-registration at permit desks. - Fee, reservation: $20 per permit (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per night: $7 per person per night A Grand Teton backcountry permit covers overnight trips to the park's camping zones and lake sites, including the famous Teton Crest Trail corridor, the Paintbrush–Cascade loop, Death Canyon, and the Garnet Canyon climbers' camps. The permit is required for backcountry camping in a dramatic alpine landscape, and only about a third of each zone's capacity is reservable in advance - so prime summer dates on popular zones fill quickly. ### How to get a Grand Teton National Park permit 1. Choose your route and camping zones or lake sites (for example along the Teton Crest Trail or the Paintbrush–Cascade loop) and set your dates. 2. The advance window for the whole May–October season opens in early January at 8:00 AM Mountain Time (in 2026, January 7); about a third of each zone's capacity is reservable this way. 3. Book on recreation.gov when the window opens; cancellations then reopen sites throughout the season. 4. Note that advance booking closes 2 days before your entry date - after that, the remaining capacity is walk-up only at permit desks. 5. For sold-out dates, keep watching: cancellations return to the pool, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Notable trails Grand Teton's camping zones and lake sites sit along its classic hiking routes. Here are notable trails that reach the permit's most popular zones. - Paintbrush Canyon - Cascade Canyon Loop (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/paintbrush-canyon-cascade-canyon-loop - Teton Crest Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/teton-crest-trail - Garnet Canyon Trail to Cleft Falls (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/garnet-canyon-trail - Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/surprise-and-amphitheater-lakes-trail - Phelps Lake, Lake Creek, and Woodland Loop (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/phelps-lake-trail - Leigh Lake Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/leigh-lake-trail - Granite Canyon Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/granite-canyon-trail - Mount Hunt Divide via Death Canyon Trail (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/death-canyon-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Grand Teton backcountry permits become available?** The advance window for the whole May–October season opens in early January at 8:00 AM Mountain Time (January 7 in 2026). About a third of each camping zone is reservable in advance; cancellations reopen sites all season. **Can I bring my dog on a Grand Teton backcountry trip?** No. As an NPS wilderness, Grand Teton does not allow dogs or other pets on backcountry trails. **What if my dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates often reopen as other parties cancel. Keep checking recreation.gov, and Permit Ranger can notify you the moment a watched zone opens up. **Can I get a Grand Teton permit at the last minute?** Advance booking closes 2 days before your entry date. After that, the remaining majority of each zone's capacity is walk-up only, issued in person at permit desks. Winter camping is walk-up or self-registration only. **How much of each zone can I reserve online?** About a third of each camping zone's capacity is reservable in advance. The rest is held for walk-up permits, so a zone that looks full online may still have walk-up space. ## Great Sand Dunes Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/sand-dunes - State: Colorado - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675316 - When permits are released: Backpacking permits open on a rolling 3-month window, advancing each morning at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific). One reservation covers your whole party (per-site quota), year-round. - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable, includes overnight parking) Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve pairs the tallest dunes in North America with the alpine backcountry of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado. A backpacking permit is required for overnight trips, covering either the open dunefield interior or one of the designated Sand Ramp Trail campsites. Popular summer dates fill up, so it pays to book as soon as your date becomes available. ### How to get a Great Sand Dunes permit 1. Choose your backcountry area - either the Dunes Backcountry (camp anywhere in the dunefield interior beyond the day-use ridge) or one of the designated Sand Ramp Trail campsites. 2. Watch the rolling window: permits open on a rolling 3-month schedule, advancing each morning at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific), so your date becomes bookable roughly three months out. 3. Book your permit on recreation.gov the morning your entry date enters the window, since one reservation covers your whole party. 4. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations reopen sites, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a watched site frees up. ### Notable trails - Star Dune (4.4 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/star-dune-trail - Sand Ramp Trail (4.2 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/sand-ramp-trail--3 ### Frequently asked questions **When do Great Sand Dunes permits become available?** Backpacking permits open on a rolling 3-month window, advancing each morning at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific). In practice, your entry date becomes bookable about three months ahead. **Can I bring my dog on a Great Sand Dunes backcountry trip?** No. As a national park backcountry area, Great Sand Dunes does not allow dogs beyond the day-use dunes area. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancellations reopen sites, so sold-out dates can free up. Watch the area you want and grab an opening when it appears; Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **Does one reservation cover my whole group?** Yes. Sites use a per-site quota, so a single reservation covers your whole party for that night, year-round. **How far ahead can I book a Great Sand Dunes permit?** Because the release is a rolling 3-month window that advances daily, you can book roughly three months before your entry date. ## Great Smoky Mountains National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/smokies - States: Tennessee, North Carolina - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675347 - When permits are released: First-come-first-served with the shortest window of any park here: each entry date's campsite/shelter quota opens just 1 month ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery, no later drop). Permits are itinerary-based - every night books a specific numbered campsite or AT shelter. - Fee, reservation: $6 per reservation (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per night: $8 per person per night Great Smoky Mountains National Park, straddling Tennessee and North Carolina, is the most-visited national park in the country, with misty ridges, old-growth forest, and a long stretch of the Appalachian Trail. A backcountry permit reserves a specific numbered campsite or AT shelter for each night of your itinerary. Popular shelters and campsites along the AT crest can be competitive, so plan around the short booking window. ### How to get a Great Smoky Mountains National Park permit 1. Plan your route and choose which numbered backcountry campsites or Appalachian Trail shelters you want for each night of your trip. 2. Reservations are first-come-first-served with the shortest window of any park here: each entry date's quota opens just 1 month ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on a rolling window, with no lottery and no later drop. 3. Book on recreation.gov the morning your dates open, since popular AT shelters and campsites can fill quickly. Every night of the itinerary books a specific site. 4. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to inventory. Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a sold-out Smokies site reopens. ### Notable trails Many campsites and shelters are destinations reached via the park's classic trails and the Appalachian Trail. A few notable routes to the permitted sites: - Charlies Bunion via Appalachian Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/charlies-bunion-via-appalachian-trail - Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/alum-cave-trail-to-mount-leconte - Mt. Sterling via Baxter Creek Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/mt-sterling-via-baxter-creek-trail - Mount Cammerer via Low Gap Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/mount-cammerer-via-low-gap-trail - Appalachian Trail: Kuwohi to Cades Cove (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/appalachian-trail-clingman-dome-to-cades-cove - Russell Field Trail to Mollies Ridge Shelter (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/russell-field-trail-to-mollies-ridge-shelter - Kephart Prong Trail, Charlies Bunion, and Mount LeConte (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/kephart-prong-trail-charlies-bunion-mount-leconte - Silers Bald and Forney Creek Loop Trail (4.2 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/silers-bald-and-forney-creek-loop-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Great Smoky Mountains permits become available?** Each entry date's campsite or shelter quota opens just 1 month ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on a rolling window - the shortest booking window of any tracked park. It is first-come-first-served with no lottery and no later drop. **Are dogs allowed in the Smokies backcountry?** No. As a National Park Service backcountry, Great Smoky Mountains does not allow dogs on its backcountry trails. **How far ahead can I book?** You can book only up to one month in advance - the shortest window of any tracked park. The window rolls forward one day at a time, so the furthest bookable entry date is always about a month from today. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancelled reservations are returned to inventory, so sold-out sites frequently reopen. Watching your preferred campsite or shelter and dates and booking the moment a cancellation appears is often the best way to secure a permit. ## Guadalupe Mountains National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/guadalupe - States: Texas, New Mexico - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675328 - When permits are released: First-come-first-served: each entry date's campsite quota opens 3 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery, no later drop). Permits are itinerary-based - every night of the trip books a specific backcountry campground. - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per night: $6 per person per night Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas protects the state's highest peaks, deep canyons, and rugged Chihuahuan Desert wilderness, with a network of high-country backcountry campgrounds. A wilderness permit reserves a specific campground for each night of your itinerary. Popular sites near Guadalupe Peak and McKittrick Canyon can be competitive on prime weekends. ### How to get a Guadalupe Mountains National Park permit 1. Plan your route and choose which designated wilderness campgrounds you want for each night of your trip. 2. Reservations are first-come-first-served: each entry date's campsite quota opens 3 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on a rolling window, with no lottery and no later drop. 3. Book on recreation.gov the morning your dates open, since popular high-country sites can fill quickly. Every night of the itinerary books a specific backcountry campground. 4. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to inventory. Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a sold-out Guadalupe Mountains site reopens. ### Notable trails Each wilderness campground is a destination reached on foot via the park's trail network. A few notable routes to the permitted sites: - Guadalupe Peak Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/guadalupe-peak-texas-highpoint-trail - McKittrick Canyon Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/mckittrick-canyon-trail - Bush Mountain Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/bush-mountain-trail - Bush Mountain Trail to Blue Ridge Loop (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/bush-mountain-trail-to-blue-ridge-loop - Bush Mountain, Blue Ridge, and Marcus Trail Loop (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/bush-mountain-blue-ridge-and-marcus-trail-loop - Tejas Trail, McKittrick Canyon Trail, and Dog Canyon Trail (4.4 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/the-tejas-trail - Permian Reef Trail and Camp Wilderness Ridge Trail (4.1 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/permian-reef-trail-and-camp-wilderness-ridge-trail - El Capitan Trail to Shumard Canyon Backcountry Campground (4.0 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/el-capitan-trail-to-shumard-canyon-backcountry-campground ### Frequently asked questions **When do Guadalupe Mountains permits become available?** Each entry date's campsite quota opens on a rolling 3-month window at 7:00 AM Pacific. It is first-come-first-served with no lottery and no later drop, so the site becomes bookable exactly three months ahead. **Are dogs allowed in the Guadalupe Mountains backcountry?** No. As a National Park Service wilderness, Guadalupe Mountains does not allow dogs on its backcountry trails. **How far ahead can I book?** You can book up to three months in advance. The window rolls forward one day at a time, so the furthest bookable entry date is always about three months from today. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancelled reservations are returned to inventory, so sold-out sites frequently reopen. Watching your preferred campground and dates and booking the moment a cancellation appears is often the best way to secure a permit. ## Hawai'i Volcanoes Backcountry Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/hawaii-volcanoes - State: Hawaii - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675341 - When permits are released: 75% of each backcountry site's capacity opens on a rolling 3-month window (published as 90 days), advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Hawai'i time (10:00 AM Pacific during PDT). The remaining 25% is held for in-person walk-up permits 7 days before entry and is never bookable online. Quota applies year-round. - Fee, reservation: $10 per permit Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island protects active volcanic landscapes, from summit calderas to a remote wilderness coast, with backcountry camping areas and cabins reached on foot. A backcountry permit reserves a specific camping area for each night of your itinerary. Popular coastal sites and cabins are limited, so competitive dates can be hard to get. ### How to get a Hawai'i Volcanoes Backcountry permit 1. Plan your route and choose which backcountry camping areas you want for each night of your trip. 2. For online reservations, 75% of each site's capacity opens on a rolling 3-month window (published as 90 days), advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Hawai'i time (10:00 AM Pacific during PDT). 3. Book on recreation.gov the morning your dates open, since sought-after coastal sites can go quickly. Quota applies year-round, so there is no off-season. 4. The remaining 25% of each site is held for in-person walk-up permits available 7 days before entry and is never bookable online - an option if online dates are gone. 5. If your online dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return capacity to inventory. Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a sold-out Hawai'i Volcanoes site reopens. ### Notable trails Each backcountry camping area is reached on foot via the park's wilderness trails. A few notable routes to the permitted sites: - Napau Crater via Napau Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/hawaii/hawaii/napau-crater-via-napau-trail - Hilina Pali and Halapé (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/hawaii/hawaii/hilina-pali-and-halape - Ka'aha Trail to Ka'aha Campsite and Hilina Pali Trail Loop (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/hawaii/hawaii/ka-aha-trail-to-ka-aha-campsite-and-hilina-pali-trail-loop - Apua Point via Puna Kau Trail (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/hawaii/hawaii/apua-point-via-puna-kau-trail - Keauhou Trail (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/hawaii/hawaii/keauhou-trail - Mauna Loa Cabin Trail via Observatory Trail (4.4 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/hawaii/hawaii/mauna-loa-cabin-trail-via-observatory-trail - Mauna Loa Trail to Red Hill (4.2 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/hawaii/hawaii/mauna-loa-trail-to-red-hill - The Great Crack (3.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/hawaii/hawaii/the-great-crack ### Frequently asked questions **When do Hawai'i Volcanoes backcountry permits become available?** 75% of each backcountry site's capacity opens on a rolling 3-month window (published as 90 days), advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Hawai'i time (10:00 AM Pacific during PDT). Quota applies year-round. **Are there walk-up permits?** Yes. The remaining 25% of each site's capacity is held for in-person walk-up permits available 7 days before entry. These are never bookable online, so plan to visit a permit office in person for them. **Are dogs allowed in the Hawai'i Volcanoes backcountry?** No. As a National Park Service backcountry, Hawai'i Volcanoes does not allow dogs on its wilderness trails or at backcountry camps. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancelled reservations are returned to inventory, so sold-out sites frequently reopen. Watching your preferred site and dates and booking the moment a cancellation appears is often the best way to secure a permit; walk-up permits 7 days out are another option. ## Hoover Wilderness Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/hoover - State: California - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445856 - When permits are released: Quota season is June 15 – October 15: 50% of each trailhead's quota opens on a rolling 6-month window, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. The remaining 50% drops 3 days before entry at 7:00 AM Pacific. Off-season, permits are still required (and still bought on recreation.gov) but have no quota - they never sell out. - Quota seasons: June 15 to October 15, 2026; June 15 to October 15, 2027 - Off-season: Permits are still required and bought on recreation.gov, but with no quota they never sell out - book anytime. - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable) - Fee, per person: $8 per person (ages 13 and up; children 12 and under free) The Hoover Wilderness sits along the Sierra Nevada crest on the eastern edge of Yosemite, in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, with alpine lakes and passes reached from the Twin Lakes, Green Creek, Virginia Lakes, and Leavitt Meadows trailheads. A Hoover wilderness permit is required for overnight backcountry trips, and during the summer quota season the most popular trailheads can sell out. ### How to get a Hoover Wilderness permit 1. Choose your trailhead (each has its own quota) and your entry date within the quota season, June 15 – October 15. 2. For competitive dates, be ready when 50% of the trailhead's quota opens on a rolling six-month window, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. 3. If you miss the six-month opening, watch for the remaining 50% of the quota, which drops 3 days before the entry date at 7:00 AM Pacific. 4. Book your permit on recreation.gov under the Hoover Wilderness permit (445856). Outside the quota season, permits are still required but have no quota and never sell out. 5. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to recreation.gov at no set time, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Notable trails Hoover's trailheads climb quickly to alpine lakes along the Sierra crest. A few of the most popular hikes: - Barney Lake (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/barney-lake-trail - Horse Creek Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/horse-creek-trail - Green Lake via Green Creek Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/green-lake-via-green-creek-trail--2 - Summit Lake via Virginia Lakes Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/virginia-lakes-trail - Emma Lake Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/emma-lake-trail - Tamarack Lake Trail (Twin Lakes) (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/tamarack-lake-trail-twin-lakes - Buckeye Creek Trail to Kirkland Pass (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/buckeye-creek-trail - Leavitt Meadow to Fremont Lake (4.4 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/leavitt-meadow-to-fremont-lake ### Frequently asked questions **When do Hoover Wilderness permits become available?** During the quota season (June 15 – October 15), 50% of each trailhead's quota opens on a rolling six-month window at 7:00 AM Pacific, and the remaining 50% drops 3 days before the entry date, also at 7:00 AM Pacific. **Are dogs allowed on Hoover Wilderness trails?** Yes. Hoover is national forest wilderness, where leashed dogs are generally permitted on the trails. **What if my Hoover Wilderness dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates frequently reopen when other hikers cancel, returning quota to recreation.gov at no set time. Watching the specific trailhead and date is the most reliable way to catch a cancellation, and Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **Do I need a permit outside the quota season?** Yes. Permits are still required and are still bought on recreation.gov, but outside June 15 – October 15 there is no quota, so they never sell out - you can book anytime. **How far in advance can I book a Hoover Wilderness permit?** You can book up to six months ahead. The rolling window advances one day at a time, so a new entry date becomes bookable each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific during the quota season. ## Indian Peaks Wilderness Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/indian-peaks - State: Colorado - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675318 - When permits are released: The entire Jun 1 – Sep 15 overnight quota season goes on sale the first Tuesday of March at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific). One reservation covers your whole party (per-zone quota). Short-notice leftovers also sell via a separate 3-day advance permit. - Quota seasons: June 1 to September 15, 2026; June 1 to September 15, 2027 - Off-season: Outside Jun 1 – Sep 15 no overnight permit is required in Indian Peaks - just go. - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable) - Fee, recreation: $5 per permit (non-refundable) Indian Peaks Wilderness sits along the Continental Divide in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, a compact, high-alpine area of lakes, cirques, and namesake peaks that draws heavy overnight use for its proximity to the Front Range. An overnight permit is required during the summer quota season and is issued for a specific backcountry camping zone, with one reservation covering your whole party. Popular zones and summer weekends sell out fast, so competitive dates can be hard to secure. ### How to get a Indian Peaks Wilderness permit 1. Choose the overnight camping zone you want for each night of your trip (Group variants are available for larger parties). 2. Mark the opening: the entire June 1 to September 15 overnight quota season goes on sale the first Tuesday of March at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific). 3. Book your permit on recreation.gov as soon as the season opens, reserving each zone for the nights of your itinerary. 4. For short-notice trips, watch the separate Indian Peaks last-minute permit, which sells leftover zone quota within three days of entry. 5. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations reopen zones through the season, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a watched zone frees up. ### Notable trails - Isabelle Glacier via Pawnee Pass Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/isabelle-glacier-trail - Arapaho Pass and Lake Dorothy Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/arapaho-pass-trail - Columbine Lake Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/columbine-lake-trail - Diamond Lake Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/diamond-lake-trail - Mt Neva Loop via 4th Of July Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/mt-neva-loop-via-4th-of-july-trail - Crater Lake and Lone Eagle from Long Lake Trailhead (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/crater-lake-and-lone-eagle-from-long-lake-trailhead - Devils Thumb Pass and King Lake Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/devils-thumb-lake-trail - Jasper Lake via Devil's Thumb Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/jasper-lake-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Indian Peaks Wilderness permits become available?** The entire June 1 to September 15 overnight quota season goes on sale the first Tuesday of March at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific). **Can I bring my dog on an Indian Peaks backcountry trip?** Yes. As a national forest wilderness, Indian Peaks allows leashed dogs on its trails and in the backcountry. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancellations reopen zones throughout the season, so sold-out dates frequently free up. Watch the zones you want and grab an opening when it appears; Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **Do I need a permit outside the quota season?** No. Outside June 1 to September 15 no overnight permit is required in Indian Peaks - you can just go. **How do I get a last-minute Indian Peaks permit?** A separate three-day advance permit sells leftover zone quota within three days of your entry date, which is the best route for short-notice trips. ## Indian Peaks: Last-Minute Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/indian-peaks-3day - State: Colorado - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675319 - Release schedule: not modeled (availability-only tracking) - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable) - Fee, recreation: $5 per permit (non-refundable) The Indian Peaks last-minute permit sells leftover overnight quota for the same Continental Divide camping zones covered by the main Indian Peaks Wilderness permit. It is bookable only within three days of your entry date, making it the best route for short-notice backpacking trips into this popular Front Range wilderness. Because it releases whatever quota is left over, availability appears ad hoc rather than on a scheduled on-sale date. ### How to get a Indian Peaks: Last-Minute permit 1. Choose the overnight camping zone you want for your trip, matching one of the same zones as the main Indian Peaks permit. 2. Because this permit only sells leftovers within three days of entry, there is no scheduled on-sale moment to plan around - availability appears as other trips are cancelled or unclaimed. 3. Book on recreation.gov as soon as a spot shows up, since short-notice quota can be claimed quickly. 4. Since openings are unpredictable, watch the zone you want and let Permit Ranger alert you the moment a last-minute spot frees up. ### Notable trails - Isabelle Glacier via Pawnee Pass Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/isabelle-glacier-trail - Arapaho Pass and Lake Dorothy Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/arapaho-pass-trail - Columbine Lake Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/columbine-lake-trail - Diamond Lake Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/diamond-lake-trail - Mt Neva Loop via 4th Of July Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/mt-neva-loop-via-4th-of-july-trail - Crater Lake and Lone Eagle from Long Lake Trailhead (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/crater-lake-and-lone-eagle-from-long-lake-trailhead - Devils Thumb Pass and King Lake Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/devils-thumb-lake-trail - Jasper Lake via Devil's Thumb Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/jasper-lake-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do last-minute Indian Peaks permits become available?** This permit sells leftover zone quota only within three days of your entry date. There is no fixed on-sale time - spots appear ad hoc as leftovers open up. **Can I bring my dog on an Indian Peaks backcountry trip?** Yes. As a national forest wilderness, Indian Peaks allows leashed dogs on its trails and in the backcountry. **What if my dates are sold out?** Because this permit tracks short-notice leftovers, spots can appear at any time within three days of entry. Watch the zone you want and grab an opening when it appears; Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **How is this different from the main Indian Peaks permit?** The main permit sells the full June 1 to September 15 quota season when it opens in early March. This last-minute permit only sells the leftover quota for those same zones, and only within three days of your entry date. ## Inyo National Forest Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/inyo - State: California - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233262 - When permits are released: Rolling 6-month window: 60% of quota opens 6 months ahead, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. The remaining 40% drops 14 days before entry at 7:00 AM Pacific. - Fee, reservation: $6 per reservation (non-refundable) - Fee, per person: $5 per person ($15 per person in the Mt. Whitney Zone) Inyo National Forest covers the eastern Sierra Nevada, from the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses to the trailheads for Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the Lower 48. An Inyo wilderness permit is required for overnight backcountry trips at the forest's quota trailheads, and the most popular entries - including Whitney, Bishop Pass, and the big alpine lake basins - routinely sell out the moment quota opens. ### How to get a Inyo National Forest permit 1. Choose your trailhead (each entry point has its own quota) and your entry date. 2. For competitive dates, be ready when 60% of the trailhead's quota opens on a rolling six-month window, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. 3. If you miss the six-month opening, watch for the remaining 40% of the quota, which drops 14 days before the entry date at 7:00 AM Pacific. 4. Book your permit on recreation.gov under the Inyo National Forest wilderness permit (233262). 5. If your dates are already sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to the pool without warning, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a spot reopens. ### Your odds Mount Whitney is the exception inside Inyo: the main Whitney Trail is allocated by a separate February lottery, and the Forest Service's published results show how steep the competition is. The 2023 lottery drew more than 26,000 applications for a season quota of 100 day hikers and 60 overnight backpackers per day, and only about a quarter of applications won anything. Overnight applications fare worse than day-use ones; estimates put overnight success near 1 in 9 for peak summer dates. The rest of the forest has no lottery at all. Your odds at trailheads like Bishop Pass, Big Pine Lakes, or Kearsarge Pass come down to speed: 60 percent of each trailhead's quota opens on the rolling six-month window at 7:00 AM Pacific, and the famous entries can sell out within minutes for prime weekends. Two honest second chances exist everywhere in the forest, Whitney included. The 40 percent held-back quota drops 14 days before entry at 7:00 AM Pacific, and cancellations return to the pool all season with no schedule. That reopening inventory is exactly what Permit Ranger watches. *Source: Inyo National Forest published Mount Whitney lottery results (2023 season, the most recent widely reported full figures); overnight success rates are estimates since the Forest Service does not break out exact per-type odds. Last checked July 2026.* ### Notable trails Inyo's quota trailheads open onto some of the Sierra's most storied destinations. A few of the most popular routes: - River Trail, Thousand Island Lake, Garnet Lake, and Shadow Lake Loop (5.0 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/river-trail-thousand-island-lake-garnet-lake-and-shadow-lake-loop - June Lake, Yost Creek and Fern Lake Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/june-lake-yost-creek-and-fern-lake-trail - Duck Pass and Pika Lake Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/duck-lake-trail--2 - Little Lakes Valley to Gem Lakes (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/little-lakes-valley-to-gem-lakes - Grouse Mountain (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/grouse-mountain - Kearsarge Pass Trail to Kearsarge Lakes (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/kearsarge-pass-trail-to-kearsarge-lakes - Kearsarge Pass Trail to John Muir Trail Loop (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/kearsarge-pass-trail-to-john-muir-trail-loop - Big Pine Lakes Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/big-pine-lakes-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Inyo National Forest permits become available?** 60% of each trailhead's quota opens on a rolling six-month window, advancing every morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. The remaining 40% is released 14 days before the entry date, also at 7:00 AM Pacific. **Are dogs allowed on Inyo National Forest wilderness trails?** Yes. Inyo is national forest wilderness, where leashed dogs are generally permitted on the trails (note that dogs are not allowed on the Mount Whitney Trail's national park portions or where otherwise posted). **What if my Inyo dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates frequently reopen when other hikers cancel, returning quota to recreation.gov at no set time. Watching the specific trailhead and date is the most reliable way to catch a cancellation, and Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **How far in advance can I book an Inyo permit?** You can book up to six months ahead. The rolling window advances one day at a time, so a new entry date becomes bookable each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. **What is the 40% drop?** Inyo holds back 40% of each trailhead's quota and releases it 14 days before the entry date at 7:00 AM Pacific. This is the key actionable moment for dates you missed at the six-month opening. ## Joshua Tree National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/joshua-tree - State: California - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675329 - When permits are released: First-come-first-served: each entry date opens 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery, no later drop). Quota runs year-round - Boy Scout Trail campsites hold 1 party each; backcountry zones hold about 5 parties per night. - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable, covers the whole group) Joshua Tree National Park protects the high desert where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet in Southern California, famous for its twisted Joshua trees, granite boulders, and dark night skies. A backcountry camping permit is required for overnight trips in the park's designated backcountry zones and along the Boy Scout Trail, and popular dates can book up well in advance. ### How to get a Joshua Tree National Park permit 1. Choose your backcountry zone or a Boy Scout Trail campsite and your entry date. 2. Each entry date opens six months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on a rolling window - first-come-first-served, with no lottery and no later drop. Quota runs year-round. 3. Book your permit on recreation.gov under the Joshua Tree backcountry camping permit (4675329). 4. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to recreation.gov at no set time, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Notable trails Joshua Tree's backcountry zones and Boy Scout Trail campsites connect to some of the park's best desert hikes. A few notable routes: - Panorama Loop (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/panorama-loop-trail - Covington Crest Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/covington-crest-trail - Lost Horse Loop (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/lost-horse-mine - The Maze Loop (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/the-maze-loop - Arch Rock Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/arch-rock-trail - Boy Scout and Willow Hole Trail (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/boy-scout-trail - Pine City Trail (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/pine-city-trail--3 - Quail Mountain via Juniper Flats Road Loop (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/quail-mountain ### Frequently asked questions **When do Joshua Tree backcountry permits become available?** Each entry date opens six months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on a rolling window. It is first-come-first-served with no lottery, and quota runs year-round. **Are dogs allowed in the Joshua Tree backcountry?** No. Joshua Tree is a national park, where dogs are not allowed on trails or in the backcountry. **What if my Joshua Tree dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates often reopen when other parties cancel, returning quota to recreation.gov with no fixed schedule. Watching your specific zone or campsite and date is the best way to catch a cancellation, and Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **How far in advance can I book a Joshua Tree backcountry permit?** You can book up to six months ahead. The rolling window advances one day at a time, so a new entry date becomes bookable each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. **What does the permit cover?** The permit covers overnight backcountry camping in Joshua Tree's designated backcountry zones and at the individual Boy Scout Trail campsites. Each booking reserves a site or zone for your party for the night. ## Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/maroon-bells - State: Colorado - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675333 - When permits are released: Overnight zone permits are quota'd year-round and sold in three seasonal releases at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific): Feb 15 (for Apr–Jul entries), Jun 15 (Aug–Nov), and Oct 15 (Dec–Mar). One reservation covers your whole party. - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per night: $10 per person per night (ages 17 and up; 16 and under free) Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness in Colorado's White River National Forest is one of the most photographed and heavily used ranges in the Rockies, home to the Four Pass Loop, Conundrum Hot Springs, and Capitol Lake. An overnight permit is required and is issued for a specific camping zone or campsite, with one reservation covering your whole party. Popular zones like Conundrum and the Four Pass Loop sell out fast, so competitive dates can be hard to secure. ### How to get a Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness permit 1. Choose the overnight camping zone or designated site you want (Conundrum Hot Springs, Four Pass Loop zones, and Capitol Lake are the busiest). 2. Identify your release window: permits are quota'd year-round and sold in three seasonal releases at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific) - February 15 for April–July entries, June 15 for August–November, and October 15 for December–March. 3. Book your permit on recreation.gov as soon as your entry date's release opens, reserving each zone for the nights of your itinerary. 4. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations reopen zones over time, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a watched zone frees up. ### Your odds There is no lottery and no published odds report: White River National Forest releases no application or sell-out statistics, so your chances come down to quota math and release-day speed. The supply numbers are public and small. Conundrum Hot Springs has just 20 designated sites, most capped at 2 to 4 people, which makes it the tightest draw in the wilderness. Speed-of-sale notes are estimates from observed release-day behavior: summer weekend nights at Conundrum are effectively gone within minutes of the February 15 release at 8:00 AM Mountain, and the Four Pass Loop zones and Capitol Lake follow close behind. Midweek dates, shoulder-season weeks, and less famous zones like Geneva Lake hold out much longer. The realistic path to a sold-out zone is cancellations. Because one reservation covers a whole party and plans change, zones reopen in ones and twos all season with no schedule. Watching the exact zone and nights you need is exactly what Permit Ranger does. *Source: White River National Forest and recreation.gov permit pages (site counts and quotas); the Forest Service publishes no application or sell-out statistics, so speed-of-sale notes are estimates. Last checked July 2026.* ### Notable trails - Four Pass Loop (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/four-pass-loop - Conundrum Hot Springs via Conundrum Creek Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/conundrum-creek-trail-to-conundrum-hot-springs - Crater Lake (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/crater-lake-trail - Snowmass Lake via Maroon Snowmass Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/maroon-snowmass-trail - Capitol Lake via Capitol Creek Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/capitol-creek-trail - Geneva Lake and Crystal River Loop (4.4 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/geneva-lake-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Maroon Bells–Snowmass permits become available?** Overnight zone permits are quota'd year-round and sold in three seasonal releases at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific): February 15 (for April–July entries), June 15 (August–November), and October 15 (December–March). **Can I bring my dog on a Maroon Bells backcountry trip?** Generally yes - as a national forest wilderness, Maroon Bells–Snowmass allows leashed dogs, but dogs are prohibited specifically at Conundrum Hot Springs. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancellations reopen zones over time, so sold-out dates frequently free up. Watch the zones you want and grab an opening when it appears; Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **Does one reservation cover my whole group?** Yes. Zones and designated sites use a per-zone quota, so a single reservation covers your whole party for that night. **How far ahead can I book a Maroon Bells permit?** Because the year is split into three seasonal releases, the furthest you can book is whatever the current release covers - for example, the February 15 release opens April through July entries. ## Mount Rainier Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/rainier - State: Washington - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675317 - When permits are released: The whole late-May – mid-October season goes on sale at once in late April (2026: April 25) at 7:00 AM Pacific, after the February–March early-access lottery. Cancellations reopen camps all summer. Outside the season permits are walk-up/self-registration only. - Quota seasons: May 22 to October 12, 2026; May 28 to October 11, 2027 - Off-season: Outside late May – mid-October there are no advance reservations - wilderness permits are walk-up / self-registration at ranger stations. - Fee, reservation: $6 per reservation (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per night: $10 per person per night (youth 15 and under free) Mount Rainier National Park surrounds the glaciated volcano that dominates the Washington skyline, with the Wonderland Trail circling its base and dozens of trailside, alpine, and cross-country camps in between. A wilderness camping permit is required for overnight backcountry trips, covering the specific camps or zones on your itinerary. Popular Wonderland camps and summer weekends sell out quickly, so competitive dates are hard to land. ### How to get a Mount Rainier permit 1. Plan your itinerary by choosing the trailside camps, alpine camps, or cross-country zones you want for each night of your trip. 2. If you want the best odds, enter the early-access lottery held in February and March (2026 window was February 10 to March 3). 3. Otherwise, wait for the general on-sale: the entire late-May through mid-October season goes on sale at once in late April (2026: April 25) at 7:00 AM Pacific. 4. Book your permit on recreation.gov, reserving each camp or zone for the nights of your planned route. 5. If your dates are sold out, keep checking - cancellations reopen camps all summer, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a watched camp frees up. ### Your odds Mount Rainier does not publish exact application counts, but the scale is clear. Community estimates put recent early-access lotteries above 10,000 entries, while only about 600 full Wonderland Trail circuits can be reserved in advance each season, with roughly 300 more circuits held back for walk-up permits. Treat those entry numbers as estimates, not official figures. The lottery awards an early-access booking window, not a permit. Winners book through late March and April before the general on-sale, so by the time the whole season opens to everyone in late April, the most popular Wonderland camps on summer weekends are largely gone. Individual camps still reopen constantly as parties change itineraries or cancel, night by night. Watching specific camps and dates for those reopenings is usually the realistic path to a full circuit booked outside the lottery. *Source: NPS Mount Rainier wilderness permit pages for circuit and walk-up counts; lottery entry totals are community estimates, not official NPS figures. Last checked July 2026.* ### Notable trails - Camp Summerland and Lakes via Wonderland Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/summerland-trail - Camp Muir Route via Skyline Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/camp-muir-route-via-skyline-trail - Glacier Basin Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/glacier-basin-mount-rainier-trail - Lake George and Gobblers Knob Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/lake-george-and-gobblers-knob-trail - Kautz to Longmire via Indian Henry's Hunting Ground (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/kautz-to-longmire-via-indian-henrys-hunting-ground - Berkeley Park Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/berkeley-park-trail - Sunrise Rim Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/sunrise-rim-trail - Indian Bar Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/indian-bar-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Mount Rainier permits become available?** The whole late-May through mid-October season goes on sale at once in late April (in 2026, April 25) at 7:00 AM Pacific, following an early-access lottery held in February and March. **Can I bring my dog on a Mount Rainier backcountry trip?** No. As a national park, Mount Rainier prohibits pets on wilderness trails and in backcountry camps. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancellations reopen camps throughout the summer, so sold-out dates frequently free up. Watch the specific camps you want and grab an opening when it appears; Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **How do I get a permit outside the reservation season?** Outside the late-May to mid-October season there are no advance reservations. Wilderness permits are walk-up or self-registration at ranger stations, and the wilderness centers close after the season ends. **Does one reservation cover my whole group?** Yes. Camps and zones are booked as group slots, so a single reservation for a camp covers your party for that night. ## North Cascades Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/north-cascades - State: Washington - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675322 - When permits are released: The whole May 15 – October 10 peak season goes on sale at once in late April (2026: April 29) at 7:00 AM Pacific, after the March early-access lottery. Cancellations reopen camps all summer. Outside the peak season permits are walk-up/self-registration only. - Quota seasons: May 15 to October 10, 2026; May 15 to October 10, 2027 - Off-season: Outside May 15 – October 10 there are no advance reservations - backcountry permits are walk-up / self-registration. - Fee, reservation: $6 per reservation (non-refundable) - Fee, per person: $10 per person (summer season; youth 15 and under free) North Cascades National Park protects a rugged, glacier-carved corner of Washington laced with jagged peaks, alpine lakes, and remote camp areas along drainages like Thunder Creek and the Stehekin. A wilderness camping permit is required for overnight backcountry trips, covering the specific camp areas on your itinerary. Popular camps and peak-summer weekends fill fast, so competitive dates can be hard to secure. ### How to get a North Cascades permit 1. Plan your route by choosing the camp areas you want for each night, including cross-country zones if you're going off-trail. 2. For the best odds on high-demand camps, enter the early-access lottery held in March (2026 window was March 2 to 13). 3. Otherwise wait for the general on-sale: the entire May 15 to October 10 peak season goes on sale at once in late April (2026: April 29) at 7:00 AM Pacific. 4. Book your permit on recreation.gov, reserving each camp area for the nights of your planned itinerary. 5. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations reopen camps all summer, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a watched camp frees up. ### Your odds North Cascades is unusually candid about its lottery math. In 2025, 13,202 applicants competed for roughly 2,000 early-access booking timeslots, about 15 percent odds. The 2024 lottery ran near 17 percent, so demand is growing faster than capacity. Like Rainier's, this lottery awards a booking window rather than a permit itself. Winners book from late March; everyone else waits for the late-April general on-sale, when the remaining inventory for the entire season opens at once. High-demand camps can sell out within minutes of the general on-sale, but cancellations reopen individual nights all season, especially in the two weeks before entry dates as plans firm up. *Source: National Park Service lottery announcements for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Last checked July 2026.* ### Notable trails - Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/cascade-pass-and-sahale-arm-trail--2 - Copper Ridge Trail To Copper Lake (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/copper-ridge-trail - Desolation Peak Trail via Ross Lake (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/desolation-peak-trail - Cascade Pass Trail to Park Creek Camp (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/cascade-pass-trail-to-park-creek-camp - Eldorado Peak via Eldorado Basin Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/eldorado-peak--2 - Sourdough Mountain Lookout (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/sourdough-mountain-lookout--2 - Hidden Lake Lookout (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/hidden-lake-lookout-trail - Pierce Mountain Camp via Sourdough Mountain Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/pierce-mountain-camp-via-sourdough-mountain-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do North Cascades permits become available?** The whole May 15 to October 10 peak season goes on sale at once in late April (in 2026, April 29) at 7:00 AM Pacific, following an early-access lottery held in March. **Can I bring my dog on a North Cascades backcountry trip?** No. As a national park, North Cascades prohibits pets on backcountry trails and in camps (the Pacific Crest Trail corridor is the narrow exception). **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancellations reopen camps throughout the summer, so sold-out dates frequently free up. Watch the camp areas you want and grab an opening when it appears; Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **How do I get a permit outside the peak season?** Outside the May 15 to October 10 peak season there are no advance reservations. Backcountry permits are walk-up or self-registration only. **Does one reservation cover my whole group?** Yes. Camp areas are booked as group slots, so a single reservation for a camp covers your party for that night. ## Olympic Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/olympic - State: Washington - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4098362 - When permits are released: Reservable year-round in two blocks at 7:00 AM Pacific: the summer season (entries May 15 – October 15) opens April 15, and the winter season (entries October 16 – May 14) opens September 15. No lottery - cancellations reopen sites continuously. - Fee, reservation: $6 per permit (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per night: $8 per person per night (ages 16 and up; youth 15 and under free) Olympic National Park spans glacier-topped peaks, temperate rainforests, and wild Pacific coastline on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, with backcountry destinations like Enchanted Valley, the Hoh, and the Seven Lakes Basin. A wilderness camping permit is required for overnight backcountry trips, covering the specific campsites on your itinerary. Popular sites and summer weekends fill quickly, so competitive dates can be hard to secure. ### How to get a Olympic permit 1. Plan your route by choosing the campsites you want for each night of your trip, grouped by district (Hoh, Sol Duc, Staircase, the coast, and more). 2. Note the release blocks: the summer season (entries May 15 to October 15) goes on sale April 15 at 7:00 AM Pacific, and the winter season (entries October 16 to May 14) goes on sale September 15 at 7:00 AM Pacific. 3. There is no lottery - reserve as soon as your entry date's season opens on recreation.gov. 4. Book your permit, reserving each campsite for the nights of your planned itinerary. 5. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations reopen sites continuously, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a watched site frees up. ### Notable trails - Cameron Creek via Three Forks Trail (5.0 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/cameron-creek-via-three-forks-trail - Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/hoh-river-trail-to-blue-glacier-trail - High Divide and Seven Lakes Basin Loop (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/high-divide-seven-lakes-basin-loop - Sol Duc Falls Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/sol-duc-falls-nature-trail - Enchanted Valley Chalet via East Fork Quinault River Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/enchanted-valley-trail - Olympic Wilderness Coast Trail: Third Beach to Toleak Point (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/olympic-wilderness-coast-trail-third-beach-to-toleak-point - Second Beach (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/second-beach-trail--3 - Home Lake via Upper Big Quilcene, Upper Dungeness, Constance Pass (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/home-lake-via-upper-big-quilcene-upper-dungeness-constance-pass ### Frequently asked questions **When do Olympic permits become available?** Olympic is reservable year-round in two blocks at 7:00 AM Pacific: the summer season (entries May 15 to October 15) opens April 15, and the winter season (entries October 16 to May 14) opens September 15. There is no lottery. **Can I bring my dog on an Olympic backcountry trip?** No. As a national park, Olympic prohibits pets on wilderness trails and in backcountry camps. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancellations reopen sites continuously, so sold-out dates frequently free up. Watch the campsites you want and grab an opening when it appears; Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **Is there a lottery for Olympic permits?** No. Olympic sells wilderness permits first-come, first-served once each season's on-sale date arrives - there is no lottery to enter. **Why can't I see availability for some camp areas?** Some camp areas have shorter seasonal sub-windows (for example, Seven Lakes Basin from mid-July). Those dates simply stay hidden in the system until they open. ## Paria Canyon (Vermilion Cliffs) Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/paria - States: Arizona, Utah - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/74984 - When permits are released: First-come-first-served: each entry date opens one year (365 days) ahead on a rolling window, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific - the single online release moment. 20 people/day cumulative across all trailheads; day-of and next-day dates are not sold online. - Fee, reservation: $6 per reservation (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per day: $5 per person per day - Fee, per dog, per day: $5 per dog per day A Paria Canyon overnight permit covers multi-day trips through one of the Southwest's classic slot-canyon backpacks, running from the White House and Buckskin Gulch trailheads in Utah down to Lees Ferry in Arizona. It is a wet canyon hike where wading the Paria River is part of the trip, and the small daily quota is shared across all trailheads. Prime spring and fall dates fill quickly. ### How to get a Paria Canyon (Vermilion Cliffs) permit 1. Plan your route and entry trailhead (most overnight trips start at White House) and choose your entry date. 2. Each entry date opens one year (365 days) ahead on a rolling window, advancing every morning at 7:00 AM Pacific - the single online release moment. 3. Book on recreation.gov as soon as your date enters the window; the quota is shared across all trailheads, so popular dates go fast. 4. Note that day-of and next-day trips are not sold online, so plan at least a couple of days ahead. 5. If your dates are sold out, keep watching: cancellations return to the pool, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Your odds Paria Canyon overnight permits are not a lottery (that is the neighboring Coyote Buttes and Wave draws, a separate system). Your odds here are quota math: the BLM caps overnight entry at 20 people per day, cumulative across all four trailheads, one of the smallest hard caps of any major Southwest backpacking permit. A single group of 10 can consume half a day's canyon capacity. The BLM publishes no application or sell-out statistics, so demand notes are estimates from observed booking patterns: prime spring (March to May) and fall (late September to November) dates go quickly once they enter the rolling one-year window, while summer and winter dates, when flash-flood risk or cold water deters most parties, often stay open. Because trips are multi-day and quota is per person per day, one cancellation can free several consecutive dates at once. Those unscheduled returns are the realistic route to a sold-out spring weekend, and exactly what Permit Ranger watches. *Source: BLM Paria Canyon permit pages and recreation.gov booking rules (20-person daily quota); the BLM publishes no application or sell-out statistics, so demand notes are estimates. Last checked July 2026.* ### Notable trails The classic Paria trip is a thru-hike from White House to Lees Ferry. Here are the notable routes for the canyon's single overnight permit. - White House Trail to Lees Ferry (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/white-house-trail-to-lees-ferry - Paria Canyon from Lees Ferry (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/paria-canyon-from-lees-ferry ### Frequently asked questions **When do Paria Canyon permits become available?** Each entry date opens one year (365 days) in advance on a rolling window that advances every morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. This single rolling opening is the only online release moment. **Can I bring my dog into Paria Canyon?** Yes. As a BLM wilderness area, Paria Canyon allows dogs (a per-dog fee applies). Be prepared for a wet canyon hike, since the route involves wading the Paria River. **What if my dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates can reopen when other parties cancel. Keep checking recreation.gov, and Permit Ranger can notify you the moment a watched date becomes available. **Can I get a Paria Canyon permit at the last minute?** Day-of and next-day trips are not reservable online; those dates simply are not offered. Plan to book at least a couple of days before your entry date. **How far ahead can I book a Paria Canyon permit?** You can book up to a full year (365 days) ahead. Because the window rolls forward each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific, a new day of quota becomes bookable every day. ## Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/pictured-rocks - State: Michigan - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/256367 - When permits are released: Backcountry permits open on a rolling 6-month window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). One reservation covers your whole party (per-site booking), year-round. - Fee, reservation: $15 per permit (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per night: $5 per person per night Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Michigan's Upper Peninsula is famous for its colorful sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, and beaches along Lake Superior, with the Lakeshore Trail linking a string of backcountry camps. A backcountry camping permit reserves a specific hike-to, group, or boat-in site for each night of your trip. Popular camp loops near the cliffs and summer weekends fill quickly, so booking early matters. ### How to get a Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore permit 1. Plan your itinerary by choosing which backcountry camp loops and sites you want for each night of your trip. Each site is a reservation that covers your whole party. 2. Reservations open on a rolling 6-month window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). Six months before your entry date, that date becomes bookable. 3. Book your sites on recreation.gov the morning your dates open, since the most popular sites can go within minutes. 4. If a site is already reserved, keep watching - cancellations return sites to inventory. Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a sold-out Pictured Rocks site reopens. ### Notable trails - Chapel Beach Loop (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/chapel-beach-loop - Pictured Rocks Lakeshore Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/grand-marais-to-munising-via-north-country-trail - Mosquito Falls and Mosquito Beach Loop (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/mosquito-falls-and-mosquito-beach-loop-trail - Au Sable Point Lighthouse from Au Sable Point Campground (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/au-sable-point-lighthouse-from-au-sable-point-campground ### Frequently asked questions **When do Pictured Rocks backcountry permits become available?** Permits open on a rolling 6-month window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). Each entry date becomes bookable exactly six months ahead. Permits are required and sold online year-round. **Are dogs allowed in the Pictured Rocks backcountry?** No. As a National Park Service site, Pictured Rocks prohibits pets in the backcountry and on backcountry trails. **How far ahead can I book?** You can book up to six months in advance. The window rolls forward one day at a time, so the furthest bookable entry date is always about six months from today. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancelled reservations are returned to inventory, so sold-out sites frequently reopen. Watching your preferred site and dates and booking the moment a cancellation appears is often the best way to secure a popular camp. ## Rocky Mountain National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/rmnp - State: Colorado - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675320 - When permits are released: The entire May 1 – Oct 31 wilderness camping season goes on sale at once on March 1 at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific). One reservation covers your whole party (per-site quota). Nov–Apr sites are reserved in person at a wilderness office only. - Quota seasons: May 1 to October 31, 2026; May 1 to October 31, 2027 - Off-season: Nov–Apr wilderness sites are reserved IN PERSON at a park wilderness office (up to the day before your trip) - there is no online booking to watch. - Fee, reservation: $36 per trip (flat rate, non-refundable) Rocky Mountain National Park protects a high-altitude stretch of the Colorado Front Range, with alpine lakes, tundra passes, and hundreds of designated wilderness camp areas. A wilderness camping permit is required for overnight backcountry trips, and one reservation covers your whole party at a specific camp area. Popular camps and summer weekends sell out fast, so competitive dates can be hard to secure. ### How to get a Rocky Mountain National Park permit 1. Plan your route by choosing the wilderness camp areas you want for each night of your trip. 2. Mark the opening: the entire May 1 to October 31 wilderness camping season goes on sale at once on March 1 at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific). 3. Book your permit on recreation.gov as soon as the season opens, reserving each camp area for the nights of your itinerary. 4. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations reopen camp areas throughout the season, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a watched camp frees up. ### Notable trails - Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/sky-pond-via-glacier-gorge-trail - Odessa Lake via Bear Lake, Flattop Mountain, and Fern Lake Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/odessa-lake-via-fern-lake-trail--3 - The Keyhole and Longs Peak via Longs Peak Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/the-keyhole-and-longs-peak-trail - Finch Lake and Pear Lake Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/finch-lake-and-pear-lake-trail - Ouzel Lake Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/ouzel-lake-trail - Lone Pine Lake via East Inlet Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/east-inlet-trail - Lost Lake via North Fork Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/lost-lake-via-north-fork-trail - Lawn Lake Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/lawn-lake-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Rocky Mountain National Park permits become available?** The entire May 1 to October 31 wilderness camping season goes on sale at once on March 1 at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific). **Can I bring my dog on a Rocky Mountain backcountry trip?** No. As a national park, Rocky Mountain prohibits dogs on trails and throughout the wilderness. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancellations reopen camp areas throughout the season, so sold-out dates frequently free up. Watch the camp areas you want and grab an opening when it appears; Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **How do I get a permit in the off-season?** November through April wilderness sites are reserved in person at a park wilderness office (up to the day before your trip) - there is no online booking to watch during those months. **Does one reservation cover my whole group?** Yes. Camp areas use a per-site quota, so a single reservation for a camp area covers your whole party for that night. ## Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/seki - State: California - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445857 - When permits are released: First-come-first-served: each entry date's reservable quota opens 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery). Reservations close 1 week before entry; the rest is walk-up only. Outside the quota season (late May – late September) permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead - no reservation needed. - Quota seasons: May 22 to September 26, 2026; May 22 to September 26, 2027 - Off-season: No reservation needed - permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead. - Fee, reservation: $15 per permit - Fee, per person: $5 per person Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI) protect the giant sequoia groves and the rugged High Sierra of California, including the Rae Lakes Loop, the High Sierra Trail, and the Mineral King basin. A SEKI wilderness permit is required for overnight backcountry trips during the quota season, and the classic loops and passes fill quickly once dates open. ### How to get a Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks permit 1. Choose your entry trailhead and entry date within the quota season (roughly late May through late September). 2. Each entry date's reservable quota opens six months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on a rolling window - first-come-first-served, with no lottery. 3. Book on recreation.gov under the SEKI wilderness permit (445857). Note that online reservations close one week before the entry date; after that, remaining quota is walk-up only. 4. For dates outside the quota season, no reservation is needed - permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead. 5. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to recreation.gov at no set time, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Notable trails SEKI's quota trailheads lead to some of the Sierra's most iconic backcountry. A few of the most popular routes: - Rae Lakes Loop (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/rae-lakes-loop-trail - Monarch Lakes Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/monarch-lakes-trail - Pear Lake via Lakes, Hump, and Watchtower Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/pear-lake-via-lakes-hump-and-watchtower-trail - High Sierra Trail: Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/high-sierra-trail - Lakes Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/the-lakes-trail - Alta Peak via Lakes, Panther Gap, and Alta Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/alta-peak-trail - Franklin Lakes Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/franklin-lakes-trail - Bubbs Creek Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/bubbs-creek ### Frequently asked questions **When do Sequoia & Kings Canyon permits become available?** Each entry date's reservable quota opens six months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on a rolling window. It is first-come-first-served with no lottery, and online booking closes one week before the entry date. **Are dogs allowed on SEKI wilderness trails?** No. Sequoia and Kings Canyon are national parks, where pets are banned from wilderness and backcountry trails. **What if my SEKI dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates often reopen when other hikers cancel, returning quota to recreation.gov with no fixed schedule. Watching your specific trailhead and date is the best way to catch a cancellation, and Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **Do I need a permit outside the quota season?** A wilderness permit is still required, but outside the quota season (late May through late September) there is no reservation to make - permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead. **Can I get a SEKI permit as a walk-up?** Yes. Online reservations close one week before the entry date, and the remaining quota is available walk-up only from that point on. ## Sierra National Forest Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/sierra - State: California - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445858 - When permits are released: Rolling 6-month window: 60% of quota opens 6 months ahead, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. The remaining 40% (traditional walk-up quota, sold online) drops 14 days before entry at 7:00 AM Pacific. - Fee, reservation: $6 per reservation - Fee, per person: $5 per person ($15 per person for Mt. Whitney Zone exits) Sierra National Forest spans the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada, including the Ansel Adams, John Muir, Dinkey Lakes, and Kaiser Wildernesses and the alpine lake country around Mono Hot Springs and Florence Lake. A Sierra National Forest wilderness permit is required for overnight backcountry trips at the forest's quota trailheads, and the most sought-after entries can sell out when quota opens. ### How to get a Sierra National Forest permit 1. Choose your trailhead (each entry point has its own quota) and your entry date. 2. For competitive dates, be ready when 60% of the trailhead's quota opens on a rolling six-month window, advancing each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. 3. If you miss the six-month opening, watch for the remaining 40% of the quota (the traditional walk-up quota, sold online), which drops 14 days before the entry date at 7:00 AM Pacific. 4. Book your permit on recreation.gov under the Sierra National Forest wilderness permit (445858). 5. If your dates are already sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to the pool without warning, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a spot reopens. ### Notable trails Sierra National Forest's quota trailheads open onto classic alpine lake basins and Sierra crest routes. A few of the most popular hikes: - Coyote Lake Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/coyote-lake-trail - Lake Thomas Edison Loop via Bear Ridge (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/lake-thomas-edison-loop-via-bear-ridge - Twin Lakes Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/twin-lakes--2 - Dinkey Lakes via Dinkey Lakes and Mystery Lake Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/dinkey-lakes-via-dinkey-lakes-and-mystery-lake-trail - Dinkey Lakes Trail to Cliff Lake (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/dinkey-lakes-trail-to-cliff-lake - Dinkey Lakes Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/dinkey-lakes-trail - Maxson Trailhead to Hobler Lake (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/maxson-trailhead-to-hobler-lake - Corbett Lake (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/corbett-lake ### Frequently asked questions **When do Sierra National Forest permits become available?** 60% of each trailhead's quota opens on a rolling six-month window, advancing every morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. The remaining 40% is released 14 days before the entry date, also at 7:00 AM Pacific. **Are dogs allowed on Sierra National Forest wilderness trails?** Yes. Sierra is national forest wilderness, where leashed dogs are generally permitted on the trails. **What if my Sierra National Forest dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates frequently reopen when other hikers cancel, returning quota to recreation.gov at no set time. Watching the specific trailhead and date is the most reliable way to catch a cancellation, and Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **How far in advance can I book a Sierra National Forest permit?** You can book up to six months ahead. The rolling window advances one day at a time, so a new entry date becomes bookable each morning at 7:00 AM Pacific. **What is the 40% drop?** Sierra National Forest holds back 40% of each trailhead's quota - the traditional walk-up quota, now sold online - and releases it 14 days before the entry date at 7:00 AM Pacific. This is the key actionable moment for dates you missed at the six-month opening. ## Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/sleeping-bear - State: Michigan - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/10303139 - When permits are released: Backcountry campsites open on a rolling 7-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). One reservation covers your whole party. - Fee, per night: $13 per site per night Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan is known for its towering dunes and Lake Michigan shoreline, with remote backcountry camping on North and South Manitou Islands. A backcountry camping permit reserves your group's site during your stay. Because sites are limited and the reservation window is short, popular summer dates can be competitive. ### How to get a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore permit 1. Choose your backcountry campground and trip dates. Each reservation covers your whole party. 2. Reservations open on a rolling 7-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). Your entry date becomes bookable seven days ahead. 3. Book on recreation.gov the morning your date opens, since the short window means sites can fill quickly for busy weekends. 4. If a site is already reserved, keep watching - cancellations return sites to inventory. Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a sold-out Sleeping Bear site reopens. ### Notable trails - Platte Plains Trail to White Pines Backcountry Campsite (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/platte-plains-trail-to-white-pines-backcountry-campsite ### Frequently asked questions **When do Sleeping Bear Dunes backcountry permits become available?** Campsites open on a rolling 7-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). Each entry date becomes bookable seven days ahead. **Are dogs allowed on the Manitou Islands backcountry?** No. As a National Park Service site, pets are prohibited in the Sleeping Bear backcountry, including the Manitou Islands. **How far ahead can I book?** You can book up to seven days in advance. The window rolls forward one day at a time, so the furthest bookable entry date is always about a week out. **What if my dates are sold out?** Cancelled reservations are returned to inventory, so sold-out sites frequently reopen. Watching your preferred dates and booking the moment a cancellation appears is often the best way to secure a site. ## Sylvania Wilderness Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/sylvania - State: Michigan - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/234526 - When permits are released: Thirteen designated short-notice sites open rolling 14 days before entry at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific) - the only verified release rule here, so the 'bookable through' date reflects that 14-day window. Most other sites are typically already bookable much further out (through the season) on an unverified schedule. One reservation covers your whole party. - Fee, per night: $15 per site per night Sylvania Wilderness in Michigan's Ottawa National Forest protects a cluster of clear, old-growth-rimmed lakes in the western Upper Peninsula, prized for quiet paddling and lake-loop backpacking. A backcountry camping permit reserves a specific designated campsite for your group during your stay. Popular lakeside sites and summer weekends can fill up, so it pays to plan ahead. ### How to get a Sylvania Wilderness permit 1. Choose a lake loop and designated campsite along with your trip dates. Each site is a single reservation that covers your whole party. 2. For the thirteen designated short-notice sites, reservations open on a rolling 14-day window before your entry date at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). 3. Most other sites are typically bookable much further out (through the season), though the exact season-opening schedule is not published - so plan around availability rather than a fixed release date. 4. Book your site on recreation.gov as soon as it becomes available for your dates. 5. If your site is already taken, keep watching - cancellations return sites to inventory. Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a sold-out Sylvania site reopens. ### Notable trails - Clark Lake Trail (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/clark-lake-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Sylvania Wilderness permits become available?** Thirteen designated short-notice sites open on a rolling 14-day window before entry at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). Most other sites are typically bookable much further out through the season, on a schedule recreation.gov does not clearly publish. **Are dogs allowed in Sylvania Wilderness?** Yes. As a national forest wilderness, Sylvania generally allows leashed dogs on its trails and at campsites. **What are the short-notice sites?** Thirteen sites follow a rolling 14-day window, becoming bookable 14 days before your entry date. They are a good option for last-minute trips when longer-lead sites are already reserved. **What if my campsite is sold out?** Cancelled reservations are returned to inventory, so reserved sites frequently reopen. Watching your preferred site and booking the moment a cancellation appears is often the best way to secure a popular lakeside campsite. ## The Enchantments Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/enchantments - State: Washington - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233273 - When permits are released: The whole season (May 15 – Oct 31) is allocated by lottery (apply Feb 15 – Mar 1); unclaimed and returned permits are released first-come-first-served on April 1 at 7:00 AM Pacific. After that, cancellations reappear continuously with no schedule - exactly what availability watching is for. Off-season overnight trips are self-issued at the trailhead. - Quota seasons: May 15 to October 31, 2026; May 15 to October 31, 2027 - Off-season: No quota off-season - self-issue a free overnight permit at the trailhead. - Fee, application: $6 per lottery application (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per day: $5 per person per day The Enchantments, in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near Leavenworth, Washington, is a granite basin of turquoise alpine lakes, larches, and mountain goats that is one of the most sought-after backpacking destinations in the country. An overnight zone permit is required in the quota season, and demand is so high that nearly all permits are allocated by an annual lottery. ### How to get a permit for The Enchantments 1. Choose your zone (Core Enchantment, Colchuck, Snow, Stuart, or Eightmile/Caroline) and your entry date in the quota season, May 15 – Oct 31. 2. Apply for the annual lottery, which runs February 15 – March 1 and allocates the entire season's quota. 3. If you don't win the lottery, watch for unclaimed and returned permits, which are released first-come-first-served on April 1 at 7:00 AM Pacific. 4. Book on recreation.gov under the Enchantments overnight permit (233273). After April 1, cancellations reappear continuously with no set schedule. 5. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to recreation.gov at any time, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Your odds The Enchantments advance lottery is one of the toughest permit draws in the country. In the 2024 lottery, roughly 42,800 applications competed for the season's overnight permits, and only about 7 percent of applications won a permit in any zone. The Core Enchantment Zone is the long shot: around 790 Core permits were awarded in 2024, which works out to roughly 2 percent of all applications. Odds improve meaningfully in the surrounding zones (Colchuck, Stuart, Snow, Eightmile/Caroline), on midweek dates, and in shoulder-season weeks. Losing the lottery is not the end. Unclaimed lottery permits return to public inventory on April 1 at 7:00 AM Pacific, and cancellations trickle back with no schedule all season. That reopening inventory is exactly what Permit Ranger watches. *Source: US Forest Service published Enchantments lottery results (2024 season, the most recent full report). Last checked July 2026.* ### Notable trails Each Enchantments zone corresponds to a well-known trail into the basin. A few of the most popular routes: - Snow Lakes Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/snow-lakes-trail - Colchuck Lake via Stuart Lake and Colchuck Lake Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/colchuck-lake-trail - The Enchantments Traverse (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/the-enchantments - Lake Stuart and Colchuck Lake Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/lake-stuart-and-colchuck-lake-trail - Eightmile Lake Trail (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/eightmile-lake-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Enchantments permits become available?** The whole season (May 15 – Oct 31) is allocated through a lottery, with applications open February 15 – March 1. Unclaimed and returned permits are then released first-come-first-served on April 1 at 7:00 AM Pacific, after which cancellations reappear continuously. **Are dogs allowed in the Enchantments?** No. Dogs are prohibited throughout the Enchantments permit area. **What if my Enchantments dates are sold out?** After the lottery and the April 1 release, cancellations reappear continuously with no schedule - which is exactly what availability watching is for. Permit Ranger can notify you the moment a spot reopens for your zone and date. **How does the Enchantments lottery work?** Nearly all of the season's overnight quota is allocated through an annual lottery, with applications accepted February 15 – March 1. Permits not claimed or later returned are released first-come-first-served on April 1 at 7:00 AM Pacific. **Do I need a permit outside the quota season?** Outside the quota season, there is no quota - overnight trips are self-issued with a free permit at the trailhead. ## Voyageurs National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/voyageurs - State: Minnesota - Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/249981 - When permits are released: The entire upcoming summer season (early May through the following spring) goes on sale at once on November 15 at 9:00 AM Central (7:00 AM Pacific). Ten designated short-notice sites (two per lake area) are held back and instead open rolling 7 days before entry. One reservation covers your whole party. - Fee, reservation: $10 per transaction (non-refundable) - Fee, per night: varies by site class per night, peak season: backcountry $30, primitive $15, frontcountry small $22-26, frontcountry large $28-32, group site $60 Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota is a water-based park of interconnected lakes, islands, and boreal forest along the Canadian border, reached almost entirely by boat or canoe. A camping permit reserves a specific boat-in or hike-to campsite for your group across Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand Point Lakes. Because each site is a single reservable unit and the whole summer season is released at once, popular sites and weekends fill quickly. ### How to get a Voyageurs National Park permit 1. Pick your lake area and campsite along with your trip dates. Each site is a separate reservation that covers your whole party. 2. For most sites, mark November 15: the entire upcoming summer season (early May through the following spring) goes on sale at once on November 15 at 9:00 AM Central (7:00 AM Pacific). 3. If you want one of the ten designated short-notice sites (two per lake area), note they are held back from the season release and instead open on a rolling window 7 days before your entry date. 4. Book your site on recreation.gov as soon as your target release moment arrives, since prime summer sites go fast. 5. If your site is already reserved, keep watching - cancellations return sites to inventory. Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a sold-out Voyageurs site reopens. ### Notable trails - Anderson Bay Loop (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/anderson-bay-loop - Locator Trail (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/locator-trail - Cruiser Lake Trail (4.3 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/cruiser-lake-trail--3 ### Frequently asked questions **When do Voyageurs National Park camping permits become available?** The entire upcoming summer season goes on sale at once on November 15 at 9:00 AM Central (7:00 AM Pacific). Ten designated short-notice sites are the exception: they are held back and open on a rolling window 7 days before the entry date. **What are the short-notice sites?** Ten sites (two per lake area) are excluded from the November 15 season release and instead become bookable rolling 7 days before your entry date. They are ideal for last-minute trips when the season sites are gone. **Are dogs allowed at Voyageurs campsites?** Yes. Voyageurs is an exception among national parks: pets are allowed at its developed campsites. Always keep dogs leashed and follow park pet rules. **What if my campsite is sold out?** Cancelled reservations are returned to inventory, so sold-out sites frequently reopen. Watching your preferred site and booking the moment a cancellation appears is often the best way to secure a popular boat-in campsite. ## Yellowstone National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/yellowstone-backcountry - States: Wyoming, Montana - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675323 - When permits are released: Peak-season trips (May 15 – October 31) go on general sale April 26 at 8:00 AM Mountain Time (after the March early-access lottery). Non-peak trips (November 1 – May 14) go on sale October 6 at 8:00 AM Mountain Time. Cancellations reopen sites year-round; permits are picked up in person at a Backcountry Permit Office. - Fee, reservation: $10 per reservation (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per night: $5 per person per night A Yellowstone backcountry permit covers overnight trips to the park's designated camp areas, spanning corridors like the Heart Lake basin, Slough Creek, the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone, and the waterfall-rich Bechler region. It is one of the great wilderness backpacking experiences in the country, and permits are bookable online year-round. Peak-season trips are competitive, so popular sites for summer dates go fast. ### How to get a Yellowstone National Park permit 1. Plan your route and the camp areas you want to link together (for example the Heart Lake basin or the Bechler Canyon), and set your trip dates. 2. For early access to peak-season trips (May 15 – October 31), apply in the March early-access lottery; awarded applicants book in April access windows (the lottery is separate and not tracked here). 3. General on-sales are first-come, first-served on recreation.gov: peak-season trips (May 15 – October 31) go on sale April 26 at 8:00 AM Mountain Time, and non-peak trips (November 1 – May 14) on October 6 at 8:00 AM Mountain Time. 4. Book the moment your dates open, then pick up the permit in person at a Backcountry Permit Office. 5. For sold-out dates, keep watching: cancellations reopen sites year-round, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Notable trails Yellowstone's camp areas anchor its classic backpacking corridors. Here are notable trails that reach the permit's most popular sites. - Yellowstone River Trail (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/yellowstone-river-trail - Heart Lake Trail to South Entrance (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/heart-lake-trail - Slough Creek Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/slough-creek-trail - Union Falls via Mountain Ash Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/union-falls-trail - Pebble Creek Trail via Northeast Trailhead (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/pebble-creek-trail - Bechler River Trail via Bechler Ranger Station Trailhead (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/bechler-river-trail - Beula Lake Trail (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/beula-lake-trail - Shoshone Lake via Delacy Creek Trail (4.6 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/shoshone-lake-via-delacy-creek-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Yellowstone backcountry permits become available?** Peak-season trips (May 15 – October 31) go on general sale April 26 at 8:00 AM Mountain Time, after the March early-access lottery. Non-peak trips (November 1 – May 14) go on sale October 6 at 8:00 AM Mountain Time. **Can I bring my dog into the Yellowstone backcountry?** No. As an NPS park, Yellowstone does not allow dogs or other pets in the backcountry or on trails. **What if my dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates often reopen as other parties cancel - cancellations return to the pool year-round. Keep checking recreation.gov, and Permit Ranger can notify you the moment a watched site opens up. **Is there a lottery for Yellowstone backcountry permits?** Yes. An early-access lottery runs March 1–20 for peak-season trips; awarded applicants book during individual access windows April 1–24, ahead of the April 26 general on-sale. The lottery is separate from the first-come general sales. **Where do I pick up my Yellowstone backcountry permit?** Reservations are picked up in person at a Backcountry Permit Office. Permits are bookable online year-round, so trips in any season can be reserved in advance. ## Yosemite National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/yosemite - State: California - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445859 - When permits are released: 60% of quota is awarded by weekly lottery 24 weeks ahead; unclaimed lottery permits release Fridays at 9:00 AM Pacific. The remaining 40% opens 7 days before entry at 7:00 AM Pacific. (Half Dome lottery is separate.) - Fee, reservation: $10 per permit - Fee, per person: $5 per person Yosemite National Park protects the granite domes, waterfalls, and high country of California's central Sierra Nevada, from Tuolumne Meadows and the Cathedral Range to the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails. A Yosemite wilderness permit is required for overnight backcountry trips, and the park's most coveted trailheads are awarded by a competitive weekly lottery months in advance. ### How to get a Yosemite National Park permit 1. Choose your entry trailhead and entry date. Many popular trailheads (and Donohue Pass-eligible JMT starts) are in high demand. 2. Apply for the weekly lottery, which awards 60% of the quota 24 weeks ahead of the entry week. 3. If you don't win the lottery, watch for unclaimed lottery permits, which are released first-come-first-served on the Friday after the lottery week at 9:00 AM Pacific. 4. You can also try for the remaining 40% of the quota, which opens 7 days before the entry date at 7:00 AM Pacific. Book on recreation.gov under the Yosemite wilderness permit (445859). 5. If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations return quota to recreation.gov at no set time, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Your odds Yosemite is unusually transparent: the park publishes its wilderness lottery statistics every year. Across recent seasons, roughly 30 percent of applications in the weekly rolling lottery have won a permit reservation. Odds swing sharply by date and trailhead. For start dates in the peak window from mid July through mid August, around 70 percent of applications fail, while success climbs above 50 percent for mid-September starts. Donohue Exit trailheads (the southbound John Muir Trail) are the most requested and most competitive in the park. Each weekly lottery is independent, so persistent applicants with flexible dates usually get through eventually. Unclaimed quota is released first-come-first-served after each lottery, and cancellations return dates all summer. *Source: NPS Yosemite wilderness permit statistics (nps.gov/yose, 2022-2025 lottery summaries). Last checked July 2026.* ### Notable trails Yosemite's wilderness trailheads lead to legendary high country and waterfall routes. A few of the most popular hikes: - White Wolf to Aspen Valley Trail (5.0 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/white-wolf-to-aspen-valley-trail - Glacier Point to Yosemite Valley (Panorama Trail) (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/panorama-trail - Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/mist-trail - Half Dome via the John Muir Trail (JMT) (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/half-dome-trail - Upper Yosemite Falls, North Dome, Indian Rock, and Snow Creek Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/snow-creek-trail - Nelson Lake Trail (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/nelson-lake-trail - Taft Point and The Fissures (4.9 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/taft-point-and-the-fissures - Cathedral Peak: Climber's Approach (4.8 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/cathedral-peak-climbers-approach ### Frequently asked questions **When do Yosemite permits become available?** 60% of the quota is awarded by a weekly lottery 24 weeks ahead of the entry week. Unclaimed lottery permits are released first-come-first-served on the Friday after the lottery week at 9:00 AM Pacific, and the remaining 40% opens 7 days before the entry date at 7:00 AM Pacific. **Are dogs allowed on Yosemite wilderness trails?** No. Yosemite is a national park, where pets are banned from wilderness and backcountry trails. **What if my Yosemite dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates often reopen when other hikers cancel, returning quota to recreation.gov with no fixed schedule. Watching your specific trailhead and date is the best way to catch a cancellation, and Permit Ranger can notify you automatically. **How does the Yosemite lottery work?** Yosemite allocates 60% of its wilderness quota through a weekly lottery that runs 24 weeks ahead of the entry week. Permits not claimed by lottery winners are then released first-come-first-served the following Friday at 9:00 AM Pacific. **Is the Half Dome permit part of this?** No. The Half Dome cables lottery is a separate system from the wilderness permit and is not covered here. ## Zion National Park Permit Guide 2026 - Canonical guide page: https://permitranger.com/permits/zion - State: Utah - Dogs: No dogs in the backcountry - Book on recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4675338 - When permits are released: Wilderness permits are quota'd year-round and sold in four quarterly releases at 10:00 AM Mountain on the 5th of the month before each quarter: Dec 5 (for Jan 1 – Mar 31 entries), Mar 5 (Apr 1 – Jun 30), Jun 5 (Jul 1 – Sep 30), and Sep 5 (Oct 1 – Dec 31). About half of all sites are reservable online; the rest are first-come, first-served in person at a Wilderness Permit Desk. One reservation covers your whole party. - Fee, reservation: $20 per permit (non-refundable) - Fee, per person, per night: $7 per person per night A Zion wilderness permit covers overnight backcountry trips to the park's designated campsites and at-large camp areas, including the West Rim, La Verkin Creek, Hop Valley, and the Southwest Desert. It is required year-round, and about half of the sites are reservable online while the rest are first-come in person. Prime spring and fall dates on the most popular routes go fast when each quarterly release opens. ### How to get a Zion National Park permit 1. Pick your route and campsite or camp area (for example West Rim, La Verkin Creek, or the Southwest Desert) and choose your entry date. 2. Watch for the quarterly release that covers your date: sites go on sale at 10:00 AM Mountain on the 5th of the month before each quarter - Dec 5 for Jan–Mar, Mar 5 for Apr–Jun, Jun 5 for Jul–Sep, and Sep 5 for Oct–Dec. 3. Book online on recreation.gov when that window opens; one reservation covers your whole party. 4. If a site is only first-come, or you missed the online release, plan to visit a Wilderness Permit Desk in person - roughly half of all sites are held for first-come, first-served. 5. For sold-out online dates, keep watching: cancellations return to the pool immediately, and Permit Ranger can alert you when a spot reopens. ### Notable trails - Kolob Arch via La Verkin Creek Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/kolob-arch-via-la-verkin-creek-trail - West Rim Trail to Lava Point (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/west-rim-trail - East Rim Trail (4.7 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/east-rim-trail - Hop Valley and Kolob Arch Trail (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/hop-valley-trail - Chinle Trail (4.5 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/chinle-trail - Wildcat Canyon Trail (4.3 on AllTrails): https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/wildcat-canyon-trail ### Frequently asked questions **When do Zion permits become available?** Zion wilderness permits are quota'd year-round and sold in four quarterly releases at 10:00 AM Mountain on the 5th of the month before each quarter: Dec 5 (Jan 1 – Mar 31), Mar 5 (Apr 1 – Jun 30), Jun 5 (Jul 1 – Sep 30), and Sep 5 (Oct 1 – Dec 31). **Can I bring my dog on a Zion wilderness trip?** No. As an NPS park, Zion does not allow dogs or other pets on wilderness trails or in the backcountry. **What if my dates are sold out?** Sold-out dates often reopen. Cancellations return to the pool immediately, so keep checking recreation.gov, and Permit Ranger can notify you the moment a watched site becomes available. **Are there first-come, first-served Zion permits?** Yes. About half of all wilderness sites are not reservable online and are issued first-come, first-served in person at a Wilderness Permit Desk. **How far ahead can I reserve a Zion permit?** Each quarterly release opens a full three-month block of dates, so you can book up to roughly seven months ahead depending on where your trip falls relative to the next release date.