2027 Permit Lottery Calendar

Your guide to the critical unclaimed releases for the nation's most sought-after backcountry permits. Stay ahead of the lottery dates to ensure your spot on the trail.

Already have a trip date?

Use the Permit Lottery Timeline if you know when you want to hike. It shows the application, release, cancellation, daily lottery, and walk-up windows for a specific date.

Open the Permit Lottery Timeline
Mount Whitney granite peaks in the Sierra Nevada

Mount Whitney

Strenuous
eventLottery Opens: Feb 1
event_busyLottery Closes: Mar 1
notificationsResults: Mar 15
check_circleAcceptance Deadline: Apr 21
release_alertUnclaimed Release: Apr 22 at 7am PT
landscapePermit Season: May 1 – November 1

Inyo National Forest, CA

2027 dates follow the same annual pattern; agencies confirm in late 2026.

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Alpine lakes and granite peaks along the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada

John Muir Trail (JMT)

Very Difficult
eventLottery Opens: ~Feb 1
event_busyLottery Closes: ~Mar 15
notificationsResults: ~Apr 15
check_circleAcceptance Deadline: ~Apr 30
release_alertUnclaimed Release: ~May 1, 2027
landscapePermit Season: June - September

Sierra Nevada, CA

  • Weekly lottery (Yosemite SOBO) + 6-month reservations (NOBO/Inyo)
  • 16 alternative entry points with different quota systems

2027 dates follow the same annual pattern; agencies confirm in late 2026.

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Mount Rainier and subalpine meadows along the Wonderland Trail

Rainier Wonderland Trail

Expert
eventLottery Opens: ~Feb 10
event_busyLottery Closes: ~Mar 3
notificationsResults: ~Mar 14
landscapePermit Season: May 15 – October 1

Mount Rainier, WA

  • Early access booking begins ~Mar 21
  • General on-sale ~Apr 25
  • Walk-up permits: 1/3 of sites held at Wilderness Information Centers

2027 dates follow the same annual pattern; agencies confirm in late 2026.

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Angels Landing chain section in Zion National Park

Angels Landing

Hard
eventLottery Opens: Feb 13 (Spring)
event_busyLottery Closes: Feb 25
notificationsResults: Feb 26
landscapePermit Season: Year-round (seasonal lotteries)

Zion National Park, UT

  • Spring (Mar 1–May 31): Opens Feb 13, closes Feb 25, permits Feb 26
  • Summer (Jun 1–Aug 31): Opens Apr 1, closes Apr 20, permits Apr 25
  • Fall (Sep 1–Nov 30): Opens Jul 1, closes Jul 20, permits Jul 25
  • Winter (Dec 1–Feb 28): Opens Oct 1, closes Oct 20, permits Oct 25
  • Day-before lottery also available
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Turquoise alpine lakes in the Core Enchantments

The Enchantments

Expert
eventLottery Opens: Feb 15
event_busyLottery Closes: Mar 1
notificationsResults: Mar 17
check_circleAcceptance Deadline: Mar 31
release_alertUnclaimed Release: Apr 1 at 7am PT
landscapePermit Season: May 15 – October 31

Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WA

  • Daily geofence lottery May–October: apply 1 day before

2027 dates follow the same annual pattern; agencies confirm in late 2026.

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Half Dome rising above Yosemite Valley

Half Dome

Strenuous
eventLottery Opens: Mar 1
event_busyLottery Closes: Mar 31
notificationsResults: Apr 10
check_circleAcceptance Deadline: Apr 24
landscapePermit Season: Late May – mid-October

Yosemite National Park, CA

2027 dates follow the same annual pattern; agencies confirm in late 2026.

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May Lake at the Lake May Backcountry Camp, reflecting Mount Hoffmann and granite peaks, Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Wilderness

Strenuous
eventLottery Opens: Every Sunday
event_busyLottery Closes: Saturday 11:59pm PT (same week)
notificationsResults: Monday evening
check_circleAcceptance Deadline: Thursday 11:59pm PT
landscapePermit Season: Late April – mid-October

Yosemite National Park, CA

  • Weekly lottery opens 24 weeks before trip-start week
  • 7-day release at 7:00am PT remains separate from the 24-week lottery
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The Wave sandstone formation in Coyote Buttes North

The Wave / Coyote Buttes North

Moderate
eventLottery Opens: Rolling monthly
landscapePermit Season: Year-round

Vermilion Cliffs, AZ/UT

  • Advanced lottery: opens 4 months before desired month, runs all month, drawn on 1st of following month
  • Daily lottery: apply 2 days before hike, 6am–6pm, results at 7:15pm
  • 64 people/day max (48 advanced, 16 daily)
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South Sister summit and the Cascade volcanic peaks of central Oregon

South Sister

Strenuous
eventLottery Opens: Jun 5 (rolling)
landscapePermit Season: June 15 – October 15

Three Sisters Wilderness, OR

  • No advance lottery — rolling window system
  • Day-use permits: released 10 days before hike date starting Jun 5 at 7am PDT
  • Overnight permits: released Apr 1 (40% of quota) then 7 days rolling
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Backcountry campsite in Glacier National Park with mountain peaks reflected in a glacial lake at dusk

Glacier Backcountry

Strenuous
eventLottery Opens: ~Mar 1
event_busyLottery Closes: ~Mar 31
notificationsResults: ~Apr 15
landscapePermit Season: July – September

Glacier National Park, MT

2027 dates follow the same annual pattern; agencies confirm in late 2026.

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Grand Canyon inner canyon with Colorado River and hikers on South Kaibab Trail

Grand Canyon Backcountry

Expert
eventLottery Opens: 16th monthly
event_busyLottery Closes: 1st of next month
landscapePermit Season: April – October

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

  • Winners get an early-access booking timeslot, not a fixed itinerary
  • Cancellation window opens 30 days before trip start

Monthly lottery opens 4.5 months before trip month; corridor permits are highly competitive.

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Havasu Falls dropping into a turquoise pool in Havasu Canyon

Havasu Falls

Strenuous
eventLottery Opens: Feb 1
landscapePermit Season: February 1 – November 30

Havasupai Indian Reservation, AZ

  • Regular sale opens February 1 at 8:00am Arizona Time
  • Campground $455/person; lodge $2,277/room (3-night minimum)
  • Book only at havasupaireservations.com

Tribal reservation permit — no federal lottery. Early access typically runs late January.

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Sunrise on Mount Rainier from high elevation

Mount Rainier Summit

Expert
eventLottery Opens: ~Jan 1
landscapePermit Season: May – September

Mount Rainier National Park, WA

Climbing cost recovery fee required. No lottery — first-come reservation system via Recreation.gov.

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