Adventure Planning Articles
National Park Permit Calendar 2026-2027: Hiking Lottery and Reservation Deadlines
12 min read·Updated August 25, 2026
By Hadis Hesabi, CTO and co-founder·Editorial standards
Some of the best hikes in the national park system run on a lottery, and the lottery windows don't line up with when most people start planning. Missing a deadline by a week can mean waiting a full season for the next one.
This guide covers the current lottery and reservation windows for Angels Landing, The Wave, Half Dome, the Enchantments and Grand Canyon backcountry, and the backup path for each one. This guide was last verified against official sources on August 25, 2026. Reservations, permits, fees, closures and seasonal conditions change, so re-check the official source linked beside any changing rule before you travel.
In this guide
- The permit calendar: what's still actionable after August 25, 2026
- Angels Landing: the next major 2026 deadline
- The Wave: advanced lottery plus geofenced daily lottery
- Half Dome: March preseason lottery plus daily lottery
- Enchantments: annual advanced lottery
- Grand Canyon backcountry: a monthly rolling calendar
The permit calendar: what's still actionable after August 25, 2026
| Permit / activity | Next key window | Planning model |
|---|---|---|
| Angels Landing winter season | Oct 1-20, 2026 | Seasonal lottery plus day-before lottery |
| The Wave / Coyote Buttes North | Monthly | Advanced lottery 4 months ahead plus daily lottery |
| Grand Canyon backcountry | Monthly | Early-access lottery by trip month |
| Half Dome | Next preseason cycle: March | Preseason lottery plus in-season daily lottery |
| Enchantments overnight | Next annual cycle: typically Feb-Mar | Annual advanced lottery plus other availability paths |
Angels Landing: the next major 2026 deadline
For hikes from December 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027, Zion's winter seasonal lottery opens October 1, closes October 20, and results are scheduled for October 25.
The day-before lottery creates a backup access path, but it shouldn't be the only plan. A good Xpedition needs an alternate hike if the permit isn't awarded.
The Wave: advanced lottery plus geofenced daily lottery
The Coyote Buttes North advanced lottery is entered four months ahead of the desired hiking month. A separate daily lottery runs two days before the hike and requires the applicant to be inside the designated geofence during the application window.
Half Dome: March preseason lottery plus daily lottery
Yosemite requires a permit to ascend Half Dome when the cables are up. The preseason application period runs March 1 through March 31, with daily lotteries during the cable season for additional permits.
Enchantments: annual advanced lottery
For 2026, the Enchantment Permit Area advanced lottery accepted applications February 15 to March 1, released results March 17 and required successful applicants to confirm by March 31. This should roll forward into a 2027 window rather than becoming stale; check the official page for the current cycle.
Grand Canyon backcountry: a monthly rolling calendar
The early-access lottery opens around the 16th, five months before the desired trip month, and closes on the first day of the next month, four months before the trip month.
| Trip start month | Lottery opens | Lottery closes |
|---|---|---|
| January | August 16 | September 1 |
| February | September 16 | October 1 |
| March | October 16 | November 1 |
| April | November 16 | December 1 |
| May | December 16 | January 1 |
| June | January 16 | February 1 |
| July | February 16 | March 1 |
| August | March 16 | April 1 |
| September | April 16 | May 1 |
| October | May 16 | June 1 |
| November | June 16 | July 1 |
| December | July 16 | August 1 |
Keep permit rows like these in mind as a living calendar rather than a one-time read: the windows repeat every year, but the exact dates shift, so re-check the official page before you commit to a trip built around one.
Xavier, the AI agent companion at xploreum.io, can help organize driving legs, trailheads, campsites, stays and daily activities around these constraints in one Xpedition. Browse Xpeditions or describe your trip directly to Xavier.
If a lottery falls through, a backup route still needs vetting: see the best backpacking trails in the USA and how to plan a multi-day backcountry trip for alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Angels Landing winter 2026 lottery open?
October 1, 2026. The seasonal application window closes October 20 for hikes from December 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027.
When is the Half Dome preseason lottery?
March 1 through March 31. Daily lotteries also run during the cable season for additional permits.
How far in advance is The Wave lottery?
The advanced lottery is entered four months ahead of the hiking month. A separate geofenced daily lottery is available two days before the hike.
When is the Enchantments lottery?
For 2026, the advanced application period was February 15 through March 1. Check the official page for the 2027 dates once they're posted.
How does the Grand Canyon backcountry lottery work?
The early-access application window opens around the 16th, five months before the trip month, and closes on the first of the month, four months before the trip month.
Sources
Rules, closures, fire restrictions, food-storage requirements, water conditions and permit systems can change. Verify your destination with the managing agency before departure.
- NPS: Zion 2026 Angels Landing Lottery Dates
- NPS: Angels Landing Permits
- Recreation.gov: Coyote Buttes North Advanced Lottery
- Recreation.gov: Coyote Buttes North Daily Lottery
- NPS: Half Dome Permits
- Recreation.gov: Enchantment Permit Area Advanced Lottery
- NPS: Grand Canyon Backcountry Permit
- Recreation.gov: Current Open Lotteries