2020 OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PERMIT CALENDAR
Source: https://www.outdoordetour.com/permits
UPDATE JANUARY 29, 2020 - Added Mount Rainier dates and permit/camping info. Also adding a “Rolling Permit” section at the top for all permits with no specific dates (ex: apply 6 months before your desired trip date).
UPDATE JANUARY 14, 2020 - Corrected Zion dates and added separate dates for Subway permits.
UPDATE JANUARY 13, 2020 - Half Dome Cables dates for 2020 announced and updated below.
ROLLING PERMITS JMT (SOBO): Apply for permit 6 months before your desired hiking date JANUARY 01: The Wave lottery registration opens for May permits 01: Yellowstone backcountry permit applications accepted 05: Zion calendar reservations available for backcountry permits for March 05: Zion advance lottery opens for Subway permits for April 05: Brooks Camp reservations open for the entire season Jun 1 - Sep 17 08: Grand Tetons permit applications accepted 8:00am MT 08: Zion campsites at Watchman Campground open through July 7 15: Yosemite campground reservations open 7:00am PT for May 15 to June 14 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for June trips 29: Boundary Waters reservations for all permits open 9:00am ET FEBRUARY 01: Havasupai reservations open for the year 01: Mt Whitney permit lottery registration opens 01: The Wave lottery registration opens for June permits 05: Zion calendar reservations available for backcountry permits for April 05: Zion advance lottery opens for Subway permits for May 11: Grand Teton backcountry permit reservations go live 15: Enchantments permit lottery registration opens 7:00am PT 15: Yosemite campground reservations open 7:00am PT for June 15 to July 14 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for July trips 29: Enchantments permit lottery registration closes 11:59pm PT MARCH 01: Half Dome Cables permit lottery registration opens for the entire month 01: Rocky Mountain wilderness campsite reservations open 8:00am MT 01: The Wave lottery registration opens for July permits 05: Zion calendar reservations available for backcountry permits for May 05: Zion advance lottery opens for Subway permits for June 07: Enchantments lottery results published 1:55am PT 15: Mt Rainier reservation site goes live for Summer 2020 wilderness permits 15: Mt Whitney permit lottery closes 15: Yosemite campground reservations open 7:00am PT for July 15 to August 14 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for August trips 24: Mt Whitney lottery results published 31: Half Dome Cables permit lottery registration closes 11:59pm PT 31: Yellowstone backcountry permit applications close for advance lottery APRIL 01: Mt Whitney reservations open for remaining dates 01: Enchantments unclaimed permits returned to reservation system 7:00am PT 01: The Wave lottery registration opens for August permits 01: Mt Rainier park rangers begin processing reservation requests 05: Zion calendar reservations available for backcountry permits for June 05: Zion advance lottery opens for Subway permits for July 10: Half Dome Cables lottery results published 15: Yosemite campground reservations open 7:00am PT for August 15 to September 14 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for September trips MAY 01: The Wave lottery registration opens for September permits 01: Denali Road lottery application period opens for the entire month 05: Zion calendar reservations available for backcountry permits for July 05: Zion advance lottery opens for Subway permits for August 15: Yosemite campground reservations open 7:00am PT for September 15 to October 14 20: Half Dome Cables daily lotteries begin (apply two days in advance) 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for October trips 31: Denali Road lottery application period ends JUNE 01: The Wave lottery registration opens for October permits 05: Zion calendar reservations available for backcountry permits for August 05: Zion advance lottery opens for Subway permits for September 15: Yosemite campground reservations open 7:00am PT for October 15 to November 14 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for November trips JULY 01: The Wave lottery registration opens for November permits 05: Zion calendar reservations available for backcountry permits for September 05: Zion advance lottery opens for Subway permits for October 15: Yosemite campground reservations open 7:00am PT for November 15 to December 14 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for December trips AUGUST 01: The Wave lottery registration opens for December permits 01: Yellowstone snowmobile permit lottery applications accepted (closes Aug 31) 05: Zion calendar reservations available for backcountry permits for October 15: Yosemite campground reservations open 7:00am PT for December 15 to January 14 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for January trips 31: Yellowstone snowmobile permit lottery application period ends 11:59pm MT SEPTEMBER 01: The Wave lottery registration opens for January permits 05: Zion calendar reservations available for backcountry permits for November 10: Yellowstone snowmobile permit lottery winner announced 15: Yosemite campground reservations open 7:00am PT for January 15 to February 14 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for February trips OCTOBER 01: The Wave lottery registration opens for February permits 05: Zion calendar reservations available for backcountry permits for December 09: Yellowstone snowmobile remaining permit inventory made available to public at 8:00am 15: Yosemite campground reservations open 7:00am PT for February 15 to March 14 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for March trips NOVEMBER 01: The Wave lottery registration opens for March permits 05: Zion calendar reservations available for backcountry permits for January 15: Yosemite campground reservations open 7:00am PT for March 15 to April 14 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for April trips DECEMBER 01: The Wave lottery registration opens for April permits 05: Zion calendar reservations available for backcountry permits for November 15: Yosemite campground reservations open 7:00am PT for April 15 to May 14 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for May trips
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota
BOUNDARY WATERS // PHOTO: © JIM BRANDENBURG
Jan 29: Boundary Waters reservations for all permits open 9:00am ET
Boundary Waters contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites.
Permits are required for any overnight trip between May 1 and September 30.
For any overnight trips between October 1 and April 30, simply fill out a self-issued permit at any of the Boundary Waters entry points.
Walk-up permits may be obtained at any permit issuing station on the entry date or one day prior, however reservations are highly recommended.
All permits for all entry points are available January 29 at 9:00am CT and can be booked online via Recreation.gov
Quick Links:
Brooks Camp Bear Watching, Katmai National Park, Alaska
BROOKS CAMP BEAR BRIDGE // PHOTO: MARK MEYER
Jan 05: Brooks Camp reservations open for the entire season (Jun 1 - Sep 17) Camping
Brooks Camp is only open June 1 to September 17.
I know camping sounds crazy, but the Brooks Camp Campground is surrounded by an electric fence and it’ll be about $1,000 less than any of the lodges available up there. They provide most standard campground amenities. They do have fire rings but visitors are not allowed to cook any food over the fire, because, ya know, BEARS!
There are lodges available through Bristol Adventures but they’re expensive and they do a lottery for the chance to reserve a lodge 1.5 years out.
Quick Links
Conundrum Hot Springs, Colorado
CONUNDRUM HOT SPRINGS // PHOTO: FLICKR USER WANDERSTRUCK
2020 dates for Conundrum Hot Springs permits have not been announced yet.
The Conundrum Hot Springs are located about 8.5-miles (17mi. RT) from the Conundrum Creek Trailhead at 11,200ft above sea level. (Hike info on AllTrails). There are 20 campsites available for advance reservation on Recreation.gov.
The best time to visit Conundrum Hot Springs is July-September. From early October through the end of June the campsites and trail are snow-covered, the trailhead is inaccessible to vehicles, avalanche hazards exist in the valley and route finding is difficult.
These hot springs have been historically overused and abused in the past, leading to the current permit system. PLEASE do not abuse this area or any others and be sure to LEAVE NO TRACE!
The trail starts at 8,800 feet elevation and crosses Conundrum Creek 3 times along the way. Primitive log bridges span the first and the second crossings, but the third crossing requires wading through the creek which can be extremely difficult depending on the time of year and snowpack.
Quick Links
Denali Road, Denali National Park, Alaska
DENALI ROAD // PHOTO: NIC MCPHEE
May 01: Denali Road lottery application period opens for the entire month May 31: Denali Road lottery application period ends.
For 4 days in September, lucky permit winners are given the chance to purchase a single day-long permit which lets them drive as much of the Denali Park Road as the weather conditions allow. If the park has seen early snow, the Park Road might only be open as far as Savage River (mile 15). Otherwise, you will typically be able to drive all the way out to Wonder Lake (mile 85). Only 1,600 permits are awarded (400 per day), and last year there were 12,600 applicants.
Lottery applications are accepted from May 1 – May 31 on this Recreation.gov website.
Quick Links
Enchantments, Washington
ENCHANTMENTS // PHOTO: CLEVERHIKER.COM
Feb 15: Enchantments permit lottery registration opens 7:00am PT Feb 29: Enchantments permit lottery registration closes 11:59pm PT Mar 7: Enchantments lottery results published 1:55am PT Apr 01: Enchantments unclaimed permits returned to reservation system 7:00am PT
A permit is required for all overnight trips in the Enchantments between May 15 and October 31. Permits allow your group to camp overnight in one of the five permit zones within the Enchantments Permit Area (map).
If you plan on day-hiking or thru-hiking, simply fill out a free day-use permit at your starting trailhead.
The five permit area zones are (map):
Core Enchantment Zone: 5 groups per day
Snow Lake Zone: 3 groups per day
Colchuck Lake Zone: 5 groups per day
Stuart Lake Zone: 5 groups per day
Eightmile/Caroline Zone: 4 groups per day
Camping
Eightmile Campground is the best campground in the area to stay at the night before or after your trek.
Advance reservations are available online 6 months prior to your arrival date. Book your campsite here.
Bridge Creek Campground just down the road from Eightmile, but it’s first-come first-served and they only have six single campsites.
Quick Links
Enchantments permit lottery registration and information at Recreation.gov
Great extensive overview of Enchantments (trailheads, hikes, and permits) by MountainLovely.com
Glacier National Park, Montana
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK // PHOTO: ME! (RANDY JOHNSON)
2020 dates for Glacier Nat’l Park backcountry permits have not yet been announced.
NEW FOR 2019: All permit applications received on March 15 ONLY will be entered into a random lottery, and ALL applications received after March 15 will be processed in the order that they were received in.
Overnight Permits
ALL permits applications received on March 15 ONLY will be entered into a random lottery, and ALL applications received after March 15 will be processed in the order that they were received in.
Official Glacier website for backcountry reservations. Read the info and then follow their link to Pay.gov to complete your applications.
Camping Advance Reservations (ALL other campgrounds are first-come first-served)
Many Glacier Campground (half of campsites are first-come first-served)
Quick Links
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
GRAND CANYON NORTH RIM // PHOTO: ME! (RANDY JOHNSON)
Jan 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for June trips Feb 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for July trips Mar 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for August trips Apr 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for September trips May 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for October trips Jun 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for November trips Jul 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for December trips Aug 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for January trips Sep 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for February trips Oct 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for March trips Nov 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for April trips Dec 20: Grand Canyon backcountry permit applications accepted for May trips Rim-To-Rim Quick Links
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Jan 08: Grand Tetons Nat’l Park permit applications accepted 8:00am MT Feb 11: Grand Teton backcountry permit reservations go live Overnight Permits
Backcountry reservations go live on the January 8, 2020 at 8:00am MT. Reserve your backcountry permits here.
A third of all backcountry reservations become available January 8, 2020 via Recreation.gov.
The backcountry brochure has pretty much all the information you could ever need to plan your trip.
Teton Crest Trail The Teton Crest Trail covers 38-miles through the Teton Range, but there are many different options to hike it. Normal backcountry wilderness permits are required if you plan to hike the trail. Utilize the Grand Teton backcountry brochure to plan your trip. The Clymb has a great guide for different hiking routes and obtaining permits. Camping There are a handful of campgrounds within the park that you can book here, but the neighboring Bridger-Teton National Forest offers the best free dispersed camping areas in the entire country, in my opinion. Winter Camping Primitive winter camping is allowed in the plowed parking lot adjacent to the Colter Bay Visitor Center for $5 per night from December 1 to April 15. Camp on the snow covering the parking lot. Pay at the self-pay station by the restroom. Backcountry camping is allowed throughout the year. You must obtain a backcountry permit, free of charge. Call the permits office 307-739-3309 for more information, or check the backcountry brochure.