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Free: the 2026–27 Reservations & Lottery Calendar
Angels Landing. Half Dome. Mount Whitney. The Wave. The Enchantments. Havasupai. Haleakalā sunrise. Grand Canyon backcountry. And more.
One printable PDF gives each window, how to apply, and a link to the official page. We checked every date against the official agency page. If a 2027 date isn’t announced yet, we mark it TBA instead of guessing.
Seasonal lottery, 8 a.m. MT on the 1st to 11:59 p.m. MT on the 20th: Oct 1–20 for Dec 1–Feb 28 hikes (permits issued Oct 25) · Jan 1–20 for Mar 1–May 31 (issued Jan 25) · Apr 1–20 for Jun 1–Aug 31 (issued Apr 25) · Jul 1–20 for Sep 1–Nov 30 (issued Jul 25). Day-before lottery: daily, 12:01 a.m.–3 p.m. MT; results at 4 p.m.
Recreation.gov. Rank up to 7 dates/times. $6 application (up to 6 people) + $3/person permit fee if selected.
Grand Canyon NP, AZ · Early-access lottery, monthly
PATTERN. Published recurring schedule
Apply the 16th to the 1st (5 p.m. MST), about 4 months before your start month. For Mar 2027: Oct 16–Nov 1 · Apr: Nov 16–Dec 1 · May: Dec 16–Jan 1 · Jun: Jan 16–Feb 1 · Jul: Feb 16–Mar 1 · Aug: Mar 16–Apr 1. Remaining permits open to the public on the 1st, about 3 months out, at 8 a.m. MST.
Recreation.gov (permit 4675337). $10 per application/permit + $15/person/night below rim ($4 above rim). Inner-canyon corridor closures were in effect as of Oct 15, 2026.
Apply any time during a month for the month four months ahead: Oct → Feb 2027 · Nov → Mar · Dec → Apr · Jan → May · Feb → Jun · Mar → Jul. Draw at 9 a.m. MT on the 1st of the next month. Daily lottery: apply 6 a.m.–6 p.m. two days before, from a mobile device inside the geofence.
Recreation.gov (advanced 274309; daily 4251909). $6 application; $7/person (and per dog) if selected. Up to 3 dates per application; one application per person per lottery.
Feb 1–Mar 1 apply · Mar 15 results · Apr 21 claim and pay deadline (9 p.m. PT) · Apr 22, 7 a.m. PT leftover dates open first come, first served. Quota season May 1–Nov 1.
Recreation.gov (permit 445860). $15/person to claim. One application per group/household.
Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, WA · Annual advanced lottery + daily lottery
TBA. 2027 TBA
Advanced lottery is held Feb 15 through Mar 1 each year, per USFS. Exact 2027 dates are TBA: USFS says to check the Recreation.gov lottery page in January. Results post around Mar 15. Overnight permits are required May 15–Oct 31; the daily geofenced lottery runs during that season.
Recreation.gov (233273). $6 application; $5/person/day. One permit per person per season.
Yosemite NP, CA · Preseason lottery + daily lottery
PATTERN. Published recurring schedule
Preseason lottery Mar 1–31 (Eastern time); results mid-April. Daily lottery during the hiking season: apply two days before, midnight–4 p.m. PT; results that night.
Recreation.gov or 877-444-6777. Up to 6 permits per application. 225 day-hiker permits/day in the preseason lottery. $10 per application; $10 per person if you receive a permit. Backpackers get Half Dome with their wilderness permit instead.
Yosemite NP, CA · Rolling lottery (24 weeks) + 1-week release
CONFIRMED. Confirmed rule
60% by lottery 24 weeks before start date; leftovers first come, first served from about 22 weeks out; 40% released 7 days ahead.
Recreation.gov. $10 processing fee per application, plus $5 per person if you receive a permit (both non-refundable). Reservations are only available for trips May through October; permits are required all year.
Rocky Mountain NP, CO · Timed-entry reservation (seasonal)
TBA. 2027 TBA
2027: TBA. In 2026: timed entry 9 a.m.–2 p.m. from May 22 to Oct 12; Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road 5 a.m.–6 p.m. from May 22 to Oct 18. Released monthly on the 1st at 8 a.m. MDT, starting May 1 for May 22–Jun 30.
Recreation.gov. Entering before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. needs no timed-entry reservation (2026 rules).
Havasupai Indian Reservation, AZ · Tribal reservation (annual on-sale)
TBA. 2027 TBA
2027 on-sale date: TBA. The 2026 regular on-sale was Feb 1, 2026, 8 a.m. Arizona time.
Only at havasupaireservations.com. 2026 prices: $455/person campground (3 nights); $2,277 lodge (3 nights, up to 4 people). Resale and transfer prohibited.
Yosemite NP: No entry reservations in 2026, including the Feb–Mar firefall period. 2027: TBA. (Yosemite NP)
Glacier NP: No vehicle reservations in 2026. A ticketed Logan Pass shuttle was piloted (tickets 60 days ahead from May 2; next-day tickets at 7 p.m. MDT) and ended Sept 7, 2026. 2027: TBA. (Glacier NP)
Arches NP: No timed-entry reservations in 2026; Fiery Furnace permits still required (above). 2027: TBA. (Arches NP)
Mount Rainier NP: No timed-entry reservations for any part of the park in 2026. 2027: TBA. (Mount Rainier NP)
NPS overview: Summer 2026 access plans for Arches, Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Yosemite. (NPS overview)
What’s in every issue
What changed this week. New closures, construction delays and safety alerts at the most-visited parks.
What opens next. Lottery, permit and timed-entry windows, before they close.
Weather watch. National Weather Service warnings and forecasts for park areas.
One trip brief. A park that’s in season now, with campgrounds, hikes and current alerts.
Why you can trust it
Official sources, linked. We use NPS, NWS, Recreation.gov, USDA Forest Service and BLM, and every fact carries its link.
No guessing. If something isn’t confirmed, we leave it out or mark it TBA.
Reviewed by a person. We gather the data with automated tools, and a human reviews every issue before it’s sent.
Upfront about money. The newsletter is free. Some of our links may earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Parks Ahead. It truly helps us keep this guide free! Nobody pays us to change what we report.
FAQ
Is it really free?
Yes. Some of our links may earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Parks Ahead. It truly helps us keep this guide free!
How often?
Once a week, on Thursday.
Are you the National Park Service, or affiliated with it?
No. Parks Ahead is independent and isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, BLM, Recreation.gov or any other agency. Always confirm on the official page we link before you apply or travel.
Can you get me a permit?
No. We point you to the official channel, usually Recreation.gov. We never sell, resell or “guarantee” permits or reservations.
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