When do 2027 backpacking permits open? Reservation calendar
The hardest part of a competitive permit system usually isn’t the odds, it’s remembering to apply on the right day in the first place. Different trails use different systems (lotteries, rolling releases, zone-based reservations) that open on completely different schedules, months apart from each other.
Here’s a consolidated view of when each major trail’s process typically opens, based on the 2026 season, with a note on how each is structured. Exact 2027 dates weren’t published as of this writing for most of these; where a 2026 date is known, it’s noted as a planning anchor, not a guarantee the same date repeats.
The calendar
| Trail | System | When it typically opens | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rae Lakes Loop / High Sierra Trail (SEKI) | Rolling reservation | 6 months before each entry date, daily at 7am Pacific | Not a lottery; apply the day the 6-month window opens for your date. 2026 quota season ran May 22–Sept 26. |
| John Muir Trail, Happy Isles (Yosemite, southbound) | Lottery | ~168 days (24 weeks) before your target start, in a roughly weeklong window matched to that date | Count backward 168 days from your target start date to find your window; confirm exact dates on Recreation.gov once you know it. Among the most competitive permits on this list; reported odds vary widely by source, so confirm current figures with NPS. |
| John Muir Trail, Whitney Portal (northbound) | Lottery | February, results in March | Meaningfully better odds than the Yosemite side; see JMT permit lottery: Yosemite vs. Inyo. |
| Wonderland Trail (Mount Rainier) | Early access lottery, then general reservation | Lottery applications in Feb–early March; general reservations open late April | 2026: lottery applications Feb 10–Mar 3, general reservations opened Apr 25. |
| Teton Crest Trail (Grand Teton) | Partial reservation (~1/3), rest walk-up | Reservation portion opens in early January | 2026 reservations opened Jan 7. |
| Lost Coast Trail (BLM King Range) | Rolling reservation | 90 days before your entry date, daily at 7am Pacific | Not a lottery; apply the day the 90-day window opens for your date. |
| Timberline Trail (Mount Hood) | Free self-issue at trailhead | No advance window; required May 15–Oct 15 | No lottery or reservation exists for this one; the “permit” is filled out on arrival. |
| Trans-Catalina Trail | Free hiking permit + separate paid campground booking | Campground reservations bookable well in advance; no lottery | Book campgrounds (Firefly system) before your ferry, not the other way around. |
Why this varies so much
Every system on this list falls into one of three types, and knowing which type you’re dealing with changes how you plan:
Lotteries (JMT Happy Isles, Wonderland’s early access window) have a defined application period, followed by a results date. Applying early within the window doesn’t improve your odds; the whole window is treated as one pool.
Rolling reservations (SEKI trails, Lost Coast Trail) release each day’s permits a fixed number of months or days ahead of that specific date. Here, being ready the exact moment your target date’s window opens matters, because slots go first-come, first-served within that release.
Self-issue and walk-up systems don’t have a single opening date to circle on a calendar at all, though they work differently from each other. Timberline Trail’s permit is a form you fill out yourself at the trailhead, no queue involved. Grand Teton’s walk-up allocation is a real first-come line at a visitor center, so arriving early in the day still matters even though there’s no advance date to apply on.
Building your own application calendar
- Identify which system each trip on your list uses (see the table above, or check that specific trail’s guide).
- For lotteries, mark the application window open date, not the results date, since that’s when you need to act.
- For rolling reservations, count backward from your target date to find your release day.
- Set a real calendar reminder, not just a mental note. The permit windows that matter most are often months before the trip itself, easy to lose track of amid everything else on a calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Do all backpacking permits open on the same schedule each year?
No. Some (like SEKI’s rolling system) are keyed to your specific date rather than a fixed calendar day. Others (like lotteries) have an application window that can shift slightly year to year. Always confirm the current year’s exact dates with the managing agency rather than assuming last year’s date repeats exactly.
What’s the difference between a lottery and a rolling reservation?
A lottery has a defined application period where everyone applies within a window, then a results date determines who won. A rolling reservation releases each day’s permits at a fixed lead time (say, 6 months or 90 days) before that specific date, first-come first-served at the moment of release.
Which permit system is easiest to plan around?
Rolling reservations are the most predictable, since you just count backward from your target date. Lotteries require remembering a separate, often narrower application window that doesn’t correspond directly to your trip date.
What if I miss an application window entirely?
Check whether the trail offers a walk-up or cancellation path. Many systems hold back a portion of permits for walk-up access, and cancellations get released back into rolling or lottery systems in the weeks before a date. See how to score a permit on Recreation.gov for more on working the cancellation angle.
Once you’ve got a permit locked in, Ridgefold has hundreds of real trails pre-loaded, including most of the ones on this calendar, so you can build the day-by-day itinerary around your actual entry date the moment your permit comes through.