If you have plans to hike to Half Dome, you must have a Half Dome permit. A maximum of 300 permits are awarded per day in a lottery system.
In this guide, we cover why you need a permit and how to get one.
Why Do You Need a Permit?
Since 2010, the National Park Service has required hikers to have a permit to climb Half Dome.
Before 2010, overcrowding on the cables created a dangerous situation. On peak days before 2010, there would be as many as 1,200 daily visitors to Half Dome. In 2009, 2 people died while climbing the cables.
Now, only 300 people per day are allowed to climb Half Dome, and to do so, you must have a permit.
So, how do you get to be one of the lucky permit holders?
How to Get a Half Dome Permit
Preseason Lottery
Permits are awarded in a preseason lottery for the entire summer hiking season.
During a “typical year,” a maximum of 300 permits are awarded per day, with 225 for day hikers and 75 for backpackers.
Applications are accepted during the month of March, regardless if you are hiking in June or September.
On the application, one person (called the team leader) can apply for up to six people for a series of dates. The team leader is only allowed to apply once per lottery. If you apply multiply times, all of your applications will be removed from the lottery.
The trip leader or the alternate person listed on the application must be present at the sub-dome when the permits are checked. The permits are not transferable to other hikers.
It costs $10 to file an application, regardless of the number of people listed on the application.
IMPORTANT: Applicants may be a permit holder (trip leader) or alternate on only one application during the preseason lottery. Your name can only appear on one application, whether or not you are the trip leader OR the alternate. If your name appears on more than one application, all of your lottery applications will be cancelled.
The lucky lottery winners are notified mid-April (April 11. 2023).
Once you are notified by email, you then have to two weeks (until April 25) to pay the $10 per person for the permit. The permit is refundable.
To get more information, visit the National Park Service website.
To file an application, visit the recreation.gov website. If you have questions, give them a call at 877-444-6777.
What if you plan to visit Half Dome with kids? The youngest age we would recommend is 12 years old, and that is only if your child has lots of prior hiking experience and is very physically fit. When I spoke to the supervisor at recreation.gov, they told me that children can be listed on the permit application. I was told that there was no minimum age. However, if your child is listed on the permit, you will need to bring a government-issued ID as their form of identification.
Daily Lottery
Permits are awarded on a daily basis, and this number depends on cancellations of other permits and no-shows on the trail. You can apply online for these permits two days before your anticipated hiking date. Visit recreation.gov to file your application for a daily permit.
What Are Your Chances of Getting a Permit?
As the Half Dome hike grows in popularity, your chance of scoring a Half Dome permit decreases.
In 2016, there was a 25% chance you would be awarded a permit. Compare that to 2015, with a 35% success rate and 2014 with a 45% success rate.
In 2017, there were 26,963 applications, with a 19% success rate. We hiked Half Dome in 2017.
Does this sound discouraging?
In more recent years, your chances of getting a Half Dome permit actually improved, with a 28% success rate in 2019 and a 36% success rate in 2020. But we all know that 2020 was not a normal year.
To get a permit, you do need to be lucky, but there are some ways you can increase your chances.
If you can be flexible in your travel dates, you can greatly increase your odds of being one of the lucky permit holders.
Monday through Thursday are much less popular than Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. It’s almost impossible to get a permit for Saturday.
The few days from July 4 through July 8 tend to have slightly smaller crowds than the other times of the summer (and fewer applications for the Half Dome cables). This is the time that we visited Yosemite. On July 5, crowds were manageable, but by July 7 the park was getting very crowded again. Consider taking advantage of the July 4 holiday and hiking Half Dome if you have plans to visit Yosemite during the summer months.
September and October are the months with the fewest number of applications so it is easier to get a permit. In general, Yosemite will be a little quieter during this time also, since summer holidays are over.
If you are unsuccessful in getting a pre-season lottery ticket, you can apply for a daily lottery ticket, which is awarded two days before your anticipated hiking date.
Where am I getting all of these numbers? The National Park Service website has excellent data on lottery applications and success rates for the entire season. If you want to plan your Yosemite trip around your best odds for getting a Half Dome permit, I highly recommend that you take a look at their lottery statistics.
Hiking Without a Permit
What if you want to take your chances and hike without a permit? Rangers on the trail check permits just before the sub-dome and at other spots along the trail.
If you hike Half Dome without a permit, you risk paying a $5,000 fine and/or 6 months in jail.
Read more about hiking to Half Dome and Yosemite:
Hiking Half Dome in Yosemite, a Step-by-Step Guide
Climbing the Half Dome Cables: A Journey in 18 Photos
Yosemite for First-Timers: Best Hikes, Best Views, and the Best Things to do
Complete Guide to Yosemite National Park
Do you have any more questions about how to get a Half Dome permit? Visit the National Park Service website for more information or comment below.
More Information for Your Trip to California
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK: Check out our article Best Things to Do in Yosemite for important travel information, sample itineraries, and how to plan your visit. In our Half Dome Hiking Guide, learn what it takes to hike this challenging trail. We also have detailed guides about how to hike Upper Yosemite Falls and the Mist and Muir Trails.
SAN FRANCISCO: For more information about San Francisco, read our article Best Things to Do in San Francisco and how to cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge.
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK: Check out our Death Valley National Park Travel Guide for important travel information, sample itineraries, and how to plan your visit. For a list of must-have experiences, read our article Best Things to Do in Death Valley National Park.
NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries.
MORE GREAT HIKES IN THE NATIONAL PARKS: From hikes to the tallest peaks to beautiful coast trails, read our Guide to the Best Day Hikes in the US National Parks. If you prefer to keep your hikes short and sweet, read our guide to the Best Short Hikes in the National Parks.
If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our United States Travel Guide and our California Travel Guide for more inspiration and travel planning tips.
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