The Half Dome lottery is required for day hikers when Yosemite’s cables are up: 225 day-hiker permits are released for each cable-season date in the March preseason lottery, with smaller daily lotteries two days before hikes. Latest official odds list 22% preseason and 19% daily application success.
When is the Half Dome lottery for Yosemite?
The main application window is March 1 through March 31, with daily lotteries during the cable season.
As of November 2026, Yosemite National Park says day-hiker Half Dome permits are distributed through one preseason lottery in March and daily lotteries during the hiking season. The preseason lottery uses eastern time, and applicants get results in mid-April. Daily lottery applications open two days before the hiking date, from midnight to 4 p.m. Pacific time, with results late that same night. Check Yosemite’s official Half Dome permits for day hikers page before you apply, because cable dates can move with snow, rockfall, storms, and staffing.
The cables are normally up from the Friday before Memorial Day through the day after the second Monday in October, but that is not a promise. Think of it as the planning window. Yosemite makes the call based on conditions.
| Lottery | When to apply | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Preseason lottery | March 1-31, eastern time | Trips you can plan months ahead |
| Daily lottery | Two days before the hike, midnight-4 p.m. Pacific time | Flexible hikers already in or near Yosemite |
| Wilderness permit add-on | When you secure and pick up an eligible overnight wilderness permit | Backpackers, not day hikers |
What are the current Half Dome permit odds?
The latest official Yosemite statistics show 22% preseason application success and 19% daily application success for the 2024 season.
As of November 2026, Yosemite’s official lottery statistics page is still using 2024 season data. That season ran May 24 through October 14, 2024. Yosemite reported 35,289 preseason applications, with a 22% application success rate. For the daily lottery, Yosemite reported 35,561 applications, with a 19% application success rate. See Yosemite’s official Half Dome permit lottery statistics for the current chart set and any updates.
Here is the straight read: the daily lottery is not a consolation prize with easy odds. It is still competitive. But it can be useful if weather, cancellations, and under-used permits shake loose spaces close to your date.
Weekdays are usually your friend. Yosemite says daily lottery success was 22% on weekdays and 14% on weekends in 2024. For the preseason lottery, the page breaks out success by individual date choices, not full applications: 1.0% for weekday choices and 0.8% for weekend choices in 2024. That difference looks small on paper, but it matters when thousands of hikers are aiming at the same Saturdays.
How to get a Half Dome permit step by step
Apply through Recreation.gov, choose flexible dates, name a real alternate if allowed, and make sure your group size is honest.
- Create or update your Recreation.gov account. Do this before the lottery opens. Your legal name matters because the permit holder’s ID is checked on the trail.
- Choose your dates. In the preseason lottery, you can request specific dates or date ranges. As of November 2026, Yosemite allows up to six people on an application and up to seven date or date-range choices.
- Add an alternate during the preseason application. Do not skip this if your group has another reliable hiker. As of November 2026, Yosemite says the alternate can only be added during the application process, and daily lottery applications do not allow an alternate.
- Pay the application fee. As of November 2026, Recreation.gov charges a nonrefundable $10 application fee per lottery application, not per person.
- Watch for results. Preseason results arrive in mid-April. Daily lottery results arrive late the night you apply, with phone results available the next morning.
- If you win, pay the per-person permit fee. As of November 2026, each awarded permit has a $10 recreation fee per hiker, charged only if you receive a permit.
- Download and print your confirmation. Cell service is unreliable at the permit checkpoint, so carry a paper copy or a downloaded electronic copy.
Apply through the official Half Dome permits page on Recreation.gov. Day-use Half Dome hiking permits are not sold at Yosemite offices, trailheads, visitor centers, or wilderness centers.
Do you need a permit if the cables are down?
A Half Dome permit is required when the cables are up.
That does not mean hiking Half Dome with the cables down is a good idea. Yosemite’s cables are the safety system for the final 400 ft [122 m] of steep granite. When the seasonal posts and boards are removed, the route becomes much more exposed, and the park warns hikers not to attempt the cables when they are down.
During the regular cable season, the rule is strict: permits are required seven days per week, 24 hours per day, to ascend the subdome steps or Half Dome cables. As of November 2026, Recreation.gov says hiking beyond the base of the subdome without the required permit violates federal rules and can carry a fine up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail.
How many Half Dome permits are available each day?
Yosemite allows a maximum of 300 hikers per day beyond the base of the subdome.
As of November 2026, Yosemite lists 225 day-hiker permits available for each date in the preseason lottery. The park’s total daily cap includes day hikers and backpackers. That cap is part of the Half Dome management system, built to reduce crowding, protect the wilderness setting, and keep the cable route from turning into a dangerous traffic jam.
Your permit is for one date only. Day-hiker permits do not include camping, lodging, or any overnight stay. If your plan includes sleeping in Little Yosemite Valley, you need the wilderness permit system instead.
Can backpackers get Half Dome permits without the day-use lottery?
Yes, but only if the overnight wilderness permit starts from an eligible trailhead.
As of November 2026, Yosemite says backpackers can request Half Dome permits when they pick up wilderness permits for certain entry trailheads, including Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley, Happy Isles past Little Yosemite Valley, Sunrise Lakes, Cathedral Lakes, Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang, and Mono Meadow. These permits are for overnight backpackers only, not day hikers. See Yosemite’s official Half Dome permits for backpackers page before planning your route.
Do not try to use this as a loophole for a one-day push. Yosemite is clear: Half Dome permits tied to wilderness permits are not valid for day hiking. If you start outside Yosemite on a backpacking trip, your outside wilderness permit does not cover Half Dome; you need to use the day-hiker lottery.
What rules can get your Half Dome permit canceled?
The fastest ways to lose your permit are duplicate applications, wrong names, transfers, and resale.
As of November 2026, Yosemite and Recreation.gov list several rules that matter on the ground, not just on your screen:
- Use your legal name when applying.
- Each preseason applicant can be a permit holder or accepted alternate on only one application.
- Duplicate preseason applications tied to the same person can be canceled without refund.
- Permit holder and alternate names cannot be changed after the application is submitted.
- Permits are not transferable.
- Resale or auction of permits is prohibited.
- The permit holder or alternate must be present with the entire group at the subdome checkpoint.
- The permit holder or alternate must show government-issued ID matching the permit.
Read that last one twice. Your friend cannot carry your permit up the trail if you stay in Curry Village eating pizza. The named person must be there, ID in hand, with the group.
What is the best strategy to improve your chances?
Pick weekdays, avoid peak summer Saturdays, use every legitimate date choice, and keep your group size tight.
A six-person application sounds efficient, but it can be harder to fill than a two-person request because the system must find enough available spots on one of your requested dates. If four hikers are “maybe” people, cut the list before you apply. A lean, committed group beats a big flaky one.
Better odds come from flexibility. Choose weekday dates. Look later in the season, especially after the end of August, when Yosemite says daily lottery chances are generally higher. Avoid holiday weekends unless that is truly your only window.
Weather flexibility matters too. A permit is not an order to climb. Wet granite, lightning, or a late start can turn a famous hike into a bad decision. Recreation.gov says you can cancel or reduce group size for a refund of the per-person recreation fee by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time the day before your hike. The application fee is not refundable.
What should you carry for the Half Dome hike?
Carry enough gear to move for 10 to 12 hours, handle cold wind on top, and hike out after dark if the day runs long.
The Half Dome day hike is 14 to 16 miles [23 to 26 km] round trip with 4,800 ft [1,463 m] of elevation gain, and Recreation.gov says most hikers take 10 to 12 hours. This is not the trail for brand-new shoes, a dead headlamp, or one tiny bottle of water.
- Permit confirmation, downloaded or printed
- Government-issued photo ID for the permit holder or alternate
- Headlamp with fresh batteries for every hiker
- Topographic map and compass, plus the skill to use them
- Water and a way to treat natural water if needed
- Food with salty snacks
- Rain shell and warm layers
- Broken-in hiking footwear with strong traction
- Gloves with grip for the cables
- Small first-aid kit
- Bag for packing out trash, including used toilet paper
Do not leave gloves at the base of the cables. Do not leave packs unattended. Do not feed wildlife. Yosemite’s bears, squirrels, and jays are fast learners, and your snack bag trains them in all the wrong ways.
When to see a doctor
Get medical help fast for confusion, fainting, worsening heat illness symptoms, repeated vomiting, or symptoms that do not improve after you stop and cool down.
Half Dome is long, hot, exposed, and high enough to punish poor pacing. This is not a diagnosis guide and it is not a substitute for medical care. The CDC heat illness guidance says heat stroke can be life-threatening and needs emergency treatment; warning signs can include confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech, seizures, or loss of consciousness.
Turn around early if someone in your group is deteriorating. Do not wait until the cables to admit the day is going sideways. If symptoms are severe, call 911 or seek emergency help through Yosemite rangers as soon as you can do so safely.
Related reading
- Half Dome Hike: Length, Time, Permits and Cables
- How to Train for Half Dome
- The Wave Lottery: How to Get a Permit
- America the Beautiful Pass: Price, Coverage and Where to Buy
FAQ
Quick answers to the permit questions hikers ask most.
Can you hike Half Dome without winning the lottery?
No, not as a day hiker when the cables are up. You need a valid day-use Half Dome permit, or you need an eligible overnight wilderness permit with a Half Dome add-on for a backpacking trip.
Can I apply for more than one Half Dome permit lottery entry?
Not as the same person in the preseason lottery. As of November 2026, Yosemite says each person may appear as permit holder or alternate on only one preseason application, and duplicate applications can be canceled.
Are Half Dome permits transferable?
No. As of November 2026, Half Dome permits are not transferable, and the named permit holder or accepted alternate must be with the group at the subdome checkpoint.
What happens if the Half Dome cables are not up on my permit date?
You should not climb the cable route if the cables are down. As of November 2026, Yosemite says the per-person permit fee is refundable if the cables are not up on the date your permit is valid.
Is the daily lottery easier than the preseason lottery?
Not necessarily. The latest official Yosemite stats show 19% daily application success and 22% preseason application success for 2024, so both are competitive.
Does a Half Dome permit include park entry or camping?
No. A Half Dome day-use permit covers the subdome and cable route on the permit date only. It does not include park entry fees, camping, lodging, parking, or a wilderness permit.