Trip timing

When To Go

The permit windows, lottery dates, and best months for the trips that sell out. Filter by what you want to do, then open the destination for the full application calendar and the gear the season demands.

Most of the best trips in North America are decided months before you pack. The Enchantments, Havasupai, the Wave, Half Dome, Whitney, the Wonderland Trail, and the Boundary Waters all run application windows that close long before the season starts, and missing one costs you a year. This hub puts every window on one calendar, then tells you which months are actually worth drawing for.

Filter by activity

Month-by-month calendar

Green is prime season, amber is shoulder, orange is technically open but hard, grey is closed or out of season.

Best months by destination for permit-limited trips
Destination	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
The Enchantments	Closed	Closed	Closed	Tough	Tough	Shoulder	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Tough	Closed
Havasupai Falls	Tough	Shoulder	Prime	Prime	Prime	Tough	Tough	Tough	Shoulder	Prime	Shoulder	Tough
The Wave (Coyote Buttes North)	Shoulder	Shoulder	Prime	Prime	Prime	Tough	Tough	Tough	Shoulder	Prime	Prime	Shoulder
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness	Closed	Closed	Closed	Tough	Shoulder	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Shoulder	Tough	Closed
Half Dome Cables	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	Shoulder	Prime	Shoulder	Shoulder	Prime	Shoulder	Closed	Closed
Mount Whitney	Closed	Closed	Closed	Tough	Tough	Shoulder	Prime	Prime	Prime	Shoulder	Tough	Closed
Wonderland Trail	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	Tough	Tough	Prime	Prime	Prime	Tough	Closed	Closed

Permit destinations

Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

The Enchantments

Apply to the Enchantments lottery in February for a late-September or early-October overnight permit — that is when the larches turn gold and the bugs are gone.

Apply:: Mid-February through early March (Recreation.gov)
Best months:: Late September to mid-October for larch season; July and August for warm alpine swimming

Full timing guide →Havasupai Reservation, Arizona

Havasupai Falls

Havasupai reservations open on February 1 for the entire year and sell out in hours — target March through May or September through early November to avoid dangerous heat.

Apply:: February 1, 8:00 a.m. Arizona time, for the whole calendar year
Best months:: March–May and September–early November

Full timing guide →Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona/Utah

The Wave (Coyote Buttes North)

Enter the advance online lottery four months ahead, or the daily geofenced lottery two days out — and go in spring or fall, never midsummer.

Apply:: Advance lottery runs the entire month, four months before your trip; daily lottery runs two days before, inside the geofenced area
Best months:: March–May and October–November

Full timing guide →Superior National Forest, Minnesota

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Quota permits for the May 1–September 30 season are released in late January; go in June for high water and long days, or late September for zero bugs and fall color.

Apply:: Lottery-style request period in late January, then rolling reservations from early February
Best months:: June for water levels; September for solitude and color

Full timing guide →Yosemite National Park, California

Half Dome Cables

Apply to the Half Dome preseason lottery in March for a cable-route permit, and plan for late May through early October when the cables are up.

Apply:: Preseason lottery the full month of March; daily lotteries two days ahead all season
Best months:: June and September

Full timing guide →Inyo National Forest, California

Mount Whitney

The Mount Whitney lottery runs February 1 to March 15 for the quota season; late July through September gives the most reliable snow-free Main Trail conditions.

Apply:: February 1 – March 15
Best months:: Late July through September

Full timing guide →Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Wonderland Trail

Enter the early-access wilderness lottery in February–March for a mid-July to mid-September thru-hike, when the snow is gone and the meadows are in bloom.

Apply:: Early-access lottery in February, with reservations opening in March; walk-up permits released daily
Best months:: Mid-July through mid-September

Full timing guide →

Frequently asked questions

When do most national park permit lotteries open?

The heaviest cluster is January through March. Boundary Waters requests go in late January, Havasupai reservations open February 1, Mount Whitney runs February 1 to March 15, the Enchantments lottery runs mid-February to early March, Mount Rainier's early access opens in February, and Half Dome's preseason lottery runs the full month of March.

What is the single best month for western backcountry trips?

September. High-country snow is gone, bugs are finished, crowds drop after Labor Day, and the weather is usually still stable. The tradeoffs are shorter days and colder nights, which the sleep system calculator will size for.

Can I still get a permit if I lose the lottery?

Usually yes. Most programs release cancellations and unclaimed spots on a rolling basis, and several — the Wave, Half Dome, Mount Rainier — run daily or two-day-out lotteries alongside the advance draw. Midweek dates and less-famous entry points draw far fewer applicants.

Are these dates guaranteed?

No. Agencies adjust application windows, quota seasons, and fees most years. Every page links the governing agency's official page and carries a last-reviewed date — always confirm there before you book travel.