How to Score the Backpacking Permits You Want

Booking backpacking permits is a time-consuming and sometimes defeating process, especially when applying for highly competitive permits in sought after areas and parks. It can be very frustrating to plan and idealize about a backcountry trip only to have your permit application rejected. It is becoming increasingly challenging to win backcountry permits as more and more people want to spend time outside. Many parks have received record breaking numbers of permit requests and applications in recent years.

While disappointing to be denied a permit, permits are incredibly important as they limit the number of backcountry travelers to however many the area can support. This protects the environment from overuse and provides a more enjoyable, less crowded experience for permit holders. Never hike without a permit in an area where they are required. Not only will you be slapped with a fine for illegal camping, you will also be causing unnecessary damage to the area and diminishing the wilderness experience of others.

While competitive, it is still possible to score the permits you want by being strategic, planning ahead and following the rules closely. Here are our tips for securing coveted backpacking permits:

Do Your Research

Research the trip you’re interested in well in advance. Dive into the details - what route, which trailheads, how many days, number of backpackers, where you plan to camp each night and so on. This information is required in order to fill out permit applications.

Determine how and when the permits need to be booked. The process is unique for every park, national forest or wilderness area - there are permits that are released online (recreation.gov being the most popular), permits that need to be emailed and permits that need to be faxed. Some permits are released 6 months in advance on a rolling basis, others are released in bulk on a single day of the year and a few require applying for a lottery. Be sure to hit the permitting deadlines and be prompt for online reservations. Popular permits will be snagged within seconds of being released.

If you don’t have the time or expertise to do the research yourself, try a service like Somewhere Outside - we would love to help you plan your next adventure!

Be Flexible on Dates

You will have the most success applying for permits if your dates are flexible. Many park applications allow you to list multiple itineraries with different start dates and date ranges. List all the possible itineraries that work for your schedule and note that your dates are flexible. This way, rangers can do their best to provide you with permits for the area even if the dates aren’t your first choice. It is best to apply for mid-week dates during peak season as weekends are much more competitive.

Visit During Shoulder Season

In mountainous regions, most backpackers seek permits in July and August when snow has melted in the high alpine, roads have become fully accessible and weather is bound to be beautiful. You’ll have much betters odd when booking permits if you apply to visit during a shoulder season. June can be a great early season backpacking month depending on snowpack and melt. September is another favorite month to beat the summertime crowds, evade mosquitoes, avoid snow and enjoy the last of summer temperatures. Temperatures typically drop significantly by October with risk of early snowstorms but if prepared for the weather, early to mid October can be a great off-peak time for a trip.

Many parks and wilderness areas have a quota season for permitting which ends in September or October. This means there is no longer a cap on the number of backpackers who can use the area and you do not need to apply for a competitive advanced permit. You can simply pick up a permit from the nearest ranger station or online. Check when your destination’s quota season ends to determine if a late season trip is an option!

In desert regions, peak season is April-May and September-October. Apply for permits outside of these months for the best luck

Travel in a Small Group Size

Heading into the backcountry in small group sizes can increase your odds of scoring a reservation. Permits are limited based on the number of people setting off from the trailhead each day and it can be hard to score permits for a whole group. By the time rangers process your application, there may only be space available for a small number of people. Stick to 2-4 people on permits for the best results.

There is nothing better than a backcountry trip with all your pals but permitting for large groups typically have specific requirements and can be harder to obtain as there are fewer backcountry sites available that can support large groups.

Get Creative

A few ideas on how to get creative:

• Instead of applying for a popular trip, try extending or shortening a classic hiking trip by starting from a different trailhead to alter the route.

• Apply for a nearby route and use your backcountry camp as a home base to day hike to the areas you want to see.

• Start your route from outside a park and obtain an easier permit from the neighboring agency (national forest, wilderness area, etc).

Get Off the Beaten Path

Study park and wilderness area maps, Google Earth, trip reports on AllTrails, Gaia or other similar platforms to find spectacular, remote trips with less competitive permits. There is a reason sought after permits are sought after - they are to beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime destinations but there are so many off-the-beaten path trips that are worth exploring. These trips have the added benefits of more solitude and more pristine landscapes.

Monitor Cancellations

Especially as desired dates grow close, keep an eye on cancellations. Many parks and national forests that use online reservation systems have real-time reservation availability so cancellations are released back into the system and can be monitored online. Others keep lists of availability on their websites which they update frequently - cancellations will be added to these lists and can be booked if available.

Try Walk Up Permits

Depending on the park or wilderness area, a certain percentage of permits are reserved for first-come first-served or 'walk-up permits. There are different requirements on when and where these need to be applied for but it is typically opening time the day prior to your trip at the closest ranger station. We have had great success with walk-up permits as there are far fewer people with the time or flexibility to snag a last minute permit vs those able to apply for a permit in advance. Arrive very early as lines form at most ranger stations well before they open. If they don’t have what you were hoping for available, you can camp out and try again the next day or you can work with the ranger to put together an adventure that is available!