Just in the past several years, using these strategies, I\u2019ve gotten permits for backpacking trips on three hugely popular trails, the Wonderland Trail<\/a> around Mount Rainier, a long section<\/a> of the John Muir Trail<\/a>, and the Teton Crest Trail<\/a> (a trip I\u2019ve taken multiple times), as well as in Yellowstone<\/a>, Glacier<\/a> three times (this trip<\/a> and this one<\/a>, with one canceled due to wildfires), Great Smoky Mountains<\/a>, Zion\u2019s Narrows<\/a> and Subway<\/a>, Sequoia<\/a>, both the Needles District<\/a> and Maze District<\/a> of Canyonlands, North Cascades<\/a>, two popular trips in Canadian Rockies<\/a> national parks (this one<\/a> and this one<\/a>), Yosemite <\/a>three times (this trip<\/a>, this one<\/a> and this one<\/a>), and Grand Canyon<\/a> five <\/em>times (<\/a>this trip<\/a>, this trip<\/a>, this trip<\/a>, this one<\/a>, and this one<\/a>)\u2014and I\u2019ve had just two <\/em>unsuccessful applications, a previous attempt for the Wonderland Trail (under the park\u2019s old permit system, the new one is better) and one for Glacier in 2021 that was rejected for reasons I anticipated and explain in tip no. 3 (below). <\/p>\n\n\n\n And if you want to take a trip in one of those popular parks this year, the time for reserving permits is now or coming up soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A friendly warning: Don\u2019t backpack without a permit<\/strong>. Backcountry rangers might issue you a citation for camping without a permit, which could involve a fine and a court appearance. The more immediate problem with lacking a permit for where you\u2019re trying to camp is that all established campsites there could be occupied, leaving you no option but camping illegally in a potentially uncomfortable spot and causing damage to a sensitive area. That\u2019s not cool and it\u2019s not fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re frustrated over being denied a permit for the hike you really wanted to take, keep this in mind: The permit system in parks imposes quotas on the number of backpackers in order to protect the landscape from overuse and give all of us<\/em> an uncrowded, better wilderness experience. Compare the experience in many parks with places you\u2019ve been that have no permit system and are overcrowded, and you\u2019ll realize: Permits are a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please share what you think of my tips or your own tips or questions in the comments section at the bottom of this story and consider sharing this story. I try to respond to all comments and questions. Click on any photo to read about that trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Research your route in advance. Know where you want to go and how far you intend to hike each day. Keep in mind that your party\u2019s speed will be determined by the slowest person, and factors like the terrain\u2019s ruggedness, total elevation gain and loss on your route, and whether it\u2019s at high elevations. (See the expert tips in my story \u201cHow to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be<\/a>.\u201d) Plan daily distances and pick campsites that make sense for your group, to minimize the likelihood of not reaching one and camping illegally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See my stories \u201cHow to Plan a Backpacking Trip\u201412 Expert Tips<\/a>\u201d and \u201cHow to Decide Where to Go Backpacking<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n See also my downloadable e-guides<\/a> to backpacking trips in several popular national parks for detailed hiking itineraries, expert planning advice, on-the-ground knowledge, and tips specific to getting a permit in those parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t have the time or expertise to plan it yourself? Want to make sure your trip is as good as it can be?<\/strong> Visit my Custom Trip Planning page<\/a> to learn how I can help you plan your next great adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n Especially if you\u2019re traveling a long distance for the trip, to avoid disappointment, check the park\u2019s website months in advance for the procedure to apply for a permit reservation, which varies from park to park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some parks, to have any chance of reserving a permit, you must plan on applying at the very minute that reservations open\u2014especially for popular hikes in parks that attract a lot of backpackers (like most parks and trails mentioned in this story). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, most parks have now abandoned antiquated apply-only-in-person and apply-by-fax-machine permit systems and moved to online permit reservations operated through recreation.gov<\/a>, a positive step forward in an era when demand for backcountry permits is skyrocketing in many places. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, while some are quite easy to navigate, others are unnecessarily chaotic and frustrating for users in ways that seem clearly avoidable, given the numerous examples within the National Park System of successful park permit systems that work smoothly. The NPS is making progress but could still do much better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0In Grand Teton<\/strong><\/a>, for trips between May 1 and Oct. 31, permit reservations can be made at recreation.gov<\/a> starting at 8 a.m. Mountain Time on Jan. 10, 2024, and up to two days before your trip start date. But popular backcountry camping zones, like those along the Teton Crest Trail<\/a>, get booked up very quickly after the park starts accepting reservations\u2014often within minutes. The park allows one-third of available permits to be reserved in advance, leaving two-thirds available first-come, for walk-in backpackers, no more than one day before your trip begins, from May 16 through Dec. 31. See my expert e-books to the Teton Crest Trail<\/a> and the best short backpacking trip in the Tetons<\/a>, and my Custom Trip Planning page<\/a> to see how I can help you plan that trip, as well as my stories \u201cHow to Get a Permit to Backpack the Teton Crest Trail<\/a>\u201d and \u201cHow to Backpack the Teton Crest Trail Without a Permit<\/a>.\u201d There is a $20 non-refundable fee if you obtain a permit plus $7 per person per night.\u00a0Find more information at nps.gov\/grte\/planyourvisit\/bcres.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 In Yosemite<\/strong><\/a>, wilderness permit reservations are issued based on trailhead quotas, with special rules for backpacking the John Muir Trail<\/a>. Sixty percent of permit reservations are available by lottery at recreation.gov<\/a> beginning at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on the Sunday up to 24 weeks (168 days) in advance of the date you want to start hiking, with the lottery for each specific window of dates<\/a> closing at 11:59 p.m. the following Saturday. For example, to start a trip between Aug. 4-10, 2024, enter the lottery between Feb. 18 and Feb. 24. The remaining 40 percent of permits are made available at recreation.gov<\/a> at 7 a.m. Pacific Time up to seven days in advance of a trip start date. The non-refundable permit fee is $10 for each lottery entered or a walk-in permit plus $5 per person if you get a permit. Permits issued by other national parks or forests in the Sierra for trips extending into Yosemite\u2014for example, a John Muir Trail permit\u2014are valid in Yosemite for the permit dates. See my downloadable e-guides<\/a> to three stellar, multi-day hikes in Yosemite, including \u201cThe Best First Backpacking Trip in Yosemite<\/a>,\u201d and my stories \u201cHow to Get a Yosemite or High Sierra Wilderness Permit<\/a>\u201d and \u201cHow to Get a Last-Minute Yosemite Wilderness Permit Now<\/a>.\u201d Find more info at nps.gov\/yose\/planyourvisit\/wildpermits.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 To thru-hike the John Muir Trail<\/strong><\/a> southbound, apply for a permit from Yosemite National Park at recreation.gov<\/a> up to 24 weeks in advance of the date you want to start hiking, entering a lottery for a permit within a specific window of dates<\/a>\u2014for example, to start a trip between Aug. 4-10, 2024, enter the lottery between Feb. 18 and Feb. 24. See nps.gov\/yose\/planyourvisit\/jmt.htm<\/a>. Permits for hiking northbound, starting at Whitney Portal, are reserved through a lottery system at recreation.gov<\/a>; apply online between Feb. 1 and March 1, with results announced March 15. To start a JMT section hike (or any hike) in the Inyo National Forest between May 1 and Nov. 1, apply at recreation.gov<\/a> at 7 a.m. Pacific Time six months in advance. See my stories \u201c10 Great John Muir Trail Section Hikes<\/a>\u201d and \u201cHow to Get a Yosemite or High Sierra Wilderness Permit<\/a>\u201d and all stories about backpacking the JMT<\/a> at The Big Outside. Visit my Custom Trip Planning page<\/a> to see how I can help you plan a successful and unforgettable JMT thru-hike or section hike or any other trip (as I\u2019ve done for many other readers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Starting in 2024, the Grand Canyon<\/a><\/strong> is issuing about 80 percent of backcountry permits through a monthly, early-access lottery at recreation.gov\/permits\/4675337<\/a>. Apply for the lottery anytime during a two-week period that ends on the first of the month four months in advance of the month you\u2019d like to hike\u2014for example, between Nov. 16 and Dec. 1 for a trip anytime in April and between May 16 and June 1 for October. The lottery awards up to 750 applicants a date and time between the 4th<\/sup> and 17th<\/sup> of the following month when they can attempt to reserve a backcountry permit. The park expects that most of those 750 applicants will get a permit. The fee is $10 per permit plus $15 per person or stock animal per night. The park holds about 20 percent of backcountry campsites for walk-in permits and issues a limited number of permits for the popular Bright Angel and North and South Kaibab corridor trails; that often involves waiting at least a day. See much more detail in \u201cHow to Get a Permit to Backpack in the Grand Canyon<\/a>\u201d and my e-guides \u201cThe Best First Backpacking Trip in the Grand Canyon<\/a>\u201d and \u201cThe Best Backpacking Trip in the Grand Canyon<\/a>.\u201d Find more info at nps.gov\/grca\/planyourvisit\/backcountry-permit.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Starting in 2024, Glacier<\/a><\/strong> will hold two early-access lotteries at recreation.gov\/permits\/4675321<\/a>, on March 1 for large groups of nine to 12 people and on March 15 for standard groups of one to eight people. All applicants during these 24-hour lottery periods will have an equal chance of being selected. Standard group lottery winners will get a date and time between March 21 and April 30, 2024, when they can apply for a permit reservation. Large-group lottery winners will receive special instructions for applying for a permit reservation. General reservations open for all remaining backcountry campsites on May 1, running through Sept. 30. Glacier makes 70 percent of backcountry campsites available for reservations and 30 percent of campsites available for walk-in permits no more than one day in advance during the backpacking season and limits daily hiking distance to 16 miles on reserved permits. There is a non-refundable $10 fee for a lottery application plus $7 per person per night that\u2019s refundable if canceled more than seven days prior to the trip start date. See \u201cHow to Get a Permit to Backpack in Glacier National Park<\/a>\u201d and my expert e-guides \u201cThe Best Backpacking Trip in Glacier National Park<\/a>\u201d and \u201cBackpacking the Continental Divide Trail Through Glacier National Park<\/a>.\u201d Find more information at nps.gov\/glac\/planyourvisit\/backcountry-reservations.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 In Zion<\/strong><\/a>, apply for a permit reservation at zionpermits.nps.gov<\/a> promptly at 10 a.m. Mountain time on the 5th<\/sup> of the month, one month prior to the month in which you want to take your trip\u2014for example, apply on March 5 for a trip in April. Half of the backcountry campsites in Zion can be reserved\u2014and usually get filled within minutes after becoming available each month\u2014and half are available for walk-in permits, obtained in person no more than one day in advance. Zion\u2019s permit-reservation system requires booking each backcountry night separately\u2014creating the possibility of failing to get a permit for one or more nights of a multi-night trip. Apply first for popular camps, such as on the West Rim Trail, and then for mid-trip camps with less demand. If you have any night(s) without a permit on a multi-night trip, email zion_park_information@nps.gov<\/a> about it. There is a fee based on the number of people in your party. See my downloadable e-guide \u201cThe Complete Guide to Backpacking The Narrows in Zion National Park<\/a>.\u201d Find more information at nps.gov\/zion\/planyourvisit\/wildernesspermitinfo.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 For Sequoia and Kings Canyon<\/strong><\/a>, apply for a permit reservation at recreation.gov<\/a> starting at 7 a.m. Pacific Time up to six months in advance for a trip taking place during the trailhead quota period, which is generally the Friday before Memorial Day through the Saturday between Sept. 23-29. Permits are issued based on trailhead quotas and can be submitted up to one week in advance\u2014although availability for popular trailheads gets booked up quickly. The park keeps a portion of each trailhead quota available for backpackers seeking a first-come permit (without a reservation) no more than a day in advance. There\u2019s a non-refundable fee of $15 plus $5 per person (refundable if canceled) for each confirmed permit. Permits issued by other national parks or forests in the Sierra for trips extending into Sequoia or Kings Canyon\u2014for example, a John Muir Trail or Mount Whitney permit\u2014are valid in these parks for the permit dates. See \u201cHow to Get a Yosemite or High Sierra Wilderness Permit<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Mount Rainier<\/strong><\/a> issues permit reservations at recreation.gov\/permits\/4675317<\/a> for two-thirds backcountry campsites for trips from May 26 through Oct. 9, up to two days before a trip starts. The park holds an optional Early Access Lottery for preferential time slots to apply for a permit reservation, greatly improving chances of getting a permit for the Wonderland Trail<\/a> and popular climbing routes. Enter the lottery anytime between when it opens at 7 a.m. Pacific Time on Feb. 12, 2024, and when it closes at 9 p.m. Pacific on March 4, 2024. Lottery participants will be notified of results on March 14, and winners receive a date and time on or after March 21 to apply for a multi-night permit reservation competing against a limited number of other applicants. General reservations for all permit applicants open at 7 a.m. Pacific Time on April 25. There is a non-refundable, $6 fee for a reservation application and a $20 fee for a permit reservation. One-third of available permits are issued first-come, in person at a park wilderness center, up to one day before starting a trip. Find more information at nps.gov\/mora\/planyourvisit\/wilderness-permit.htm<\/a> and and more about the Early Access Lottery at recreationonestopprod.servicenowservices.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Yellowstone<\/strong> <\/a>accepts reservations for backcountry permits during the peak backpacking season, May 15 through Oct. 31, at recreation.gov\/permits\/4675323<\/a>. For the best chance of getting a permit for a popular backpacking trip like Bechler Canyon<\/a>, enter the Early Access Lottery, which runs from 8 a.m. Mountain Time on March 1, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on March 20, 2024. Lottery participants are notified of results on March 25 and winners will receive a date and time on or after April 1 when they can apply for a multi-night backcountry itinerary reservation competing against a limited number of other applicants. General reservations open at 8 a.m. Mountain Time on April 26 and end Oct. 31. There\u2019s a $10, non-refundable fee for entering the Early Access Lottery and a non-refundable $10 fee for a reservation (not charged if you\u2019ve already paid the lottery fee), plus a backcountry camping fee of $5 per person per night. First-come permits are issued from May through October at park backcountry offices no more than two days in advance of a trip. The park says that only \u201ca portion\u201d (no percentage is given) of designated backcountry campsites are available for walk-in permits. See nps.gov\/yell\/planyourvisit\/backcountryhiking.htm<\/a> and the park\u2019s Backcountry Trip Planner at yellowstone.co\/pdfs\/bctripplanner.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 In Great Smoky Mountains<\/strong><\/a>, permit reservations can be made starting at midnight Eastern Time up to 30 days in advance of a trip\u2019s start date. There is a non-refundable fee of $8 per person per night with a maximum of $40 per person and seven nights. Find more information and the permit reservation form at smokiespermits.nps.gov<\/a>. Reservations and permits can also be obtained in person at the Backcountry Office at Sugarlands Visitor Center. See the park website\u2019s Backcountry Camping\u2014Backpacking page at nps.gov\/grsm\/planyourvisit\/backcountry-camping.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 For Canyonlands<\/strong><\/a>, including backpacking in the Needles District<\/a>, Island in the Sky District, and Maze District<\/a> and multi-day float trips on the Green River<\/a>, apply for a permit reservation at recreation.gov<\/a> at 8 a.m. Mountain Time on Nov. 10 for a trip beginning between March 10 and June 9, on Feb. 10 for a trip between June 10 and Sept. 9, on May 10 for a trip between Sept. 10 and Dec. 9, and Aug. 10 for a trip between Dec. 10 and March 9 in the Island or Maze. From Nov. 29 through March 9, Needles backcountry permits are only available first-come\/walk-in at the Needles Visitor Center. Reservations close two days before a trip start date. There\u2019s a non-refundable $36 permit fee plus $5 per person per night for parties up to seven people in the Needles and Island in the Sky districts and five people in The Maze District. First-come permits are issued based on availability no more than two days in advance. Find more information at nps.gov\/cany\/planyourvisit\/backcountrypermits.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Rocky Mountain<\/strong><\/a> starts accepting permit reservations at 8 a.m. Mountain Time on March 2 at recreation.gov\/permits\/4675320<\/a>, for camping in the backcountry between May 1 and Oct. 31, for a maximum of seven nights. Reservations are accepted up to three days prior to a trip. Permits are issued based on quotas for designated individual backcountry campsites that accommodate parties up to seven people or group sites for parties of eight to 12 people. The total reservation fee is $36. more information at at nps.gov\/romo\/planyourvisit\/wilderness-camping.htm<\/a> and nps.gov\/romo\/planyourvisit\/wild_guide.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 At Olympic<\/strong><\/a>, permit reservations can be made at recreation.gov<\/a> starting at 7 a.m. Pacific time on April 15 for trips from May 15 through Oct. 15, except in areas under seasonal closures: Backpacking permits are issued for Glacier Meadows\/Elk Lake, Grand Valley, Royal Basin, Lake Constance, Upper Lena Lake, and Flapjack Lakes only from June 15 to Oct. 15, and for the Seven Lakes Basin\/High Divide area only from July 15 to Oct. 15. Group size limits are 12 people and lower in some camp areas. Permits listed as walk-up can only be obtained by contacting the Wilderness Information Center<\/a>. The permit fee is $6 per reservation plus $8 per person age 16 and older per night. Find more information at nps.gov\/olym\/planyourvisit\/wilderness-reservations.htm<\/a> and nps.gov\/olym\/planyourvisit\/upload\/OLYM-Wilderness-Trip-Planner.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 North Cascades<\/strong><\/a> accepts permit reservations at recreation.gov\/permits\/4675322<\/a> for backcountry camping from May 17 through Oct. 12, 2024, for up to 60 percent of backcountry campsites, while permits for the other 40 percent of backcountry campsites are issued walk-in\/first-come no more than one day in advance. For the best chances of getting a permit that includes popular camps, enter the Early-Access Lottery, which opens March 4, 2024, and closes at 9 p.m. Pacific Time on March 15, for the chance to win a timeslot between March 25 and 9 p.m. Pacific Time on April 23 to make a permit reservation. General reservations open April 29. There\u2019s a non-refundable $6 fee for the Early-Access Lottery and a $20 fee for a reserved or walk-in permit. Find more information at nps.gov\/noca\/planyourvisit\/permits.htm<\/a> and in the Wilderness Trip Planner at nps.gov\/noca\/planyourvisit\/wilderness-trip-planner.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 In Everglades<\/a><\/strong>, backcountry permit reservations can be made online year-round 90 days in advance of your trip\u2019s start date at <\/a>recreation.gov\/permits\/4675314<\/a>, beginning daily at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. There is a $21 non-refundable reservation fee plus $2 per person per night in the backcountry. Or you can get a walk-in permit at the park\u2019s Gulf Coast Visitor Center or the Flamingo Visitor Center up to a day in advance of starting a trip. Find more information at nps.gov\/ever\/planyourvisit\/permitsandreservations.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to take a popular trip during its peak season, having flexibility with your dates and itinerary is the single most-effective strategy for maximizing your chances of getting a permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since most large, marquis wilderness parks now use recreation.gov<\/a> or a similar online system that shows backcountry camping availability and processes your application in real time, this requires entering the process with a range of possible start dates and routes in mind so that you\u2019re ready to adjust quickly if your first choice isn\u2019t available. That may be as simple as starting a day earlier or later for the same route, reversing your route\u2019s direction, starting midweek instead of on a weekend, or choosing an entirely different route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With a park like Yosemite <\/strong>that conducts a weekly rolling lottery for weeklong date periods rather than processing your application in real time, you can improve your chances by indicating that you can start on any date during that week and providing alternative itineraries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I mentioned at the top of this story, my permit application for a 2021 trip in Glacier was rejected\u2014and I\u2019m sure it was mainly because I applied for just one specific itinerary that I wanted and our dates were not flexible, which greatly reduced my chances of succeeding. The rejection email the park sent me noted that they received over 2,500 backcountry permit applications just on the first day <\/em>that it opened, March 15. That was under Glacier\u2019s previous permit system; the park now uses recreation.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n This piece of time-tested advice is also the first of my \u201c<\/a>12 Expert Tips for Finding Solitude When Backpacking<\/a>\u201d\u2014which is worth reading for the appeal of solitude as well as the clear overlap between that goal and the objective of getting a backcountry permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And you might be shocked at how much permit demand is concentrated in just a handful of enormously popular trails in that national parks that backpackers all want to explore, including,just to name a few, Yosemite<\/strong>, Grand Canyon<\/strong>, Glacier<\/strong>, Great Smoky Mountains<\/strong>, Mount Rainier<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might also be pleasantly surprised to find how much incredibly scenic hiking is found in less well-known areas of those parks\u2014and how much solitude you can find.<\/p>\n\n\n A few examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 In Yosemite<\/a>, about 10 percent of the park\u2019s hundreds of miles of trails\u2014the John Muir Trail from Happy Isles to Donohue Pass and the Sierra High Camps loop\u2014accounts for about 80 percent of all trail use. The Little Yosemite Valley backcountry campground alone accounts for almost 20 percent. Thus, the other 20 percent of all trail use gets distributed over 90 percent of Yosemite\u2019s trails. But many backcountry areas even in popular parks see far less demand for permits, such as northern Yosemite<\/a> and a hike I consider Yosemite\u2019s best-kept secret backpacking trip<\/a>; numerous trails in Glacier<\/a> including sections of the Continental Divide Trail<\/a>; the Grand Canyon\u2019s Hermits Rest to Bright Angel Trailhead<\/a>, Escalante Route<\/a>, Royal Arch Loop<\/a>, and Clear Creek Trail and Utah Flats Route<\/a>; Mount Rainier\u2019s Northern Loop<\/a>; the Maze District<\/a> in Canyonlands; and a gorgeous swath of the High Sierra in Sequoia National Park<\/a>, among numerous examples. I even enjoyed solitude on most of a solo, 34-mile loop in the Great Smoky Mountains<\/a>\u2014during the October peak foliage season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See my story \u201cBig Scenery, No Crowds: 10 Top Backpacking Trips For Solitude<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping your party small\u2014at two to four people or even solo\u2014can increase your odds of landing a permit in parks where permit quotas are based on the number of campers in an area each night or departing from each trailhead daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Glacier\u2019s<\/strong> backcountry campsites are sized for a party of four people; in a park where it\u2019s already very hard to get a permit, larger parties face much higher hurdles to getting one than a group of four or fewer. In Mount Rainier<\/strong> and the Maze District of Canyonlands<\/strong>, standard parties are limited to five people. In Yosemite<\/strong>, permits are issued according to a maximum quota of hikers starting at each trailhead in the park\u2014and it\u2019s common for quotas at popular trailheads to winnow down to just one, two or three spots available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most parks limit the number of people allowed on one standard permit, often to six to eight; otherwise, it\u2019s considered a group permit, and there are far fewer campsites for large groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n National parks often border on other public lands, like national forests, where there\u2019s often no limit on the number of backpackers\u2014which may give you campsite options when sites or camping areas within park boundaries are full on your trip dates. For instance, Alaska Basin, along the Teton Crest Trail<\/a>, is not within Grand Teton National Park<\/strong>; so if you can\u2019t get a permit to spend a night on Death Canyon Shelf in the park (a gorgeous spot, by the way), Alaska Basin is a very nice alternative and may fit neatly into an itinerary for which you have the other camping zones you need inside park boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At other parks, like Yosemite<\/strong> <\/a>and Sequoia-Kings Canyon<\/strong><\/a>, you can start your trip in a national forest wilderness area\u2014which, in the High Sierra, are just as spectacular as the parks\u2014and permits issued by those national forests are valid for continuing a multi-day hike into either park. That may increase your chances of getting a permit to backpack in the park. Keep in mind that advance permit reservations are needed in many of those national forests, too, often made months ahead of your trip dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See my stories \u201cHow to Get a Permit to Backpack the Teton Crest Trail<\/a>\u201d and \u201cHow to Get a Yosemite or High Sierra Wilderness Permit<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If all else fails, show up at the park at least a couple of hours before the backcountry office opens and try to get a front spot in line for a walk-in, or first-come permit. Parks hold a percentage of permits for walk-in backpackers, issuing those usually no more than a day in advance. The percentage of permits set aside for walk-in backpackers varies greatly between parks. As examples, Grand Teton<\/strong> keeps two-thirds of available campsites for walk-ins, in Yosemite<\/strong> it\u2019s 40 percent, and in Glacier<\/strong> it\u2019s 30 percent of campsites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The difficulty of landing a first-come permit varies during the peak hiking seasons. Since Grand Teton sets aside two-thirds of available permits for walk-in backpackers, chances are relatively good, especially if you\u2019re flexible about your itinerary and accept what\u2019s available\u2014and any<\/em> Tetons hike is great. At Zion<\/strong>, Glacier, Grand Canyon<\/strong>, Denali<\/strong>, and Everglades<\/strong>, you might not score a permit to start that same day, but Grand Canyon has a wait list\u2014get on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t get one of the available permits the first day you show up, you will have to return each morning until you do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yosemite makes 40 percent of permits available up to seven days in advance of a trip start date\u2014and that\u2019s the correct way to get a walk-in permit there. The park warns at nps.gov\/yose\/planyourvisit\/wildpermits.htm<\/a>: \u201cDo not arrive at Yosemite expecting to get a walk-up wilderness permit. While any unreserved permits will be available in person at wilderness centers on the start date of the trip, few, if any, unused permits will be available.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n See my story \u201cHow to Get a Last-Minute, National Park Backcountry Permit<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n I\u2019ve always been amazed at how few backpackers there are in the Tetons<\/strong> in September, when, while it could snow, you can more often enjoy perfect weather. In Yosemite<\/strong> and Sequoia-Kings Canyon<\/strong>, at lower elevations in Olympic<\/strong> and North Cascades<\/strong>, and sometimes at Mount Rainier<\/strong> and Rocky Mountain<\/strong>, good hiking weather can extend into October. At Sequoia-Kings Canyon<\/strong>, the quota season<\/a> for permits ends on the Saturday between Sept. 23 and 29; if you have a good forecast after those dates, you can get a last-minute permit.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/06224823\/Tet19-047-Me-on-Teton-Crest-Trail-copy-cropped.jpg?resize=103%2C103&ssl=1\")
<\/strong>Hi, I\u2019m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside.\u00a0Click here<\/a> to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside<\/a> to get full access to all of my blog\u2019s stories. Click here<\/a> for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. Click here<\/a> to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/07003348\/Yos11-011-Hiking-Clouds-Rest-Yosemite-N.P.-CA.jpg?resize=1200%2C797&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/06232119\/Zion4-078-Day-two-The-Narrows-Zion-National-Park.-copy-1-1024x680.jpg?resize=1024%2C680&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Get The Big Outside in your Inbox. Sign up for my FREE email newsletter<\/a> now.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/06230547\/Rain6-019-Todd-Arndt-descending-from-Panhandle-Gap-on-the-Wonderland-Trail-Mount-Rainier-National-Park-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a>#1 Do Your Homework<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Insider Tip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you sound like you\u2019ve done the research and know the park\u2014and have good experience overall and perhaps in that park\u2014I have consistently found that a backcountry ranger will more readily point you toward more adventurous route options that they might not suggest to a novice.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Backpackers](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/06231751\/Gran8-008-Backpackers-on-the-South-Kaibab-Trail-Grand-Canyon-683x1024.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/a>#2 Know When to Apply<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Insider Tip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Use a shotgun: Apply for permit reservations in multiple parks for a range of potential dates, hoping that at least one is successful. You can always cancel any you can\u2019t use and often get most of the cost refunded. In parks that conduct early-access permit lotteries, have everyone in your group enter the lottery.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/06231511\/Tet19-088-David-Gordon-backpacking-the-Teton-Crest-Trail-North-Fork-Cascade-Canyon-Grand-Teton-N.P.-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a>When to apply for a backcountry permit reservation in some popular parks<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/06225439\/JMT2-085-Marco-Garofalo-hiking-above-Helen-Lake-John-Muir-Trail-Kings-Canyon-N.P.-High-Sierra.-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a>The Big Outside helps you find the best adventures.
\nJoin now<\/a> for full access to ALL stories and get a free e-book and member gear discounts<\/a>!<\/h4>\n![\"Morning](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/06232051\/Gla6-051-Morning-Eagle-Falls-and-backpackers-on-Piegan-Pass-Trail-in-Glacier-National-Park-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"Backpackers](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/06231311\/Sierra3-029-High-Sierra-Trail-above-Middle-Fork-Kaweah-River-Sequoia-N.P.-CA-copy-1024x655.jpg?resize=1024%2C655&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Pack Smartly. See \u201cAn Essentials-Only Backpacking Gear Checklist<\/a>.\u201d<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Colonnade](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/06230724\/Yel10-018-Colonnade-Falls-on-the-Bechler-River-Yellowstone-National-Park.-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Want my help planning any trip on this list?
Click here<\/a> for expert advice you won\u2019t get anywhere else.<\/h4>\n![\"Young](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/07000443\/Cany1-028-Big-Spring-Squaw-Pass-Needles-District-Canyonlands-National-Park-Utah-copy-1024x606.jpg?resize=1024%2C606&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Plan your next great backpacking adventure using my downloadable, expert e-guides.
Click here now<\/a> to learn more.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/06233938\/Olym6-056-Northern-Bailey-Range-Mt.-Olympus-in-bkgd-Olympic-NP-WA.jpg?resize=1200%2C797&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/06231950\/Cas10-032-Todd-Arndt-near-Park-Creek-Pass-North-Cascades-N.P.-2-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Insider Tip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
For parks like Grand Teton, Olympic, Zion, Rocky Mountain, and Canyonlands <\/strong>that open permit reservations at a specific date and time (i.e., they do not have rolling reservations), start your reservation application the very minute<\/em> they begin accepting them. Set up an account in advance at the host website, like recreation.gov<\/a>, and familiarize yourself with it.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/06225720\/Gran7-037-Chip-Roser-on-the-upper-Tapeats-Creek-Trail-in-the-Grand-Canyon-2-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a>#3 Have Alternative Itineraries and Dates Ready<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/06232007\/Smoky1-022-View-from-Appalachian-Trail-Great-Smoky-Mountains-N.P.-N.C.-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Insider Tip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re determined to backpack in a park, make any permit reservation, even if not for your desired route. When you pick up your permit, ask about altering your itinerary; other campsites may be available due to cancellations and sites held for walk-ins. Ask a backcountry ranger for suggestions.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/06232055\/Yos12-044-Grand-Canyon-of-the-Tuolumne-River-Yosemite-NP-CA-1024x680.jpg?resize=1024%2C680&ssl=1\")
<\/a>#4 Focus on Less Well-Known Areas of Popular Parks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Below](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/07004858\/JMT1-185-Descending-south-from-Forester-Pass-Sequoia-N.P..jpg?resize=426%2C640&ssl=1\")
<\/a>
\u2022 In the Grand Canyon<\/a>, about 75 percent of applicants seeking a permit for backpacking the three popular corridor trails, Bright Angel and South and North Kaibab, in spring or fall will fail to get a permit. Put differently, there\u2019s about four times more demand for the three backcountry campgrounds on the corridor trails than there is availability.
\u2022 In Mount Rainier<\/a>, close to half of permit applicants want to backpack the Wonderland Trail<\/a>. The park has campsite capacity to grant about 900 permits annually<\/a> for the entire Wonderland, while historically three times as many people have sought a permit for the full Wonderland permit<\/a> (and that number is likely growing). But those 900 permits represent less than 25 percent of the approximately 4,000 backpacking permits issued annually.
\u2022 In Great Smoky Mountains<\/a>, shelters along the Appalachian Trail are far and away the most popular\u2014and that\u2019s the park\u2019s busiest trail\u2014but backcountry campsites elsewhere in the park are much easier to reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStart planning now to take one of \u201cThe 10 Best National Park Backpacking Trips<\/a>.\u201d<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Hikers](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/06225837\/Maze1-040-Pam-Todd-and-Jeff-dayhiking-on-the-Chimney-Route-in-the-Maze-District-Canyonlands-National-Park.-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a>#5 Think Small<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Insider Tip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While it\u2019s hard to get a permit to dayhike Yosemite\u2019s Half Dome<\/a>, it\u2019s probably less difficult to add Half Dome to your backpacking permit because many more people apply for the dayhiking permit than do for backcountry permits. See \u201cWhere to Backpack First Time in Yosemite<\/a>.\u201d<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/06231525\/Tet19-055-A-backpacker-above-Alaska-Basin-on-the-Teton-Crest-Trail..-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a>#6 Camp Outside the Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Want a better backpack? See my picks for \u201cThe 10 Best Backpacking Packs<\/a>\u201d
and the best ultralight backpacks<\/a>.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"Big](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/06231335\/Zion4-069-Big-Spring-day-two-The-Narrows-Zion-National-Park.-copy.-copy.jpg?resize=1200%2C797&ssl=1\")
<\/a>#7 Try For a Walk-In Permit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Insider Tip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Start a trip from a less-popular trailhead and you might be able to land campsites in more-popular areas later in your trip.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/06225833\/Yos14-013-Jeff-Wilhelm-on-Indian-Ridge-overlooking-Half-Dome-in-Yosemite-National-Park-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Get inspired. Read my book<\/a> Before They\u2019re Gone\u2014A Family\u2019s Year-Long Quest to Explore America\u2019s Most Endangered National Parks<\/em>.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tbo-media.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/07011722\/Rain4-105.jpg?resize=800%2C532&ssl=1\")
<\/a>#8 Go Outside Peak Season<\/h3>\n\n\n\n