Are you planning a trip to a National Park in 2023? A trip to your favorite National Park might look very different in 2023 than your last visit. Before you book your flights and rental car, you need to understand which National Parks require reservations in 2023.
Navigating the increasingly confusing world or reservations, permits, and timed-entry might almost make you want to throw in the quick-drying towel and stay home. But don’t give up! Booking a National Park trip in 2023 is still possible. This guide covers a complete breakdown of which National Parks require reservations in 2023, and how to score the most competitive reservations.
Why Do National Parks Require Reservations?
It’s no secret that our National Parks are exploding with popularity. While Park attendance has been steadily increasing in recent years, visitor numbers have skyrocketed since interstate COVID travel restrictions lifted in 2020. In response, an increasing number of National Parks are requiring advanced reservations to enter the most popular sections of the Parks, or even to enter the Park, period.
A Quick Look at Which National Parks Require Reservations
A very small number of National Parks require reservations to enter the Park entirely. As of January 2023, only Arches, Glacier, Haleakala, and Rocky Mountain National Parks require timed-entry permits to access any part of the park during peak hours.
However, many parks are increasingly requiring reservations and permits to access some of the most popular trailheads, scenic roads, and activities. Before entering any National Park, research all your planned activities to make sure no reservations or permits are required.
Keep reading for a complete breakdown of the reservation and permit requirements in each of our 63 beautiful National Parks.
* Disclaimer: Reservation and Permit information is updated here regularly, to the best of my ability. Before visiting any National Park, please visit the Park’s website on NPS.gov for the most current reservation requirements, operating hours, seasonal closures and other important information.
Reservation and Permit Requirements for all 63 National Parks
Acadia
Acadia National Park does not require a reservation to enter the park. However, Acadia National Park requires reservations in 2022 to drive to the popular Cadillac Summit Road area.
Cadillac Summit Road Reservations
Vehicle Reservation permits are required for visitors to drive on Cadillac Summit Road from mid-May to mid-October. A permit is NOT required to access other areas of the park, or to access Cadillac Summit by foot, bike, or by taxi.
Cadillac Summit Road reservations must be made online at Recreation.gov. 30% of Reservations are available 90 days in advance, and 70% of reservation slots are made available 2 days in advance, going on sale at 10AM at recreation.gov.
Learn more about Cadillac Summit Road reservation requirements here.
Arches
Arches is one of several National Parks that require reservations in 2023.
Arches recently began a timed-entry reservation system for entering the park between 6 AM and 5PM. Arches National Park will require a timed-entry reservation to enter the park from April to October.
Arches National Park reservations can be made online at Recreation.gov. Timed-Entry reservations are available in block release 3 months in advance, and will sell out very quickly.
A limited number of reservations will be available for purchase one day prior to entry at 6 pm mountain time on Recreation.gov.
Arches National Park reservations are not required for visitors holding backpacking permits, campground reservations, or Fiery Furnace permits.
Learn more about the new Arches timed-entry reservation requirements here.
* Tip: Didn’t get an Arches timed-entry permit? Consider getting up early and entering the park before 6AM. Not a morning person? Consider visiting nearby Canyonlands National Park instead. Canyonlands sees a fraction of the visitors than Arches, and offers a more rugged backcountry experience.
Arches Fiery Furnace Permits
Interested in hiking the sandstone labyrinth of Arches’ Fiery Furnace? To access this area, you’ll need either a permit (available 7 days in advance and booked at least 2 days in advance) or a ranger-guided tour ticket.
Check out more information on the Arches Fiery Furnace and ticket requirements here.
Badlands (SD)
Badlands National Park does not require a reservation to enter.
Big Bend (TX)
Big Bend National Park does not require reservations to enter. Planning a trip to Big Bend? Check out my Big Bend Itinerary Guide for everything you need to plan an epic trip!
Biscayne (FL)
Biscayne National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Biscayne National Park is 95% water! To truly experience this park, book a snorkeling, paddling, or boating tour through the Park’s authorized concessionaire, Biscayne National Park Institute.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison (CO)
Black Canyon of the Gunnison requires a Wilderness permit to access some areas of the Park.
All trips inside the canyon, including day hikes, not on established trails, require a Wilderness Permit . A limited number of permits are available for each route per day. Inner Canyon hikes are all strenuous, class 3 scrambles over unmarked terrain.
Wilderness Use Permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the South Rim Visitor Center and North Rim Ranger Station.
Learn more about Inner Canyon hiking at Black Canyon of the Gunnison here.
Red Rock Canyon Permit Lottery
Hikers and Anglers looking to explore the Red Rock Canyon area of the park must obtain a permit through the Red Rock Canyon reservation system. The park strictly controls the number of visitors to this area to protect an active grazing allotment that runs through the first mile of the trek.
Applications will be available on a first-come first-served basis on recreation.gov, starting late-winter 2023. The online reservation system is new in 2023 and the park will no longer accept fax and hand-delivered reservations, as required in previous years.
Learn more about visiting Red Rock Canyon and the new reservation system here.
Bryce Canyon (UT)
Bryce Canyon National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Looking for a unique experience among Bryce’s hoodoos? Consider booking a horseback ride through the park’s authorized concessionaire, Canyon Trail Rides.
I’ve done two trips with Canyon Trail Rides at the Grand Canyon (North Rim) and absolutely loved it! I highly recommend this one of kind experience.
Canyonlands (UT)
Canyonlands National Park does not require reservations to enter the Park. Day-use reservations are required for four-wheel-drive, motorcycle and bicycling routes. Learn more about day-use reservations, here.
Backcountry Permits are required for all overnight backcountry trips. Permits become available on recration.gov on a seasonal basis, four months before the start of the season.
Spring permits (March 10 – June 9) open November 10.
Summer permits (June 10 – September 9) open February 10.
Fall permits (September 10 – December 9) open May 10.
Winter permits (December 10 – March 9) open August 10.
Capitol Reef (UT)
Capitol Reef National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Carlsbad Caverns (NM)
A timed-entry reservation is required to enter Carlsbad Cavern, reservations are not required to access the surface areas of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Reservations can be made at recreation.gov.
As of January, 2023, the Kings Palace Tour is the only Ranger-Led tour program available. All other ranger-guided tours of the cave are suspended due to COVID. Self-guided tours are available using the timed-entry reservation system, and an audio guide can be purchased at the Visitor Center.
Book Carlsbad Caverns entry reservations here.
Backcountry caves require a permit for entry and require technical caving skills to access.
Channel Islands (CA)
Channel Islands National Park does not require reservations to enter.
The 5 Channel Islands can only be accessed by park concessionaire or private boats. During peak season (June-September), reservations through the park’s boat concessionaire, Island Packers, will book several weeks to months in advance.
Book Island Packers transportation here.
Congraree (SC)
Congaree National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Crater Lake (OR)
Crater Lake National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Advance reservations can be made for boat tours and trolley tours through Crater Lake National Park. Boat tours and lodging are operated by Crater Lake Hospitality.
Cuyahoga Valley (OH)
Cuyahoga Valley National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Planning a trip to Cuyahoga Valley? Check out these best hikes in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Death Valley (CA)
Death Valley National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Denali (AK)
Denali National Park does not require reservations to enter.
To protect the fragile ecosystem, Denali National Park limits access to most park roads for private vehicles. A reservation is required to use the Denali Transit buses for campers, hikers, backpackers, and to tour the Park’s stunning interior on a bus tour.
Learn more about Bus Tours and Transit Buses here. 2023, operating tour and transit buses will run from May 20 to September 14.
In 2021 the Pretty Rocks Landslide completely obstructed Denali Park Road at Mile 45. Denali Park Road remains impassible past Mile 43 for the foreseeable future. All tour and transit busses on Denali Park Road will end at Mile 43.
Denali Road Lottery
Road Lottery will not be held for the foreseeable future due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide. Instead, starting mid-September until the road closes for winter, all visitors may drive to Mile 30, Teklanika River.
Each year, Denali allows private vehicles to access the entire Park Road (as far as weather allows). Visitors wishing to drive Park Road in a private vehicle must obtain a permit, which is issued by lottery each summer.
Road Lottery days typically occur the second weekend after Labor Day. The lottery application window opens each May on recreation.gov. Lottery winners are drawn mid-summer.
Learn more about the Denali Road Lottery here.
Dry Tortugas (FL)
Dry Tortugas National Park does not require reservations to enter.
This is a remote island park, and is accessible only by boat or seaplane. Most visitors arrive using the Park’s authorized ferry concessionaire, Yankee Freedom. Yankee Freedom reservations book weeks to months in advance, and advanced reservations are strongly encouraged.
Everglades (FL)
Everglades National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Gates of the Arctic (AK)
Reservations and permits are not required to enter Gates of the Arctic National Park. However, all visitors are asked to attend a backcountry orientation at a visitor center or ranger station before entering the park.
Gates of the Arctic is designated as an entirely trail-less wilderness area. Visitors who are not experienced in route finding, topographic map reading, and backcountry wilderness skills should book a guided tour through one of the Parks many authorized concessionaires.
Learn more about guides at outfitters in Gates of the Arctic National Park here.
Gateway Arch (MO)
Gateway Arch National Park does not require a reservation to enter.
A ticket is required to ride the tram to the top of the arch. Reservations are strongly encouraged due to limited capacity during COVID. Book reservations for the Gateway Arch tram here.
Glacier Bay (AK)
A reservation is not required to enter Glacier Bay National Park.
Glacier (MT)
Glacier National Park requires reservations to access the Park between 6AM and 3PM.
NEW IN 2023: An entry ticket is required to drive on Going to the Sun Road, North Fork, Many Glacier, and Two Medicine roads in the park in Summer 2023. Effectively, a reservation is required to drive your own vehicle into Glacier National Park, unless you are entering with a private tour reservation or lodging reservation.
A Going to the Sun entry ticket is valid for 3 consecutive days, starting with the reserved day of arrival. North Fork, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier area tickets are valid for 1 day.
Reservations are required for the following dates and locations:
Going to The Sun Road (From St. Mary) – Reservation required from Rising Sun Checkpoint from July 1 to September 10, 2023, between 6AM to 3PM.
Going to The Sun Road (From West Glacier) – Reservation required May 26 to September 10, 2023 between 6AM and 3PM.
North Fork – Reservation required May 26 to September 10, 2023 between 6AM and 3PM.
Many Glacier – Reservation required from July 1 to September 10, 2023, between 6AM to 3PM.
Two Medicine – Reservation required from July 1 to September 10, 2023, between 6AM to 3PM.
A reservation is NOT required to access the St. Mary Visitor Center and St Mary access to the Free Glacier National Park Summer Shuttle and Hiker Shuttles. Visitors without reservations can ride the free shuttles along the entire Going-to-the-Sun corridor. Learn more about Shuttles in Glacier National Park here.
Reservations are NOT required for any visitors with reservations at any lodging located within the reservation corridors, or anyone with reservations for horseback rides, or guided hike and boat tours within the corridor.
Learn more about timed entry tickets for Glacier National Park here.
New for the 2023 season, vehicle reservations will be available through two types of booking windows:
A portion of reservations will be released in blocks, approximately 120-days in advance. Reservation tickets will be released at 8 AM (Mountain Time) on Recreation.Gov on the following schedule:
- Going to the Sun Road Reservations for May 26 through June 30 will be released on February 1, 2023.
- All reservations for July 1 through July 31 will be released on March 1, 2023.
- All reservations for August 1 through August 31 will be released on April 1, 2023.
- All reservations for September 1 through September 10 will be released on May 1, 2023.
The remaining vehicle reservation tickets will be released on a daily rolling basis, 24 hours in advance, at 8 am.
Grand Canyon (AZ)
Grand Canyon National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Private river trips (trips not made with a commercial rafting outfitter) require a permit. Permits are issued up to 1 year in advance on a first-come, first-served, basis.
Learn more about river trips in the Grand Canyon here.
Reservations for Lodging at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon are extremely competitive and primarily issued by lottery, although cancellations are occasionally available.
Phantom Ranch lottery submissions are available 15 months prior to the month of your desired start date. Hiker bed reservations and overnight Mule Rides are accepted from 12:01 a.m. on the 1st of the month through 11:59 p.m. on the 25th of the month.
*Due to construction, Phantom Ranch Lodge and Mule Rides are suspended beginning May 1, 2023 for the foreseeable future.
Learn more about Phantom Ranch Lottery submissions here.
Grand Teton (WY)
Grand Teton National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Reservations are required for backcountry camping between May 1 and October 31. Learn more about backcountry permits for Grand Teton National Park here.
Want to learn more about planning an epic National Parks trip? Grab my free Ultimate National Parks Planning Guide below. It includes 70+ pages of printable packing checklists, my best planning tips, and everything you need to know to start planning a trip to all 63 National Parks!
Great Basin (NV)
Great Basin National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Lehman Caves can only be entered on a guided tour. Reservations for cave tours are recommended and are available 30 days in advance. Book cave tours and learn about Lehman Caves here.
Great Sand Dunes (CO)
A reservation is not required to enter Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Great Smoky Mountains (NC/TN)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Beginning March 1, 2023 Great Smoky Mountains National Park will require all visitors to purchase and display a “Parking Tag” while parking inside the National Park.
All visitors who wish to park for more than 15 minutes in Great Smoky Mountains, including at trailheads, scenic points, Visitor Centers, ect. must purchase and display a paid Parking Tag. One Parking Tag is required per vehicle.
Parking Tag fees are $5 per day, $15 per week, and $40 annually.
Parking Tag sales are not limited or capped, meaning you do not need advanced reservations to enter the Park. Parking tags do NOT guarantee a parking spot, so be sure to arrive early to trailheads and popular spots!
Learn more about the Great Smoky Mountains Parking Fee program, and Parking Tag exceptions here. As of January 1, 2023 Information on purchasing the Parking Tags has not been released. Check the above link for updated information.
Planning a visit to Great Smoky Mountains? Make the most of your time (and learn how to avoid the crowds) in the most-visited National Park, here.
Guadalupe Mountains (TX)
Guadalupe Mountains National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Haleakala (HI)
Haleakala National Park requires reservations to enter the park for sunrise between 3AM and 7AM.
Reservations can be made 60 days in advance on recreation.gov. Tickets are released at 7AM Hawaii time. A small portion of tickets are released 2 days (48 hours) in advance
Learn more about Sunrise reservations for Haleakala National Park here.
Hawai’i Volcanoes (HI)
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Hot Springs (AR)
Hot Springs National park does not require reservations to enter.
Visitors who want to experience a traditional Bathhouse experience at one of Hot Springs’ two operating bathhouses must make reservations in advance.
Information about Hot Springs’ bathhouses can be found here.
Indiana Dunes (IL)
Indiana Dunes does not require a reservation to enter.
Isle Royale (MI)
Isle Royale does not require a reservation to enter the park. However, Isle Royale is a remote island archipelago in Lake Superior. Isle Royale must be accessed by boat or seaplane.
Multiple passenger ferries and seaplane operators service the park. Operators recommend booking reservations at least 1-2 months in advance.
Learn more about how to get to Isle Royale National Park here.
*Note: Isle Royale National Park is closed seasonally from November 1 to April 15.
Joshua Tree (CA)
Joshua Tree does not require reservations to enter the park.
Beginning March 1, 2023 Joshua Tree National Park will be implementing a new backpacking reservation system, as well as establishing backpacking “zones” and requiring backpackers to use designated camping spots in high-use “zones” like the Boy Scout Trail.
Planning a trip to Joshua Tree National Park? The downloadable Joshua Tree Itinerary Guide has your perfect 1, 2, or 3 day Joshua Tree trip completely planned for you! With over 20 pages of detailed hiking guides, printable daily itineraries, lodging and dining suggestions and more, you can spend less time planning and more time making epic memories! Check it out, here.
Katmai (AK)
Katmai National Park does not require reservations to enter the park. However, Brooks Falls, the most popular area of the park, is accessible only by boat and seaplane. Reservations for the campground at Brooks Camp are extremely competitive and often book out within minutes of becoming available in January.
Reservations at Brooks Lodge are issued by lottery, usually in December, for the summer-after-next (ie, the December 2022 lottery issued reservations for Summer 2024). Visit the Brooks Lodge for information regarding cancellations and lottery applications, here.
Learn more about transportation and lodging at Katmai National Park here.
Kenai Fjords (AK)
Kenai Fjords does not require reservations to enter the park.
Kings Canyon (CA)
Kings Canyon does not require reservations to enter the park.
Backpackers must obtain a wilderness permit to camp overnight anywhere other than designated front-country campgrounds. Advanced wilderness reservations are required during “Quota Season” – May 26 2023 to September 17, 2023.
Wilderness permit reservations are available on Recreation.gov starting Saturday, November 26th, 2022. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance of your trip, and are released daily at 7:00 AM Pacific Time.
Learn more about wilderness permits in Kings Canyon National Park, here.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are jointly managed. See Sequoia National Park reservation information for additional details.
*Tip: Some area of Kings Canyon National Park are closed following the devastating 2021 KNP Complex fire. Check the Park’s website for details on how the KNP Complex fire is affecting Park operations.
Kobuk Valley (AK)
Kobuk Valley National Park does not require reservations to enter the park.
This Park is a remote National Park in the Alaskan wilderness. There are no roads that access the Park, and most visitors arrive to the park by air taxi. Learn more about transportation to Kobuk Valley here.
Lake Clark (AK)
Lake Clark National Park does not require reservations to enter the park.
There are no roads that access Lake Clark National Park, and most visitors arrive to the park by air taxi. Learn more about visiting Lake Clark National Park here.
Lassen Volcanic (CA)
Lassen Volcanic National park does not require reservations to visit.
Mammoth Cave (KT)
Mammoth Cave National Park does not require reservations to enter the park. However, a tour ticket is required to enter Mammoth Cave. Advanced reservations for tour tickets are strongly suggested, as tours can book up weeks in advance.
Learn more about visiting Mammoth Cave here.
Mesa Verde (CO)
Mesa Verde does not require reservations to enter the park.
Most cliff dwellings inside Mesa Verde can only be entered on a ticketed ranger-led tour. Tickets area available 14 days in advance of your tour, on a daily rolling basis. Tickets are available starting at 8AM MDT on recreation.gov and it is strongly advised to book tickets as soon as they become available.
Mount Rainer (WA)
Mount Rainer does not require reservations to enter the park.
A permit is required for all overnight backcountry trips. Rainer backcountry permits are extremely competitive, especially for the Wonderland Trail. Reservations are strongly encouraged. The early access lottery is the best chance for building a complete Wonderland Trail itinerary.
The 2023 early access lottery is open February 21, 2023 to March 7, 2023. Apply to the lottery and book wilderness permits here.
Learn more about wilderness permits and the early access lottery here.
National Park of American Samoa
National Park of American Samoa does not require reservations.
American Samoa is located in the South Pacific, approximately between Hawai’i and New Zealand. It is the most remote National Parks and planning a trip requires serious logistics. Learn more about visiting National Park of American Samoa here.
* Due to ongoing COVID restrictions, access to National Park of American Samoa is currently extremely difficult. Several major airlines have temporarily suspended operations to American Samoa, and travel restrictions may require you to quarantine for 14 days in Hawaii and obtain a health clearance 3 days before arriving at the Park. Learn more about current COVID restrictions for visiting National Park of American Samoa here.
New River Gorge (WV)
New River Gorge National Park does not require reservations.
Visiting New River Gorge? This gorge-ous (get it 😜) park was designated our newest National Park in 2020. Check out my guide to visiting and the best hikes in New River Gorge National Park.
North Cascades (WA)
North Cascades National Park does not require reservations to enter the Park.
All overnight backcountry trips in North Cascades require a wilderness permit. 60% of North Cascades wilderness permits are issued by reservation on recration.gov, with advance reservations issued on a lottery basis.
North Cascades anticipates opening early access lottery applications in early March, 2023. General On-Sale period for backcountry permits in 2023 will open in early May.
Learn more about wilderness permit reservations in North Cascades, here.
Olympic (WA)
Olympic National Park does not require reservations to enter the Park.
All overnight backcountry trips in Olympic require a wilderness permit. Permit reservations for the summer season (May 15th through October 15th) will be released on April 15th, 2023 at 7:00 AM PST.
Learn more about wilderness permit reservations at Olympic, here.
Petrified Forest (AZ)
Petrified Forest National Park does not require reservations.
Pinnacles (CA)
Pinnacles National Park does not require reservations.
Redwood (CA)
Redwood National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Tall Trees Trail
A free permit is required to day-hike the Tall Trees Trail. Hikers may apply for a Tall Trees permit between 4 weeks and 48 hours in advance of their visit. Permits will not be issued for hikes less than 48 hours in advance. Redwood Park issues 50 Tall Trees Trail permits per day.
Learn more about the Tall Trees Trail permit here.
Rocky Mountain (CO)
Rocky Mountain National Park requires reservations to enter the Park from May 26 through October 22, 2023.
There are two separate permit reservations for Rocky Mountain, depending on where in the park you intend to visit: the Park Access reservation allows entrance to any area of the Park, except the Bear Lake Corridor (Bear Lake Trailhead, Glacier Gorge Trailhead, Bierstadt Lake trailhead, Sprague Lake & others); the Park Access+ Bear Lake Corridor reservation allows access to trailheads and sights along Bear Lake road, as well as entrance to the rest of the park. More details about each of these reservations is provided below.
Park Access and Park Access+ tickets will be released on Recreation.Gov on the following schedule:
On May 1, 2023 at 8AM (MDT) reservations are released to enter the park from May 26 to June 30, 2023.
On June 1, 2023 at 8AM (MDT) reservations are released to enter the park from July 1 to July 31, 2023.
On July 1, 2023 at AM (MDT) reservations are released to enter the park from August 1 to August 31, 2023.
On August 1, 2023, reservations are released to enter the park from September 1 to September 30, 2023.
On September 1, 2023 reservations are released to enter the park from October 1 to October 31.
40% of available tickets will be made available to reserve on 5PM the day prior to the reservation date on recreation.gov.
Timed Entry Park Access Reservations for Rocky Mountain
A Timed Entry Park Access reservation for Rocky Mountain is required to access any area of the park, except for the Bear Lake corridor, which requires a different permit. This permit covers Trail Ridge Road area and Old Fall River Road.
Learn More about Park Access reservations for Rocky Mountain National Park here.
A Park Access reservation is required to enter the Park between 9AM and 2PM.
Bear Lake Corridor Reservations for Rocky Mountain
The Bear Lake Corridor timed entry permit allows access to some of the parks most popular trailheads, including Bear Lake, Cub Lake, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Nymph Lake, and Sky Pond, as well as all trails that are accessed by Bear Lake road.
The Bear Lake Corridor reservation also allows access for the entire park.
A Bear Lake Corridor reservation is required to enter the Bear Lake area between 5AM – 6 PM.
Learn more about the Bear Lake Corridor reservation requirements here.
Visitors staying at any Rocky Mountain campground do not need to reserve a permit. 1 permit is required per vehicle entering the park.
Both the Timed Entry ticket for the Park and the Bear Lake Corridor reservation tickets will sell out within seconds on recreation.gov, so be prepared to book your tickets immediately!
*Tip: Can’t get a Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry reservation? Consider an early morning wake up and enter the park before 9AM. Make sure to leave plenty of time to drive to the entrance station from your hotel and assume that there will be long lines to enter the park.
Saguaro (AZ)
Reservations are not required to enter Saguaro National Park.
Sequoia (CA)
Reservations are not required to enter Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park.
Backpackers must obtain a wilderness permit to camp overnight anywhere other than designated front-country campgrounds. Advanced wilderness reservations are required during “Quota Season” – May 26 2023 to September 17, 2023.
Wilderness permit reservations are available on Recreation.gov starting Saturday, November 26th, 2022. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance of your trip, and are released daily at 7:00 AM Pacific Time.
Learn more about wilderness permits in Sequoia / Kings Canyon here.
* Tip: Some area of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are closed following the devastating 2021 KNP Complex fire. Check the Park’s website for details on how the KNP Complex fire is affecting Park operations.
Mount Whitney Permit Lottery
Are you planning to climb Mt. Whitney? Hiking the highest mountain in the lower 48 requires a special permit, whether you intend to day hike or backpack to the summit. The “quota season” when the number of permits is limited is from May 1 to November 1. Whitney permits are issued by an annual lottery each spring, and securing a permit is highly competitive.
Whitney Lottery applications open
Whitney Permit lottery applications are open February 1, 2023 to March 1, 2023 on recreation.gov. Lottery results are published on March 15, 2023.
Only by the strongest and most experienced hikers should attempt Mont Whitney. Each year, many underprepared and inexperienced hikers are injured or killed on this mountain. It is important to have a realistic understanding of your hiking skills before attempting Whitney.
Learn more about hiking Mount Whitney from one of my favorite bloggers, She Dreams of Alpine, here.
Shenandoah (VA)
Reservations are not required to enter Shenandoah National Park.
Old Rag Hiking Permit
In Shenandoah requires a day-hiking permit reservation to hike within the Old Rag permit zone , one of the Park’s most popular hikes.
From March 1 – November 30 any hikers or campers on Old Rag mountain must obtain a day-use ticket in advance. This includes hikes on Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails.
A total of 800 tickets are available for each day. 400 Tickets will be released 30 days in advance at 10 AM EST, and the other half will be released 5 days in advance at 10 AM EST.
Learn more about the Old Rag Day Use Permit here.
Theodore Roosevelt (ND)
Theodore Roosevelt National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Virgin Islands
Reservations are not required to enter Virgin Islands National Park.
Virgin Islands is an island Park within the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Learn how to visit USVI National Park here.
Voyageurs (MN)
Voyageurs National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Voyageurs National Park Visitors Center is accessible by car. However, the majority of the park can only be accessed by boat.
Commercial boating outfitters, lodging, and houseboat rentals should all be arranged as far in advance as possible.
Learn more about visiting Voyageurs National Park here.
White Sands (NM)
White Sands National Park does not require a reservation to enter.
Wind Cave (SD)
Wind Cave National Park does not require reservations to enter the park.
All access to Wind Cave requires a guided tour. Tickets are available on a rolling daily basis, and often sell out March through October. 50% of tickets are available for reservation online, while the rest are held in reserve for same-day sales, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Learn more about cave tour reservations, here.
Book cave tour reservations, here.
Wind Cave National Park recommends arriving to the park as early as possible to purchase a same-day ticket.
Wrangell-St. Elias (AK)
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest National Park in the United States and portions of the park are accessible only by boat or plane. (No seriously, WSE is the size of Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the entire country of Switzerland combined!)
Learn more about getting to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park here.
Yellowstone (WY / MT)
Yellowstone National Park does not require reservations to enter.
Update: As of July, 2022 Yellowstone will no longer implement the ALPS reservations system, temporarily put in place as a result of historic flood damage within the Park earlier in the year. Repair work to affected Yellowstone roads and structures is ongoing. Check the Yellowstone NPS website for the most updated conditions.
Yosemite (CA)
In late 2022, Yosemite National Park announced that day use permits will NOT be required to enter the Park in summer 2023.
Reservations are still required for the Half Dome Hike (more on this below). All overnight backpackers must obtain a wilderness permit, issued by lottery.
Learn more about the Yosemite wilderness permit lottery, here.
Planning a trip to Yosemite? Check out these itinerary guides to plan your perfect trip to my favorite National Park!
February 2023 Day Use Reservations
Day-use reservations will be required to enter the park on select days in February, 2023 that coincide with the Horsetail Fall “firefall” phenomenon.
Reservations will be required to enter the Park 24 hours a day on the following dates:
February 10–12
February 17–19
and February 24–26, 2023
Visitors with confirmed lodging or campground reservations, and visitors arriving via regional public transit (YARTS) or commercial tour groups do NOT need to obtain an additional reservation to enter the park.
50 % of Reservation tickets are available beginning at 8 am Pacific time on January 13 via Recreation.gov.
Beginning at 8 am Pacific time two days prior to a day-use reservation date, the remaining 50% of reservations will be available. For example, on February 8 at 8 am, day-use reservations for February 10 will be available.
Learn more about February 2023 entrance reservations, here.
Half Dome Permit Lottery
Hiking to the top of Half Dome via the Cables requires an advanced permit. The Half Dome preseason Lottery issues most permits to visitors looking to experience this bucket list hike.
Preseason Lottery applications must be submitted March 1 to March 31, 2023. Preseason Lottery winners are announced April 11.
The Half Dome Daily lottery is open on a rolling daily basis, and hikers should apply 2 days in advance of their desired hike date.
Learn more about the Half Dome Permit Lottery and apply here.
*Tip: Didn’t get a Half Dome Permit? Don’t want to hike the half dome cables? Check out my guide to hiking the Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls – one of the best hikes in Yosemite that doesn’t require a permit.
Zion (UT)
Zion National Park does not require a reservation to enter.
Visitors are not able to drive private vehicles on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive when the Shuttle is operating.
Learn more about planning an epic trip to Zion National Park, here.
Angel’s Landing Hiking Permit
Permits are required for the popular, though dangerous, day hike to Angel’s Landing as of April 1, 2022. A permit is required for all hikers traveling beyond “Scout’s Lookout” to Angel’s Landing (aka all “chains” sections). A permit is NOT required to visit Scout’s Lookout (worth the hike even if you don’t have a permit!) or the West Rim Trail.
Angel’s Landing permits are issued by lottery. Most lottery permits will be issued through quarterly preseason lotteries. A select number of permits will be issued in daily day-before lotteries.
Day-before lottery applicants should apply on recration.gov between 12:01AM and and 3PM the day before they intend to hike. Applicants will be notified by 4PM.
Quarterly permit lottery dates for 2023 are:
For hikes on March 1 to May 31, lottery applications are open January 1 to January 20, 2023. Lottery results are announced January 25, 2023.
For hikes on June 1 to August 31, lottery applications are open April1 to April 20, 2023. Lottery results are announced on April 25, 2023.
For hikes on September 1 to November 30, 2023, lottery applications are open July 1 to July 20, 2023. Lottery results are announced on July 25, 2023.
For hikes on December 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024, lottery applications are open October 1 to October 20, 2023. Lottery results are announced October 25. 2023.
Zion Narrows Permits
A permit is required for all canyoneering trips (except the Narrows “bottom up” via the Temple of Sinawava) and all overnight backpacking trips.
A permit is required if you are planning on hiking the Narrows via the strenuous “top-down” route. If you are day hiking the Narrows from the Temple of Sinawava Shuttle stop inside Zion Canyon (aka how 90% of hikers will visit the Narrows) you do NOT need a permit.
Learn more about permits to hike the Narrows top-down, and apply for reservations, here.
Subway, Mystery Canyon, and Canyoneering Permits
A canyoneering permit is required for explorations of all Zion canyons requiring the use of descending gear or ropes. A permit is also required for all trips to the Subway (left fork of North Creek).
For hikes into the Subway (left fork of North Creek) and Mystery Canyon April – October, permits are issued via the Advance Lottery 2 months in advance. Learn more and apply for the Advance Lottery, here.
Online reservations for most other canyons are made using the Calendar Reservations system.
Reservations are released on the 5th of every month at 10:00 am MT, for the next month. Permits can be reserved up until 5:00 pm MT, the day before, as long as spaces are still available.
Learn more and apply for calendar reservations, here.
When all advance lottery and calendar reservations are sold out, your last chance to score permits is the Last Minute drawing.
Applications can be submitted up to 7 days prior to your trip date, and until 2 days before at 12pm MT. The drawing is held at 1pm, 2 days before your trip. Learn more and apply for last minute drawings, here.
Zion Backcountry Permits
All overnight trips into the Zion wilderness require a wilderness permit. There are dozens of designated backcountry campsites and several at-large dispersed camping zones within Zion.
Learn more and apply for backpacking wilderness permits, here.
Permits for Specialized Activities
This list does not include permits and regulations for most technical activities like climbing, canyoneering, horseback riding and boating. Check the Park’s website for information on how to obtain these types of permits.
Ready to start planning your National Parks vacation? Check out my other guides for planning the ultimate (and stress-free) National Parks road trip and National Park Packing List + Printable Guides.
