How to Win a Half Dome Permit in 2025

Half Dome is not only one of the best hikes in Yosemite National Park, it is one of the top hikes in the entire country!  A hike as amazing as Half Dome is not surprisingly popular, and unfortunately you can’t just show up and hike it.  The National Park Service (NPS) requires hikers to secure a permit through the annual Half Dome lottery system.  Therefore, the first step to actually reaching the summit of Half Dome is to understand how to enter the annual lottery system.  This guide provides a succinct summary of exactly how to win a Half Dome permit through the annual lottery, including important dates and websites. If you’re hoping to summit iconic Half Dome this year, here’s everything you need to know to maximize your chances of winning the permit lottery.

 

Disclosure: Below are some affiliate links-these are all products I highly recommend. I won’t make any recommendations on this page that I haven’t tested or personally used! Enjoy this guide to winning a Half Dome permit in 2025!

 

 

How to Win a Half Dome Permit (in 2025)

 

This guide will explain the lottery system, provide important dates and websites, and walk you through the next steps of winning (or losing) a Half Dome permit!

 

 

Why a Lottery System?

 

Why a permit lottery?  Well, because Half Dome is just that popular, and for good reason.  In a move seen across the country with other heavily trafficked, sought after, iconic hikes, the National Park Service has sought a solution with the annual lottery system.  This move is to help preserve the Half Dome trail as well as ensure hiker safety, which is why the NPS limits the number of people who can ascend Half Dome using the cable route each day (more on what defines “the cable route” later) to 225 individuals. 

 

Other similar hikes in this special “lottery permit club” include neighboring Mt. Whitney, the Wave, Angels Landing, and Havasu Falls.  Other heavily visited hikes in places like the Grand Canyon have sought to cap traffic by requiring camping permits, or permits at lodging like the iconic Phantom Ranch, but people have now found a “loophole” by just hiking across the entire Grand Canyon on Rim to Rim hikes in just ONE DAY, strategically avoiding the need to win coveted camping permits.

Check out the TOP 10 Hikes in the U.S. that require permits!

 

 

Understanding the Half Dome Lottery

 

There are TWO primary lotteries for obtaining a Half Dome permit:

1. Preseason Lottery (March 1st – 31st) – This is the main way to secure a permit. Applications are accepted for hikes occurring between May 23rd, 2025 – October 14th, 2025
2. Daily Lottery (Two Days Before Your Hike) – For those who didn’t win in the preseason lottery, a limited number of permits are available through a daily lottery.

 

 

Where to Enter the Half Dome Permit Lottery

 

You can enter the Half Dome permit lottery at Recreation.gov.  Save yourself some time and set up an account, if you don’t already have one.  Recreation.gov is also where you can reserve future campsites and enter any future lotteries you may wish to enter, like neighboring Mt. Whitney!

 

 

Important Dates for the Half Dome Permit Lottery (2025)

 

• March 1-31, 2025 – Preseason lottery application window at Recreation.gov. For hikes between the dates of May 23rd, 2025 – October 14th, 2025.
• April 11, 2025 – Preseason lottery results announced. Check email and Recreation.gov account.
• May 18th, 2025 – deadline to accept and pay for awarded preseason lottery permits. Permits not claimed will be distributed during the daily lottery (two days before hike date).
• May 23rd -October 14th 2025 – Half Dome hiking season. Cables up May 23rd, and down October 15th (dates may be adjusted annually based on conditions)
• Daily Lottery (Two Days Before Hike Date) – Applications open for last minute permits. Runs from May 21st – October 13th, 2025.

 

Here’s a nice little visual you can save to Pinterest for an easy reminder.

 

 

 

Tips for Winning the Half Dome Preseason Lottery

 

As with most permit hikes like Half Dome (think Mt. Whitney, the Wave, Angels Landing, etc.) demand far exceeds supply. Unfortunately there is no “secret” to a guaranteed lottery permit win, but there are some tips that can help to increase your odds of scoring a Half Dome permit.

 

1. Choose Weekdays Over Weekends

Weekends and holidays, especially in the peak summer months, see the highest competition. Opting for a midweek hike significantly improves your odds.

 

2. Select Multiple Preferred Dates

The application allows you to select up to seven preferred hike dates. Choosing a range of dates increases your likelihood of selection. Select all seven if you can.

 

3. Apply Early in the Lottery Window

The lottery opens on March 1st, and while awarded permit selection is randomized, applying early helps to ensure you don’t miss out due to last minute errors.

 

 

Tips for Winning the Half Dome Daily Lottery

 

If you don’t score in the Half Dome preseason lottery, and you have some flexibility, you can try your luck in the daily lottery, which takes place two days before each hiking date.  If you opt to go this route, here’s some tips:

 

1. Be Flexible

Being open to different days increases your chances of snagging a last-minute permit.

 

2. Submit Applications for Multiple Days

You can enter the daily lottery each day leading up to your trip, boosting your chances of selection.

 

I Didn’t Win A Half Dome Permit….Now What?

 

If you don’t win a Half Dome permit this year, you’ve got a couple options:

• Remember that if you lose in the preseason lottery, you can try the daily lottery if you’re plans are flexible.

• There’s always next year….try again!

• Hike to the cables (permit is only required to hike the cables portion on the Dome, you can hike to the subdome without a permit, which is the majority of the trail)

• Wait at the base of the Dome – this is heralded to work a lot of times.  People understandably chicken out at the base right before the cables, and decide to turn back, therefore no longer needing to use their permit. Catch one of those people at the right moment and ask for their permit.  Not a guaranteed method, but a method.  
• Enjoy another hike in Yosemite – there’s a lot! Consider alternative hikes like Clouds Rest, which offers breathtaking Yosemite views without the permit hassle. You can also check out hikes in the many nearby National Parks in this part of California, like Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park.

 

 

I Won a Half Dome Permit!….Now What?

 

Now for the fun part – you won a Half Dome permit!  Congratulations, and consider yourself lucky, whether this was your first time to enter the lottery or you’re a seasoned lottery permit chaser (like myself!).  You are the envy of many!  So now what? Time to prepare for actually hiking Half Dome:

 

• Train for the Hike: This is a very challenging hike that contains significant distance and elevation gain. To train for the strenuous nature of Half Dome, start training at least a couple months in advance, if not more to build a solid baseline foundation.  Build the necessary endurance by doing weekly hikes, strength training, and cross training. Gradually increase mileage and elevation gain in training hikes each week.  You can check out a sample long distance hiking training plan and calendar here.

• Get the Right Gear: This is a day hike, so make sure you have all the essential day hiking gear. And don’t forget to include gloves for gripping the cables on the Dome.

• Take Care of Logistics: Book your flights, lodging, transportation, etc.  Certain times of the year can get very popular and busy in Yosemite, and you’ll want to take care of these logistics as early as possible.

• Check Conditions: Yosemite’s weather can be unpredictable, and this can affect your hike on Half Dome, in particular the cables section on the Dome.  You can check a mountain specific forecast for Half Dome here.  Summit weather can often be different than the weather at the base. In the weeks and days leading up to your hike, monitor weather forecasts and stay in tune with any park advisories before your hike.  Check the Yosemite National Park website frequently for any alerts.

 

And there you have it, an updated guide (for 2025) on how to win a Half Dome permit in the annual lottery.  As you can see, winning the Half Dome permit lottery takes a mix of strategy, persistence, and flexibility. By following some of these tips and staying in the know, you can maximize your chances of securing a permit for this unforgettable hiking adventure. Best of luck, and be sure to check out these other iconic hikes in the U.S.! Happy hiking!

 

RELATED RESOURCES:

• How to Hike Mt. Whitney in One Day
• Complete Mt. Whitney Training Plan
• The Top 10 Hikes that Require Permits in the U.S.
• First Timers Guide to Hiking Rim to Rim in One Day
• Step by Step Rim to Rim Training Plan
• The Only Day Hiking Checklist You’ll Ever Need
• The 50 State High Points of the U.S.

 

 

PIN for LATER!