Last Issue
Never miss a permit deadline again
December 2023
Hey all,
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We’re headed into the holiday season, but it’s already time to plan your summer!
June backpacking permits
Yes, in December, permits to backpack in June are being released for most California parks. That includes Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Inyo National Forest, Desolation Wilderness, and Yosemite National Park.
Speaking of Yosemite, here are some cheat codes to get ahead of the pack:
When to hike the best backpacking trips
If you’re like me, you have a bucket list of backpacking trips you want to hike. Yet, by the time I get hyped, it’s already too late to apply for permits.
So, I created a list of my top 20 backpacking trips and when to book them. For example, if you want to hike the Grand Canyon’s Rim to Rim Trail this spring, make sure to enter the lottery on December 16.
Please send me any backpacking trips you think I missed!
More outdoor stories
This newsletter focuses on backpacking permits, but if you want more outdoor news, I’d like to recommend Casey Schreiner’s Modern Hiker Newsletter. In his latest issue, I learned that Pikas are making a comeback to the Columbia River Gorge, a surprising place for these high altitude critters.
Casey is an outdoor veteran, founding Modern Hiker 17 years ago and having written two Los Angeles hiking books. His newsletter is a great way to keep the pulse on what’s happening in the outdoors.
California
Yosemite — overnight
| • | Dec 211:59pm PT Lottery closes for trips starting May 12–18. |
| • | Dec 312:01am PT Lottery opens for trips starting May 19–25. Lottery closes December 9, 11:59pm PT. Add to calendar |
| • | Dec 1012:01am PT Lottery opens for trips starting May 26 – Jun 1. Lottery closes December 16, 11:59pm PT. Add to calendar |
| • | Dec 1712:01am PT Lottery opens for trips starting Jun 2–8. Lottery closes December 23, 11:59pm PT. Add to calendar |
| • | Dec 2412:01am PT Lottery opens for trips starting Jun 9–15. Lottery closes December 30, 11:59pm PT. Add to calendar |
| • | Dec 3112:01am PT Lottery opens for trips starting Jun 16–22. Lottery closes January 6, 11:59pm PT. Add to calendar |
Yosemite — day-use
| • | Dec 18am PT Reservations opens to enter on Feb 10–11, Feb 17–19, or Feb 24–25. Add to calendar |
Lost Coast — overnight
| • | 3 months ahead7am PT Reservations open 3 months ahead of the trip start date. Apply in December for trips starting in March, 2024. Add to calendar |
Inyo — overnight
| • | 6 months ahead7am PT Reservations open 6 months ahead of the trip start date. Apply in December for trips starting in June, 2024. Add to calendar |
Desolation Wilderness — overnight
| • | 6 months ahead7am PT Reservations open 6 months ahead of the trip start date. Apply in December for trips starting in June, 2024. Add to calendar |
Sequoia & Kings Canyon — overnight
| • | 6 months ahead7am PT Reservations open 6 months ahead of the trip start date. Apply in December for trips starting in June, 2024. Add to calendar |
Southwest
The Wave — day-use
| • | Nov 3011:59pm MT Lottery closes for trips in March, 2024. |
| • | Dec 1 Lottery opens for trips in April, 2024. Lottery closes December 31 at 11:59pm MT. Add to calendar |
Grand Canyon — overnight
| • | Dec 15pm MT Lottery closes for trips starting in April, 2024. |
| • | Dec 16 Lottery opens for trips starting in May, 2024. Lottery closes January 1, 2024 at 5pm MT. Add to calendar |
Zion — overnight
| • | Dec 510am MT Reservations open for trips starting in January, 2024. Add to calendar |
The Subway & Mystery Canyon, Zion — canyoneering
| • | Dec 510am MT Reservations open for trips in January, 2024. Add to calendar |
| • | 7 days ahead Last-minute lottery opens 7 days ahead of the trip. Lottery closes 2 days ahead at 12pm MT. Add to calendar |
Angels Landing, Zion — day-use
| • | 1 day ahead12:01am MT Daily lottery opens 1 day ahead of the trip. Lottery closes at 3pm MT. Add to calendar |
Havasupai — overnight
| • | Daily8am MT In 2023, no new permits are issued. But canceled permits are released every day at 8am MT. |
Hawaii & Alaska
Napali Coast — overnight
| • | 90 days ahead12am HT Reservations open 90 days ahead of the trip start date. Apply in December for trips starting in March, 2024. Add to calendar |
Midwest & East Coast
Great Smoky Mountains — overnight
| • | 30 days ahead12am ET Reservations open 30 days ahead of the trip start date. Apply in December for trips starting in January, 2024. Add to calendar |
Was this helpful? Reply to this email to let me know.
See you next month! Expect to hear from me on December 25th for all deadlines in January.
 | Jordan Vincent |