Overview
Half Dome’s final ascent uses fixed cables, and a permit is required to go beyond the base of the subdome. The daily quota is 275 hikers, and access is handled by lottery through recreation.gov.
There are two ways in: the preseason lottery, open March 1–31, which hands out 225 of the 275 daily places, and a daily lottery two days before your hike date for the rest plus anything unclaimed. The daily draw is your safety net if the preseason one doesn’t land.
At a glance
| Do you need a permit or reservation? | Cables-route day permit |
|---|---|
| Cost | $10 per application (non-refundable) + $10 per person if drawn |
| How to get it | Enter the preseason lottery in March for your preferred dates. |
| When it opens | Daily lottery · Preseason: Mar 1–31 · daily: 2 days before |
| All-inclusive alternative | None we can recommend: no tour we checked includes this access, so the official channel is the way in. |
| Official rules | recreation.gov |
How the permit works
- 1Enter the preseason lottery in March for your preferred dates.
- 2Results come in mid-April (April 11 in 2026); winners confirm and pay US$10 per hiker by the acceptance date (May 17 in 2026).
- 3Missed out? Enter the daily lottery two days before you want to hike, between midnight and 4:00 PM Pacific time.
- 4Daily results arrive late on the same day by email.
- 5At the permit checkpoint, show a government-issued ID matching the name on the application.
Required documents
- recreation.gov account
- Government-issued ID matching the application name
- Confirmed permit (digital is fine)
Insider tips
- Have several dates ready: the daily lottery lets you try again two days before each one.
- Each person may submit only one application per lottery, under their legal name.
- Start before sunrise; afternoon thunderstorms make the cables dangerous.
Sold-out alternatives
If your dates are gone, these get you a comparable experience.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official success rate?
recreation.gov does not show one on the permit page. What it does publish is the split: 225 of the 275 daily places in the preseason lottery, the rest in the daily draw.
When exactly is the preseason lottery?
The application window runs through March, with results in mid-April. Confirm current dates on recreation.gov.
Can I transfer my permit?
Permits are tied to the trip leader named at application. Check the current transfer rules before you go.