Half Dome Cables 2026 Preseason Lottery

The Half Dome cables route is one of the most popular hikes in the national park system, drawing far more demand than the trail can safely handle. NPS limits the number of hikers on the cables each day to reduce congestion on the exposed granite slabs and decrease the risk of accidents — the final 400 feet to the summit involve fixed steel cables on a near-vertical face, and crowding on that section is genuinely dangerous. Permits are distributed by lottery rather than first-come, first-served to give everyone a fair shot regardless of how fast they can click.

There are two ways to get a permit. The preseason lottery runs each year in March, with results posted in mid-April and a confirmation deadline in mid-May. If you don’t win the preseason draw, daily lotteries run throughout the season — apply two days in advance of your desired hiking date. The cables are typically up from late May through mid-October, with exact dates adjusted annually based on conditions.

Apply and check current lottery dates at recreation.gov/permits/234652.