Weekends (particularly Saturdays) are the most well-liked – the truth is, 21% of all Half Dome allow functions are submitted for a Saturday. In 2018, the common success charge for a allow on weekends was 24%, whereas the success charge almost doubled to 47% for weekday allow functions. The weekend success charge for the preseason lottery in 2020 was solely 2.2%, and the weekend success charge for the day by day lottery was 4.3%. Then again, the success charge for weekdays was 3.2% for the preseason lottery and 9.5% for the day by day lottery. Due to this fact, if you are able to do the hike through the week – particularly Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday – you’ll vastly enhance your odds of successful a Half Dome allow within the lottery.
Additionally, you will have a greater probability of successful the allow lottery when you apply for dates later within the season. June tends to be the most well-liked month for allow functions, whereas September and October have fewer individuals vying for the restricted spots. The earliest dates within the season in May additionally often have fewer lottery functions and barely much less competitors.
In case you don’t win a allow through the preseason lottery for Half Dome permits, you’ll be able to nonetheless apply for the day by day lottery through the mountain climbing season.
Relying on cancellations, about 50 permits per day will grow to be out there. You might want to apply for these 2 days (from midnight to 1 PM Pacific Time) previous to the day you need to hike, as soon as once more by Recreation.gov or by calling 877/444-6777. You’ll be notified the night of the day you apply whether or not or not you bought permits for the next day.
You can even determine to do the backpacking possibility as a substitute of day mountain climbing and check out for the Yosemite wilderness allow route. In case you apply for a Yosemite wilderness allow, and Half Dome permits can be found for the date you select, it is possible for you to to hike Half Dome as a part of your backpacking journey (however these permits aren’t legitimate for day hikes). A allow of Half Dome nonetheless isn’t assured, however not less than you’ll nonetheless have an opportunity to do one thing within the lovely Yosemite backcountry.
