The pre-season lottery for Yosemite’s coveted Half Dome hiking permits opens March 1.

Those who submit applications in the month of March will be in the pool when Yosemite National Park issues 225 day-hike permits for each day of the hiking season. Lottery winners will be notified by mid-April.

Preseason applicants can request permits for up to six people and up to seven dates, ranked by preference.

After the preseason round of permits is assigned, about 50 additional permits per day will be available by lottery. Hikers can apply two days before their desired date.

Weather permitting, the 2015 Half Dome season is expected to run from May 22 through October 12.

Permit applications can be submitted at Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. The phone line is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time. The non-refundable processing fee is $4.50 online or $6.50 by phone. An additional fee of $8 per person is charged when the permit is issued.



Backpackers whose multi-day trip includes the Half Dome trail should include the route on their wilderness permit application.

The 14-mile round trip tops out 4,800 feet above Yosemite Valley. Waist-high cables and wooden planks on the dome’s surface aid hikers in climbing the last 400 feet up the steep granite shoulder. Most years, the cables are put up the Friday before Memorial Day and removed the day after Columbus Day.



More information: www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm.