Permit Deadline Calendar
Every permit system runs on its own clock, and missing one date — an application window, a claim deadline, a 9 a.m. opener — can cost you the whole season. This page is all of those clocks in one place, pulled from the same source-verified data as the guides.
2026-season dates, verified 2026-07-16 against Recreation.gov. Agencies re-announce dates each winter; we re-verify when they do.
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January
Jan 28 Boundary Waters — Reservations open (2026: Jan 28)
The whole season opens first-come on the last Wednesday of January at 9 a.m. Central. Prime entry points can sell out in minutes.
February
Feb 1 Mt. Whitney — Lottery opens
Applications run February 1 – March 1 on Recreation.gov. Timing inside the window doesn't matter.
Feb 15 The Enchantments — Advanced lottery opens
Applications run February 15 – March 1 on Recreation.gov. Pick your zone carefully — it's the whole game.
March
Mar 1 Mt. Whitney — Lottery closes
Last day to apply.
Mar 1 The Enchantments — Advanced lottery closes
Last day to apply.
Mar 15 Mt. Whitney — Lottery results
Results post to your Recreation.gov account.
Mar The Enchantments — Lottery results (mid-March)
Results post mid-March; leftover dates the winners don't lock in release first-come afterward.
April
Apr 21 Mt. Whitney — Claim deadline
Winners must claim and pay by April 21 — unclaimed wins evaporate.
Apr 22 Mt. Whitney — Unclaimed release
Everything unclaimed goes on sale first-come at 7 a.m. Pacific, and keeps selling while it lasts.
May
May 1 Mt. Whitney — Season opens
Permits required for every trip on the Mt. Whitney Trail, May 1 – November 1.
May 1 Boundary Waters — Quota season opens
Reserved quota permits required for overnight trips (and motorized day trips), May 1 – September 30.
May 15 The Enchantments — Season opens
Overnight permits required in the Enchantment Permit Area, May 15 – October 31. Day hiking needs no lottery permit.
All season, every day
The dates above are the front doors. Most of the year, permits actually move through the back one: cancellations, group-size drops, and rolling releases that hit Recreation.gov at unpredictable times. This is the part worth understanding — each guide covers the mechanics for its permit.
Mt. Whitney · Annual lottery + season-long returns
Freed-up spots, all season. Permits are non-refundable, so spots return mainly via group-size reductions and no-shows — back onto Recreation.gov at unpredictable times, May through November. No walk-ups exist.
The Enchantments · Annual lottery + leftovers, cancellations, daily lottery
Cancellations, all season. Permits are refundable more than 22 days out, so canceled dates return to Recreation.gov all season — last-minute drops are common in the days before a trip.
Day-before lottery, daily. A share of permits go out through a daily geofenced lottery — apply the day before your start, 7 a.m. Pacific, from inside the geofence near Leavenworth (rec.gov #445863).
Boundary Waters · First-come reservations (not a lottery)
Cancellation churn, all season. Over 11,000 permits were canceled in 2024 — full recreation-fee refund up to 2 days before entry, and canceled permits return to inventory within 24 hours. 'Sold out' reopens constantly.
Walk-in permits. Pick up in person at a permit-issuing station on your entry date or the day before, when available.
Lost Coast Trail · 90-day rolling reservations (not a lottery)
Rolling window, daily. Each day at 7 a.m. Pacific, the date exactly 90 days out becomes reservable. Good-tide summer dates go right at the open — and check the BLM impassable-dates list BEFORE you book.
Cancellations. The per-person fee is refundable up to 7 days before entry, so booked dates come back onto Recreation.gov when plans change.
Walk-up lottery, Mon–Sat. Up to 3 starts per day by lottery at the King Range Visitor Center, 8 a.m., remainder first-come. A backstop for the flexible, not a plan.