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All 34 places
Field-guide index — search by name, pick a gate, trip, and mode; narrow by state; sort A–Z or by published success rate. Longer notes live in Field notes.
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Angels Landing — open place guideZion, Utah · UT
The spine beyond Scout Lookout requires a permit from seasonal or day-before lotteries.
Lottery50% success rateDay trip
HikeStrenuousPhysical effort · Estimate
Strenuous — Long miles, elevation, or sustained hard effort.
Steep ascent to Scout Lookout, then exposed chains to the tip.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Baxter / Katahdin — open place guideMaine · ME
Katahdin day-hiking parking and Baxter camping are reserved on the park’s own portal — not Recreation.gov — and popular dates go fast.
TimedPermitDay trip · Overnight
HikeDriveCampStrenuousPhysical effort · Estimate
Strenuous — Long miles, elevation, or sustained hard effort.
Katahdin day hikes are steep, rocky, and often weather-limited.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Boundary Waters — open place guideMinnesota · MN
BWCAW overnight paddle permits are quota-limited through Recreation.gov.
PermitOvernight · Multi-day
RiverCampModeratePhysical effort · Estimate
Moderate — A solid outing — fitness helps, but it is not alpine epics.
Paddling and portages set the day more than summit climbs.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Bright Angel Campground — open place guideGrand Canyon, Arizona · AZ
The most requested below-rim corridor camp — booked through Grand Canyon’s monthly backcountry Early Access Lottery on Recreation.gov.
LotteryOvernight
HikeCampStrenuousPhysical effort · Estimate
Strenuous — Long miles, elevation, or sustained hard effort.
Inner-canyon backpack with a big rim-to-river day each way.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Cadillac Summit Road — open place guideAcadia, Maine · ME
Vehicle access to Cadillac Mountain summit is reservation-controlled in peak season.
TimedDay trip
DriveEasyPhysical effort · Estimate
Easy — Short or gentle for most visitors in fair conditions.
Vehicle road to the summit; walking is optional and short.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Carlsbad Caverns — open place guideNew Mexico · NM
Entering the cavern needs a Recreation.gov timed-entry reservation plus a separate entrance ticket at the visitor center.
TimedDay trip
HikeModeratePhysical effort · Estimate
Moderate — A solid outing — fitness helps, but it is not alpine epics.
Long paved descent/ascent in the cavern; elevators when available.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Cataloochee Campground — open place guideGreat Smoky Mountains, North Carolina · NC
The remote Cataloochee Valley campground is reservation-only on Recreation.gov — plan ahead; there is no separate valley vehicle lottery.
PermitOvernight
DriveCampEasyPhysical effort · Estimate
Easy — Short or gentle for most visitors in fair conditions.
Camp-and-walk valley days; most outings stay gentle.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Denali Park Road — open place guideAlaska · AK
Personal-vehicle Road Lottery access is suspended while the park restores west-end road service after the Pretty Rocks landslide.
SuspendedDay trip
DriveEasyPhysical effort · Estimate
Easy — Short or gentle for most visitors in fair conditions.
Bus or road travel is the main day; optional short walks at stops.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Desolation Wilderness — open place guideCalifornia · CA
Lake Tahoe’s heavily used granite wilderness — overnight zones use a quota on Recreation.gov with a rolling six-month release, not a single lottery day.
PermitOvernight · Multi-day
HikeCampModeratePhysical effort · Estimate
Moderate — A solid outing — fitness helps, but it is not alpine epics.
Granite basins and lake hopping; popular zones still mean real overnight miles.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Fiery Furnace — open place guideArches, Utah · UT
Arches’ labyrinth of fins still needs a scarce day-use permit even though park-wide timed entry was lifted for 2026.
PermitDay trip
HikeModeratePhysical effort · Estimate
Moderate — A solid outing — fitness helps, but it is not alpine epics.
Route-finding scramble through fins — not a flat viewpoint stroll.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Glacier Wilderness — open place guideMontana · MT
Overnight wilderness camps use Early Access lotteries on Recreation.gov, then a general onsale — about 30% of sites stay walk-up only.
LotteryOvernight · Multi-day
HikeCampStrenuousPhysical effort · Estimate
Strenuous — Long miles, elevation, or sustained hard effort.
Backcountry overnight miles in steep mountain terrain.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Going-to-the-Sun Road — open place guideGlacier, Montana · MT
In 2026, driving Going-to-the-Sun Road does not need a vehicle reservation — but Logan Pass shuttle seats are ticketed on Recreation.gov.
TimedDay trip
DriveEasyPhysical effort · Estimate
Easy — Short or gentle for most visitors in fair conditions.
Primarily a scenic corridor day by shuttle or vehicle.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Grand Canyon Mule Day Rides — open place guideGrand Canyon, Arizona · AZ
South Rim day mule rides are booked through Grand Canyon Lodges / Xanterra — a scarce Official concession product, not Recreation.gov.
Day trip
HikeModeratePhysical effort · Estimate
Moderate — A solid outing — fitness helps, but it is not alpine epics.
You ride, but it is a long, jarring day on steep trail — fitness and comfort in the saddle still matter.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Grand Canyon Noncommercial River — open place guideArizona · AZ
Self-guided Colorado River trips through Grand Canyon are awarded by a weighted NPS lottery — not Recreation.gov, and not a commercial guided trip.
LotteryMulti-day
RiverCampTechnicalPhysical effort · Estimate
Technical — Skills or exposure beyond a standard hike — canyoneering, scrambling, etc.
Self-support multi-day whitewater — skill and logistics, not a day hike.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Haleakalā Sunrise — open place guideMaui, Hawaii · HI
Summit sunrise viewing requires a timed reservation through Recreation.gov.
TimedDay trip
DriveEasyPhysical effort · Estimate
Easy — Short or gentle for most visitors in fair conditions.
Mostly a pre-dawn drive and short walks near the summit overlooks.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Half Dome — open place guideYosemite, California · CA
Cables route day hikes need a permit drawn in preseason or daily lotteries.
Lottery19% success rateDay trip
HikeStrenuousPhysical effort · Estimate
Strenuous — Long miles, elevation, or sustained hard effort.
Very long day with major elevation gain; cables section is exposed.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Main Salmon River — open place guideIdaho · ID
Private multi-day floats on the Wild Main Salmon are allocated by the Four Rivers lottery on Recreation.gov — same family as the Middle Fork.
LotteryMulti-day
RiverCampTechnicalPhysical effort · Estimate
Technical — Skills or exposure beyond a standard hike — canyoneering, scrambling, etc.
Multi-day Wild Salmon float with class III–IV water and camping.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Maroon Bells — open place guideColorado · CO
Day access to the Maroon Lake scenic area requires a shuttle seat or trailhead parking reservation in peak season.
TimedDay trip
HikeDriveEasyPhysical effort · Estimate
Easy — Short or gentle for most visitors in fair conditions.
Shuttle or short lakeshore walks for most visitors; longer hikes optional.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
McNeil River — open place guideAlaska · AK
World-famous brown bear viewing at McNeil River State Game Sanctuary — access is by Alaska ADF&G lottery, not Recreation.gov.
LotteryMulti-day
HikeCampModeratePhysical effort · Estimate
Moderate — A solid outing — fitness helps, but it is not alpine epics.
Mostly walking to guided viewing stands — remote logistics matter more than big elevation.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Middle Fork of the Salmon — open place guideIdaho · ID
Private multi-day floats through the River of No Return Wilderness are allocated by the Four Rivers lottery on Recreation.gov.
Lottery2% success rateMulti-day
RiverCampTechnicalPhysical effort · Estimate
Technical — Skills or exposure beyond a standard hike — canyoneering, scrambling, etc.
Multi-day wilderness float — whitewater skill and self-support gear.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Mount Whitney — open place guideCalifornia · CA
Day-use and overnight trail quotas are filled through Inyo National Forest lotteries.
Lottery27.3% success rateDay trip · Overnight
HikeCampStrenuousPhysical effort · Estimate
Strenuous — Long miles, elevation, or sustained hard effort.
Very long, high-altitude day or overnight; thin air is the limiter.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Muir Woods — open place guideCalifornia · CA
Every visit needs a parking or shuttle reservation year-round — entrance fees alone are not enough.
TimedDay trip
HikeDriveEasyPhysical effort · Estimate
Easy — Short or gentle for most visitors in fair conditions.
Boardwalks and gentle redwood paths once you arrive.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
North Cascades Backcountry — open place guideWashington · WA
Peak-season overnight camps use an Early Access Lottery, then a general onsale — about 40% of sites stay walk-up only.
Lottery14.4% success rateOvernight · Multi-day
HikeCampStrenuousPhysical effort · Estimate
Strenuous — Long miles, elevation, or sustained hard effort.
Mountain overnight miles with steep approaches and weather.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Olympic Wilderness — open place guideWashington · WA
Overnight wilderness camping in Olympic requires a Recreation.gov permit year-round — summer inventory opens on a fixed April release, not a lottery.
PermitOvernight · Multi-day
HikeCampModeratePhysical effort · Estimate
Moderate — A solid outing — fitness helps, but it is not alpine epics.
Coast, rainforest, or alpine overnight miles — often muddy, rooty, and long.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Phantom Ranch — open place guideGrand Canyon, Arizona · AZ
The only lodge with beds and meals at the bottom of the Grand Canyon — reserved through a Xanterra lottery about 15 months ahead, not Recreation.gov.
LotteryOvernight · Multi-day
HikeStrenuousPhysical effort · Estimate
Strenuous — Long miles, elevation, or sustained hard effort.
Rim-to-river hiking (or mule) with serious descent and climb-out.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive — open place guideNevada · NV
BLM’s 13-mile Scenic Drive needs a Recreation.gov timed-entry ticket most of the cooler season.
TimedDay trip
DriveEasyPhysical effort · Estimate
Easy — Short or gentle for most visitors in fair conditions.
Scenic drive is the product; roadside walks stay short.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Rocky Mountain Timed Entry — open place guideColorado · CO
Peak-season corridor access (including Bear Lake Road options) uses timed entry reservations.
TimedDay trip
DriveEasyPhysical effort · Estimate
Easy — Short or gentle for most visitors in fair conditions.
Effort depends on the hike you choose after the corridor entry.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Selway River — open place guideIdaho · ID
One private party launches per day in the Selway control season — allocated by the Four Rivers lottery on Recreation.gov.
LotteryMulti-day
RiverCampTechnicalPhysical effort · Estimate
Technical — Skills or exposure beyond a standard hike — canyoneering, scrambling, etc.
Remote control-season float with technical water and wilderness camping.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Snake River — Hells Canyon — open place guideIdaho / Oregon · ID
Private floats through Hells Canyon on the Snake are allocated by the Four Rivers lottery on Recreation.gov — same family as Middle Fork, Main Salmon, and Selway.
LotteryMulti-day
RiverCampTechnicalPhysical effort · Estimate
Technical — Skills or exposure beyond a standard hike — canyoneering, scrambling, etc.
Multi-day Snake River float through Hells Canyon with serious whitewater.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
The Enchantments — open place guideWashington · WA
Overnight permits for the Enchantment Permit Area are among the hardest draws in the Cascades.
Lottery6.4% success rateOvernight · Multi-day
HikeCampStrenuousPhysical effort · Estimate
Strenuous — Long miles, elevation, or sustained hard effort.
Long alpine miles, steep granite, and overnight packing at elevation.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
The Subway — open place guideZion, Utah · UT
Left Fork (The Subway) needs a wilderness permit year-round — seasonal lottery first, then a day-before daily lottery.
LotteryDay trip
HikeTechnicalPhysical effort · Estimate
Technical — Skills or exposure beyond a standard hike — canyoneering, scrambling, etc.
Canyoneering: cold water, stemming, and route-finding beyond a normal trail.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
The Wave — open place guideCoyote Buttes North, Arizona · AZ
Coyote Buttes North day permits are a monthly advanced lottery plus a tough daily draw.
LotteryDay trip
HikeModeratePhysical effort · Estimate
Moderate — A solid outing — fitness helps, but it is not alpine epics.
Short desert miles, but heat, sand, and navigation matter.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Wonderland Trail — open place guideMount Rainier, Washington · WA
The ~93-mile loop around Mount Rainier needs wilderness camps reserved through an Early Access Lottery, then booking windows on Recreation.gov.
LotteryMulti-day
HikeCampStrenuousPhysical effort · Estimate
Strenuous — Long miles, elevation, or sustained hard effort.
Multi-day circuit with big daily elevation around Rainier.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Yosemite Firefall — open place guideYosemite, California · CA
Horsetail Fall’s February “firefall” glow draws huge crowds. In 2026 there is no reservation — NPS uses access control instead: park farther east in the Valley (no parking near the viewpoint), then walk in under temporary road rules.
Access controlDay trip
HikeEasyPhysical effort · Estimate
Easy — Short or gentle for most visitors in fair conditions.
Mostly valley walking and standing for the light; winter layers matter more than miles.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.