Why Half Dome Has Two Separate Lotteries, Not Just One
Reaching Half Dome's summit past the subdome steps requires a permit whenever the cables are up, roughly late May through mid-October, though exact dates should be confirmed before a trip. Permits come through two separate Recreation.gov lotteries: a preseason lottery open March 1-31 with results in mid-April, and a daily lottery two days before each hike, open midnight to 4pm Pacific. Group size is commonly capped at six per day-hike permit. Hiking to the subdome itself needs no permit.
Why two lotteries exist instead of just one
The preseason lottery in March lets committed hikers plan months ahead, while the daily lottery two days out gives a genuine last-minute chance for anyone without a preseason permit, worth applying to both if a Half Dome hike is genuinely important to a trip, rather than relying on just one shot.
Why the subdome-without-permit option is worth knowing about
Hiking as far as the subdome steps needs no permit at all, only the final cabled section past that point requires one, worth treating a permit-free hike to the subdome as a genuinely substantial accomplishment on its own if the lottery doesn't come through.
Why the roughly five-month cable season shapes when this hike is even possible
Cables are typically up only from late May to mid-October, so confirm the current season's exact dates before planning a trip around this specific hike, since the window isn't guaranteed to match every year exactly.
Why the six-person group cap matters for a larger travel party
A day-hike permit commonly covers up to six people under one trip leader, worth splitting a larger group's applications accordingly rather than assuming one permit covers everyone.
What This Means for Planning a Visit
The practical takeaway is that reaching Half Dome's summit needs genuine advance planning through one or both lotteries, while the subdome alone stays open to anyone without a permit. Yosemite's entrance fee, a separate system entirely, is covered on the park's own city page.