Yellowstone Backcountry Lottery 2026

Did you get a YNP early access lottery spot this year?

  • Yes

    Votes: 6 50.0%

  • No

    Votes: 2 16.7%

  • Didn't enter

    Votes: 4 33.3%
  • Total voters
    12
Yeah... Some of them think they are special.
 
scatman said:
I struck out, my son stuck out and my daughter also was unsuccessful, but my wife pulled an April 2nd slot, so I like our chances of getting what we want for our family trip at Shoshone Lake in August.

I have a hard time believing that there was a 75% success rate. :thinking: Since implementing this lottery on recreation.gov, I've whiffed three times, before the lottery I never had an issue getting what I wanted, and we're talking going on 30 years using the old system. It's Bullshit!
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This is the trip with your son and his girlfriend, right? April 2 should be good for you, I hope.
 
scatman said:
I struck out, my son stuck out and my daughter also was unsuccessful, but my wife pulled an April 2nd slot, so I like our chances of getting what we want for our family trip at Shoshone Lake in August.

I have a hard time believing that there was a 75% success rate. :thinking: Since implementing this lottery on recreation.gov, I've whiffed three times, before the lottery I never had an issue getting what I wanted, and we're talking going on 30 years using the old system. It's Bullshit!
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3 of my family entered and all were successful, 2 of us got the 12th and one of us got the 13th.

2 of us entered last year and both got dates, sounds like our luck is soon to run out in comparison though!
 
scatman said:
Yes, that's the trip. I'll be trying to get campsite 8R5 for two nights near the geyser basin and then one of the OA sites on the way in and again on the way out.
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I'd be pretty surprised if you couldn't get those! I've had trouble getting OA sites a couple times before, but that's been on much later lottery dates. Love 8R5; long spur trail to get there!
 
tmailes said:
3 of my family entered and all were successful, 2 of us got the 12th and one of us got the 13th.

2 of us entered last year and both got dates, sounds like our luck is soon to run out in comparison though!
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You must be holding your tongue just right. :) Congrats on all the successful draws.
 
Jackson said:
I'd be pretty surprised if you couldn't get those! I've had trouble getting OA sites a couple times before, but that's been on much later lottery dates. Love 8R5; long spur trail to get there!
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I've got my fingers crossed. I did a trip years ago from the Bechler Ranger Station to Old Faithful and stayed one night at one of the OAs, but I don't remember which one. All I know is that we built a homemade ladder up the bear pole. :)

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Never reserve sites much.... Is OA special for some reason?
 
I thought OA3 was the nicest when we passed by, but I can't remember why. I do remember a bison in the meadow near one of the sites, so it was probably OA3 and that is why I liked it :)
 
Bob said:
Never reserve sites much.... Is OA special for some reason?
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I don't know exactly why, but it's often a harder area for us to get when we've done shuttle routes from Lone Star to Bechler. I guess they're nice for overnighters from the Old Faithful area? OA3 is a great spot.
 
K ...thought I was missing something. Ive stayed at one by Lonestar many years ago....
 
tmailes said:
Do you think we will have trouble booking Thorofare sites end of August with an April 12th draw ? We are looking to go in and out of Nine Mile TH
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Once we got south of the lake, we did not see anyone at all. This was the middle of August 2023. There were only a couple parties along the lake as well. I think if you are flexible with sites and dates, you will be fine.
 
I got April 15th. I think last year I got a date that was similarly about two weeks in. I started out getting some sites up Cache Creek, and ended up switching them to go along the lake down toward the Thorofare. Scatman is correct, flexibility is important. The very first year I got the first day, and one year I got nothing.

I've done the OA sites a number of times, usually later in the season. They are nice places for an overnight. It's special to go for a walk, stop to eat a snack and watch a geyser, then toddle on.
 
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