So much for spontaneously heading out on a grand trip, like a climb up Yosemite’s Half Dome cable route or an overnight backpacking trip into Lake Tahoe’s Desolation Wilderness, in California. Both require planning ahead to secure permits—and for good reason. Without them, sacred wilderness zones would be trampled by crowds.
Here are nine more big-ticket climbs, paddles, and hikes that you need to start planning for now, since a couple require years to land a coveted reservation.