PermitSnag
US backcountry permit and campground rules, dates and recorded openings. Read-only, no sign-in.
Should I use this
Quality & Safety
A
Based on automated analysis of tool definitions and protocol compliance.
Context Cost
~5,141Tokens (tool definitions)
~8.7 KBTypical response size
Significant attention impact (4.02% of 128k context)
This is the approximate number of tokens consumed each time the server's tools are loaded into a model's context. Higher counts reduce the attention available for other tasks.
Install
One-Click Install
Add this to your `claude_desktop_config.json` file:
{
"mcpServers": {
"permits": {
"url": "https://api.permitsnag.com/mcp"
}
}
}Remote endpoints
https://api.permitsnag.com/mcpstreamable-httpWhat it can do
Tool inventory
Tools (6)
🟢 Read-only🟡 Write🔴 Delete⚪ Unknown
🟢search_permits(query, state, limit)
Find US backcountry and wilderness permits by name, park, trail or area, for hikes, climbs, river trips and overnight trips in national parks, national forests and state parks. Use this when someone asks how to get a permit or which permit a trip needs. Returns up to 10 permits with their PermitSnag page and whether PermitSnag scans them for cancellation openings. It does not check dates; use check_availability for that, and get_permit_details for the rules of one permit.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"query": {
"type": "string",
"minLength": 2,
"maxLength": 120,
"description": "A permit, trail, park or area name, like \"Mount Whitney\" or \"Enchantments\"."
},
"state": {
"type": "string",
"pattern": "^[A-Za-z]{2}$",
"description": "Optional two-letter US state code to narrow results, like CA."
},
"limit": {
"type": "integer",
"minimum": 1,
"maximum": 10,
"description": "How many results, 1 to 10. Default 5."
}
},
"required": [
"query"
],
"additionalProperties": false
}Output Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"query": {
"type": "string",
"description": "The search as asked."
},
"state": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
],
"description": "The two-letter state filter, or null."
},
"results": {
"type": "array",
"maxItems": 10,
"items": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"id": {
"type": "string"
},
"slug": {
"type": "string"
},
"name": {
"type": "string"
},
"park": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"usState": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"pageUrl": {
"type": "string",
"description": "The permit page on permitsnag.com."
},
"scanRoute": {
"enum": [
"direct",
"via_zone",
"via_children",
"none",
null
],
"description": "How PermitSnag reaches this permit for cancellation openings: direct, through a zone or starting area, through its entry points, or none."
},
"scannable": {
"type": "boolean",
"description": "True when PermitSnag scans this permit for cancellation openings. Whether an alert is on offer today is in get_permit_details."
}
},
"required": [
"id",
"slug",
"name",
"park",
"usState",
"pageUrl",
"scanRoute",
"scannable"
],
"additionalProperties": false
}
}
},
"required": [
"query",
"state",
"results"
],
"description": "US backcountry and wilderness permits that match the search.",
"additionalProperties": false
}🟢get_permit_details(permit)
Get the rules for one US backcountry or wilderness permit: how it is issued (reservation, lottery or in person), its season, lottery and release dates, closures, group size limit, and the official agency page. Use it after search_permits, or when the person names a specific permit. Every date comes from an agency source; a date we cannot source is left out. Says whether PermitSnag can send an alert when the permit opens.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"permit": {
"type": "string",
"maxLength": 200,
"description": "The permit id or slug from search_permits, or its permitsnag.com page URL."
}
},
"required": [
"permit"
],
"additionalProperties": false
}Output Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"found": {
"const": false,
"description": "Present, and false, only when nothing matched."
},
"id": {
"type": "string"
},
"slug": {
"type": "string"
},
"name": {
"type": "string"
},
"park": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"usState": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"pageUrl": {
"type": "string"
},
"officialUrl": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
],
"description": "The agency's own permit page."
},
"issuance": {
"type": "string",
"description": "How the permit is issued, in plain words."
},
"scanRoute": {
"enum": [
"direct",
"via_zone",
"via_children",
"none",
null
],
"description": "How PermitSnag reaches this permit for cancellation openings: direct, through a zone or starting area, through its entry points, or none."
},
"alert": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"available": {
"type": "boolean",
"description": "True only when PermitSnag can send an alert for this place right now."
},
"reason": {
"enum": [
"eligible",
"lottery_period",
"out_of_season",
"closed",
"no_quota_now",
"lottery_draw_only",
"not_sold_online",
"not_tracked"
],
"description": "Why an alert is or is not on offer."
},
"pageUrl": {
"type": "string",
"description": "The PermitSnag page where an alert is set up, or where to read what to do instead."
}
},
"required": [
"available",
"reason",
"pageUrl"
],
"additionalProperties": false
},
"season": {
"type": "object",
"description": "The agency's season or closure state, with agency words in quoted fields.",
"properties": {
"offer": {
"type": "string",
"description": "What the page offers in this season."
},
"state": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
],
"description": "The season state code, or null when nothing is published."
},
"opensOn": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
],
"description": "YYYY-MM-DD the agency says the season opens."
},
"closesOn": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
],
"description": "YYYY-MM-DD the agency says the season closes."
},
"agency": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"agencyQuote": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
],
"description": "The agency's own words, capped."
},
"sourceUrl": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"closure": {
"type": "object",
"description": "A closure of the whole place, when the agency posted one.",
"properties": {
"incident": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"agency": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"readAt": {
"type": "string"
},
"since": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"reopensOn": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"url": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
}
},
"additionalProperties": true
},
"closedParts": {
"type": "array",
"maxItems": 5,
"description": "Named parts that are closed while the rest stays open.",
"items": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"name": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"since": {
"type": "string"
},
"reopensOn": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"agencyQuote": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"url": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
}
},
"additionalProperties": true
}
}
},
"required": [
"offer",
"state"
],
"additionalProperties": true
},
"agencyDates": {
"type": "array",
"maxItems": 8,
"description": "Upcoming dates from an agency source (lottery opens, closes, results, claims).",
"items": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"type": {
"type": "string"
},
"date": {
"type": "string",
"description": "YYYY-MM-DD."
},
"sourceUrl": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"agencyQuote": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
}
},
"required": [
"type",
"date",
"sourceUrl",
"agencyQuote"
],
"additionalProperties": false
}
},
"releaseRules": {
"type": "array",
"maxItems": 4,
"description": "The agency schedule for when dates go on sale.",
"items": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"kind": {
"type": "string"
},
"sourceUrl": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"agencyQuote": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
}
},
"required": [
"kind",
"sourceUrl",
"agencyQuote"
],
"additionalProperties": false
}
},
"groupSizeLimit": {
"type": [
"integer",
"null"
]
},
"description": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"checkedAt": {
"type": "string",
"description": "When this answer was composed, ISO 8601."
}
},
"description": "The rules and sourced dates of one US backcountry or wilderness permit, or found: false.",
"anyOf": [
{
"required": [
"id",
"slug",
"name",
"park",
"usState",
"pageUrl",
"officialUrl",
"issuance",
"scanRoute",
"alert",
"season",
"agencyDates",
"releaseRules",
"groupSizeLimit",
"description",
"checkedAt"
]
},
{
"required": [
"found"
]
}
],
"additionalProperties": false
}🟢search_campgrounds(query, state, limit)
Find campgrounds in the US by name, area or state, across Recreation.gov and state park booking systems. Use this when someone wants a place to camp or asks about a specific campground. Returns up to 10 campgrounds with their PermitSnag page, their booking system, and whether PermitSnag can send an alert when a site opens. It does not check dates; use check_availability for that.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"query": {
"type": "string",
"minLength": 2,
"maxLength": 120,
"description": "A campground name or area, like \"Upper Pines\" or \"Big Sur\"."
},
"state": {
"type": "string",
"pattern": "^[A-Za-z]{2}$",
"description": "Optional two-letter US state code to narrow results, like CA."
},
"limit": {
"type": "integer",
"minimum": 1,
"maximum": 10,
"description": "How many results, 1 to 10. Default 5."
}
},
"required": [
"query"
],
"additionalProperties": false
}Output Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"query": {
"type": "string"
},
"state": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"results": {
"type": "array",
"maxItems": 10,
"items": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"id": {
"type": "string"
},
"name": {
"type": "string"
},
"state": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"bookingSystem": {
"type": "string"
},
"depth": {
"enum": [
"site_level",
"campground_level"
],
"description": "site_level: our checks count individual sites. campground_level: the booking system reports the campground as a whole."
},
"pageUrl": {
"type": "string"
},
"scannable": {
"type": "boolean",
"description": "True when PermitSnag checks this campground for openings. Whether an alert is on offer today is in get_campground_details."
}
},
"required": [
"id",
"name",
"state",
"bookingSystem",
"depth",
"pageUrl",
"scannable"
],
"additionalProperties": false
}
}
},
"required": [
"query",
"state",
"results"
],
"description": "US campgrounds that match the search.",
"additionalProperties": false
}🟢get_campground_details(campground)
Get the details of one US campground: its booking system, how far ahead sites go on sale, site count and types, stay limits, season and closures. Use it after search_campgrounds, or when the person names a specific campground. Says whether PermitSnag can send an alert when a site opens, and whether our checks count individual sites or only the campground as a whole.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"campground": {
"type": "string",
"maxLength": 200,
"description": "The campground id from search_campgrounds."
}
},
"required": [
"campground"
],
"additionalProperties": false
}Output Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"found": {
"const": false,
"description": "Present, and false, only when nothing matched."
},
"id": {
"type": "string"
},
"name": {
"type": "string"
},
"state": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"bookingSystem": {
"type": "string"
},
"provider": {
"type": "string"
},
"depth": {
"enum": [
"site_level",
"campground_level"
],
"description": "site_level: our checks count individual sites. campground_level: the booking system reports the campground as a whole."
},
"pageUrl": {
"type": "string"
},
"bookingUrl": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"totalSites": {
"type": [
"integer",
"null"
]
},
"siteTypes": {
"type": "array",
"maxItems": 6,
"items": {
"type": "string"
}
},
"amenities": {
"type": "array",
"maxItems": 8,
"items": {
"type": "string"
}
},
"maxStayNights": {
"type": [
"integer",
"null"
]
},
"reservationWindowDays": {
"type": [
"integer",
"null"
]
},
"priceRange": {
"type": [
"object",
"null"
],
"properties": {
"min": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"max": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
}
},
"required": [
"min",
"max"
],
"additionalProperties": false
},
"releaseRule": {
"type": [
"object",
"null"
],
"description": "When sites go on sale, from the listing itself.",
"properties": {
"kind": {
"type": "string"
},
"monthsAhead": {
"type": [
"number",
"null"
]
},
"daysAhead": {
"type": [
"number",
"null"
]
},
"sourceUrl": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"agencyQuote": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"readAt": {
"type": "string"
}
},
"required": [
"kind",
"monthsAhead",
"daysAhead",
"sourceUrl",
"agencyQuote",
"readAt"
],
"additionalProperties": false
},
"alert": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"available": {
"type": "boolean",
"description": "True only when PermitSnag can send an alert for this place right now."
},
"reason": {
"enum": [
"eligible",
"lottery_period",
"out_of_season",
"closed",
"no_quota_now",
"lottery_draw_only",
"not_sold_online",
"not_tracked"
],
"description": "Why an alert is or is not on offer."
},
"pageUrl": {
"type": "string",
"description": "The PermitSnag page where an alert is set up, or where to read what to do instead."
}
},
"required": [
"available",
"reason",
"pageUrl"
],
"additionalProperties": false
},
"season": {
"type": "object",
"description": "The agency's season or closure state, with agency words in quoted fields.",
"properties": {
"offer": {
"type": "string",
"description": "What the page offers in this season."
},
"state": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
],
"description": "The season state code, or null when nothing is published."
},
"opensOn": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
],
"description": "YYYY-MM-DD the agency says the season opens."
},
"closesOn": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
],
"description": "YYYY-MM-DD the agency says the season closes."
},
"agency": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"agencyQuote": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
],
"description": "The agency's own words, capped."
},
"sourceUrl": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"closure": {
"type": "object",
"description": "A closure of the whole place, when the agency posted one.",
"properties": {
"incident": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"agency": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"readAt": {
"type": "string"
},
"since": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"reopensOn": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"url": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
}
},
"additionalProperties": true
},
"closedParts": {
"type": "array",
"maxItems": 5,
"description": "Named parts that are closed while the rest stays open.",
"items": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"name": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"since": {
"type": "string"
},
"reopensOn": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"agencyQuote": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"url": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
}
},
"additionalProperties": true
}
}
},
"required": [
"offer",
"state"
],
"additionalProperties": true
},
"description": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"checkedAt": {
"type": "string"
}
},
"description": "The details of one US campground, or found: false.",
"anyOf": [
{
"required": [
"id",
"name",
"state",
"bookingSystem",
"provider",
"depth",
"pageUrl",
"bookingUrl",
"totalSites",
"siteTypes",
"amenities",
"maxStayNights",
"reservationWindowDays",
"priceRange",
"releaseRule",
"alert",
"season",
"description",
"checkedAt"
]
},
{
"required": [
"found"
]
}
],
"additionalProperties": false
}🟢check_availability(permit, campground, startDate, endDate)
Shows what PermitSnag has recorded for one US backcountry permit or one campground over a range of up to 62 days. Answers come from PermitSnag's own stored checks of the booking site, not a live look, and nothing is booked. Each date has one state: observed_opening (an opening seen recently, with when it was last seen), observed_no_match (a recent check that saw no opening, with its time), stale (the newest check is older than staleAfterHours, with its time), unknown (no usable check of that date), unreleased (not on sale yet, by the agency's release rule or the booking site), off_season (outside the agency's published season), closed (closed by the agency) or unsupported (PermitSnag does not check this place). Neither stale nor unknown means sold out. Permit dates are shown as they stood 15 minutes ago. For a permit split into zones or entry points, our checks may cover only some of them, so a date with no opening seen comes back as unknown, never as observed_no_match.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"permit": {
"type": "string",
"maxLength": 200,
"description": "The permit id or slug from search_permits. Give this or campground, not both."
},
"campground": {
"type": "string",
"maxLength": 200,
"description": "The campground id from search_campgrounds. Give this or permit, not both."
},
"startDate": {
"type": "string",
"pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
"description": "First date, YYYY-MM-DD, read as the place's own local calendar day (for a campground, the night you arrive)."
},
"endDate": {
"type": "string",
"pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
"description": "Last date, YYYY-MM-DD, inclusive. Defaults to startDate. The range covers at most 62 days, counting both ends."
}
},
"required": [
"startDate"
],
"additionalProperties": false
}Output Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"found": {
"const": false,
"description": "Present, and false, only when nothing matched."
},
"past": {
"const": true,
"description": "Present only when every asked date has passed."
},
"subject": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"kind": {
"enum": [
"permit",
"campground"
]
},
"id": {
"type": "string"
},
"slug": {
"type": "string",
"description": "Permits only."
},
"name": {
"type": "string"
},
"pageUrl": {
"type": "string"
}
},
"required": [
"kind",
"id",
"name",
"pageUrl"
],
"additionalProperties": false
},
"depth": {
"enum": [
"permit_level",
"site_level",
"campground_level"
]
},
"scanRoute": {
"enum": [
"direct",
"via_zone",
"via_children",
"none",
null
],
"description": "How PermitSnag reaches this permit for cancellation openings: direct, through a zone or starting area, through its entry points, or none."
},
"partialScope": {
"type": "boolean",
"description": "Permits only: true when our checks may cover only some zones or entry points, so no date is called \"no opening\"."
},
"dates": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"start": {
"type": "string"
},
"end": {
"type": "string"
},
"calendar": {
"const": "local_day"
}
},
"required": [
"start",
"end",
"calendar"
],
"additionalProperties": false
},
"staleAfterHours": {
"type": "number",
"description": "Hours. A check older than this is never reported as observed; it is reported as stale (or as unknown, when partialScope hides a check that saw no opening)."
},
"publicDelayMinutes": {
"type": "number",
"description": "Permits only: dates are described as they stood this many minutes ago."
},
"freshness": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"band": {
"enum": [
"none",
"recent",
"stale"
]
},
"newestObservedAt": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
},
"oldestObservedAt": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
]
}
},
"required": [
"band",
"newestObservedAt",
"oldestObservedAt"
],
"additionalProperties": false
},
"days": {
"type": "array",
"maxItems": 62,
"items": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"date": {
"type": "string",
"description": "YYYY-MM-DD, the place's own local calendar day."
},
"state": {
"enum": [
"observed_opening",
"observed_no_match",
"stale",
"unknown",
"unreleased",
"off_season",
"closed",
"unsupported"
],
"description": "What PermitSnag recorded for this date. Neither stale nor unknown means sold out."
},
"observedAt": {
"type": "string",
"description": "The time of the check behind an observed or stale state (for an opening, when it was last seen), ISO 8601. For a permit, never later than publicDelayMinutes ago."
},
"ageMinutes": {
"type": "integer",
"description": "Minutes since that check."
},
"lastSeenState": {
"enum": [
"observed_opening",
"observed_no_match"
],
"description": "For a stale date: what that old check saw."
},
"openSites": {
"type": "integer",
"description": "Campgrounds at site level only: sites seen open."
},
"releasesOn": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
],
"description": "For an unreleased date: the sourced day it goes on sale, when known."
},
"releaseKind": {
"enum": [
"lottery",
"reservations",
null
]
}
},
"required": [
"date",
"state"
],
"additionalProperties": false
}
},
"alert": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"available": {
"type": "boolean",
"description": "True only when PermitSnag can send an alert for this place right now."
},
"reason": {
"enum": [
"eligible",
"lottery_period",
"out_of_season",
"closed",
"no_quota_now",
"lottery_draw_only",
"not_sold_online",
"not_tracked"
],
"description": "Why an alert is or is not on offer."
},
"pageUrl": {
"type": "string",
"description": "The PermitSnag page where an alert is set up, or where to read what to do instead."
}
},
"required": [
"available",
"reason",
"pageUrl"
],
"additionalProperties": false
},
"source": {
"const": "permitsnag_recorded_checks"
},
"checkedAt": {
"type": "string"
}
},
"description": "PermitSnag's recorded checks of one permit or campground on the asked dates; an observed or stale date carries the time and age of its check. Not a live look at the booking site. Or found: false, or past: true.",
"anyOf": [
{
"required": [
"subject",
"depth",
"dates",
"staleAfterHours",
"freshness",
"days",
"alert",
"source",
"checkedAt"
]
},
{
"required": [
"found"
]
},
{
"required": [
"past"
]
}
],
"additionalProperties": false
}🟢get_booking_link(permit, campground, startDate, endDate, partySize)
Returns the link to the official booking page for one US backcountry permit or one campground. For some permits the link also carries the first date and the number of people you give, but the booking site may not use them, so the person checks or picks the dates and group size on that page. For a campground, the person picks or checks the dates on the booking page. For some places it returns the agency's own page or the PermitSnag page instead of a booking page. It only returns a link and a sentence about it; it does not book, pay or enter a lottery.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"permit": {
"type": "string",
"maxLength": 200,
"description": "The permit id or slug. Give this or campground, not both."
},
"campground": {
"type": "string",
"maxLength": 200,
"description": "The campground id. Give this or permit, not both."
},
"startDate": {
"type": "string",
"pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
"description": "Optional first date, YYYY-MM-DD. Sent in the link for some booking sites; the site may ignore it."
},
"endDate": {
"type": "string",
"pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
"description": "Optional last date, YYYY-MM-DD. Sent in the link for a few booking sites; the site may ignore it."
},
"partySize": {
"type": "integer",
"minimum": 1,
"maximum": 60,
"description": "Optional number of people. Sent in the link for some permit booking sites; the site may ignore it."
}
},
"additionalProperties": false
}Output Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"found": {
"const": false,
"description": "Present, and false, only when nothing matched."
},
"subject": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"kind": {
"enum": [
"permit",
"campground"
]
},
"id": {
"type": "string"
},
"slug": {
"type": "string",
"description": "Permits only."
},
"name": {
"type": "string"
},
"pageUrl": {
"type": "string"
}
},
"required": [
"kind",
"id",
"name",
"pageUrl"
],
"additionalProperties": false
},
"url": {
"type": "string",
"description": "The page to open."
},
"destination": {
"enum": [
"booking_page",
"official_page",
"permitsnag_page"
]
},
"datePrefill": {
"enum": [
"applied",
"ignored",
"unknown"
],
"description": "Whether the asked date reaches the booking page."
},
"providerHomeUrl": {
"type": [
"string",
"null"
],
"description": "Permits only: the booking site's front page, when that is all we can name."
},
"executesNothing": {
"const": true,
"description": "This tool only returns a link."
}
},
"description": "A link to the booking page, the agency's page or the PermitSnag page for a permit or campground, or found: false. Nothing is booked.",
"anyOf": [
{
"required": [
"subject",
"url",
"destination",
"datePrefill",
"executesNothing"
]
},
{
"required": [
"found"
]
}
],
"additionalProperties": false
}Community
Evidence
Recent observations
verifiedversion not recorded6 tools