Product Design
2026
Reworking Permit Booking
Reworking Permit Booking
Helping backpackers find a close second best when their Yosemite wilderness permit isn’t available
CLIENT
Self-Directed Project
ROLE
Researcher and Designer (solo)
Context
How Might We
Yosemite backpacking permits are among the hardest to get, and popular routes like Young Lakes via Dog Lake fill quickly. I have booked through this system many times. I got a Young Lakes permit once and haven't been able to get one since.
I audited the booking flow and found 21 steps from a Google search to checkout across three sites, with two breaks where the permit I wanted was unavailable or hard to find. I then interviewed four backpackers (three experienced, one new) with experience across wilderness permit systems in several parks. Two insights shaped my design.
Insight 1: Backpackers need a plan B when permits are limited or unavailable.
"The date is the most important part. You can only go this time. So then you look in other areas." Experienced backpacker, 6+ years
Insight 2: Backpacking trips are complex, so backpackers weigh many variables before booking.
"You just really have to plan ahead, which is really hard." Experienced backpacker, 4+ years
I also heard that every park runs its own system. "It's different for every park, right? Even the Indian Peaks Wilderness... to get a wilderness permit is entirely different than Rocky Mountain National Park." Experienced backpacker, 6+ years
How might we help backpackers plan a complex trip around limited permit availability, so they can book with confidence and know what to do when their first choice falls through?
How I used AI
I started with low-fidelity sketches on paper, then used Figma Make to generate flows and calendar layouts so I could see how they felt. I went back to paper to edit, then used AI again. Claude helped me sharpen my insight statements, troubleshoot Figma, and keep the project organized. AI sped up exploration, and testing told me which ideas worked.
Context
How Might We
Yosemite backpacking permits are among the hardest to get, and popular routes like Young Lakes via Dog Lake fill quickly. I have booked through this system many times. I got a Young Lakes permit once and haven't been able to get one since.
I audited the booking flow and found 21 steps from a Google search to checkout across three sites, with two breaks where the permit I wanted was unavailable or hard to find. I then interviewed four backpackers (three experienced, one new) with experience across wilderness permit systems in several parks. Two insights shaped my design.
Insight 1: Backpackers need a plan B when permits are limited or unavailable.
"The date is the most important part. You can only go this time. So then you look in other areas." Experienced backpacker, 6+ years
Insight 2: Backpacking trips are complex, so backpackers weigh many variables before booking.
"You just really have to plan ahead, which is really hard." Experienced backpacker, 4+ years
I also heard that every park runs its own system. "It's different for every park, right? Even the Indian Peaks Wilderness... to get a wilderness permit is entirely different than Rocky Mountain National Park." Experienced backpacker, 6+ years
How might we help backpackers plan a complex trip around limited permit availability, so they can book with confidence and know what to do when their first choice falls through?
How I used AI
I started with low-fidelity sketches on paper, then used Figma Make to generate flows and calendar layouts so I could see how they felt. I went back to paper to edit, then used AI again. Claude helped me sharpen my insight statements, troubleshoot Figma, and keep the project organized. AI sped up exploration, and testing told me which ideas worked.
Context
How Might We
Yosemite backpacking permits are among the hardest to get, and popular routes like Young Lakes via Dog Lake fill quickly. I have booked through this system many times. I got a Young Lakes permit once and haven't been able to get one since.
I audited the booking flow and found 21 steps from a Google search to checkout across three sites, with two breaks where the permit I wanted was unavailable or hard to find. I then interviewed four backpackers (three experienced, one new) with experience across wilderness permit systems in several parks. Two insights shaped my design.
Insight 1: Backpackers need a plan B when permits are limited or unavailable.
"The date is the most important part. You can only go this time. So then you look in other areas." Experienced backpacker, 6+ years
Insight 2: Backpacking trips are complex, so backpackers weigh many variables before booking.
"You just really have to plan ahead, which is really hard." Experienced backpacker, 4+ years
I also heard that every park runs its own system. "It's different for every park, right? Even the Indian Peaks Wilderness... to get a wilderness permit is entirely different than Rocky Mountain National Park." Experienced backpacker, 6+ years
How might we help backpackers plan a complex trip around limited permit availability, so they can book with confidence and know what to do when their first choice falls through?
How I used AI
I started with low-fidelity sketches on paper, then used Figma Make to generate flows and calendar layouts so I could see how they felt. I went back to paper to edit, then used AI again. Claude helped me sharpen my insight statements, troubleshoot Figma, and keep the project organized. AI sped up exploration, and testing told me which ideas worked.
DESIGN DECISION 01
The filter: how much is too much?
Plan B needs a way to find similar permits, but the screen already lists about 30. I explored a dual bar that switched between a calendar mode and a plan B mode. A tester couldn't tell what changed between the two views. I replaced it with a compact filter for date, availability, group size, and features like lakes or wildflowers, so backpackers can find a close second best within Yosemite. I modeled it on Airbnb and AllTrails, since interviews showed people already have to relearn each park's system, and I held back on extra options to keep the screen focused on booking.
DESIGN DECISION 01
The filter: how much is too much?
Plan B needs a way to find similar permits, but the screen already lists about 30. I explored a dual bar that switched between a calendar mode and a plan B mode. A tester couldn't tell what changed between the two views. I replaced it with a compact filter for date, availability, group size, and features like lakes or wildflowers, so backpackers can find a close second best within Yosemite. I modeled it on Airbnb and AllTrails, since interviews showed people already have to relearn each park's system, and I held back on extra options to keep the screen focused on booking.
DESIGN DECISION 01
The filter: how much is too much?
Plan B needs a way to find similar permits, but the screen already lists about 30. I explored a dual bar that switched between a calendar mode and a plan B mode. A tester couldn't tell what changed between the two views. I replaced it with a compact filter for date, availability, group size, and features like lakes or wildflowers, so backpackers can find a close second best within Yosemite. I modeled it on Airbnb and AllTrails, since interviews showed people already have to relearn each park's system, and I held back on extra options to keep the screen focused on booking.
DESIGN DECISION 02
Alternate dates live on the permit page
I tried placing suggested dates under each permit name, but with 30 permits that looked busy right away. Recreation.gov already has a detail page for each permit, so I put the next available dates there. A backpacker set on Young Lakes can pick a new date, confirm group size, and go straight to the final booking screen without restarting their search.
"You can choose from the scraps... oh, that sucks. Well, maybe we should go somewhere else." Experienced backpacker, 6+ years
DESIGN DECISION 02
Alternate dates live on the permit page
I tried placing suggested dates under each permit name, but with 30 permits that looked busy right away. Recreation.gov already has a detail page for each permit, so I put the next available dates there. A backpacker set on Young Lakes can pick a new date, confirm group size, and go straight to the final booking screen without restarting their search.
"You can choose from the scraps... oh, that sucks. Well, maybe we should go somewhere else." Experienced backpacker, 6+ years
DESIGN DECISION 02
Alternate dates live on the permit page
I tried placing suggested dates under each permit name, but with 30 permits that looked busy right away. Recreation.gov already has a detail page for each permit, so I put the next available dates there. A backpacker set on Young Lakes can pick a new date, confirm group size, and go straight to the final booking screen without restarting their search.
"You can choose from the scraps... oh, that sucks. Well, maybe we should go somewhere else." Experienced backpacker, 6+ years
DESIGN DECISION 03
Calendar tiles that explain themselves
The question that kept coming up in my audit was “Why can’t I book this, and what’s next?” The old key sat far from the tiles, and color alone couldn’t separate walk-up only, lottery, unavailable, and not yet released. I redesigned the tiles to show their own state, which let me shrink the key.
DESIGN DECISION 03
Calendar tiles that explain themselves
The question that kept coming up in my audit was “Why can’t I book this, and what’s next?” The old key sat far from the tiles, and color alone couldn’t separate walk-up only, lottery, unavailable, and not yet released. I redesigned the tiles to show their own state, which let me shrink the key.
DESIGN DECISION 03
Calendar tiles that explain themselves
The question that kept coming up in my audit was “Why can’t I book this, and what’s next?” The old key sat far from the tiles, and color alone couldn’t separate walk-up only, lottery, unavailable, and not yet released. I redesigned the tiles to show their own state, which let me shrink the key.
IMPACT
Audit + Usability Check
This is a small usability check measured against my audit, so the numbers are estimates.
Fewer detours: Up to 7 of the 21 audit steps were restarts or confusion about why a permit couldn't be booked. The redesign targets both.
Usability check: Both participants completed their tasks (a happy path booking and a plan B path). The first tester used an early version with the dual bar, which led to the compact filter. The second tester found it hard to tell whether their date was selected, so I made the selected-date column stand out with color.
"That was simple and intuitive, which was nice, but the only problem I ran into was not realizing what date I selected." Usability tester
Date flexibility is the hardest part of getting a permit. This design helps backpackers keep a trip alive after their first choice disappears, without restarting their research.
IMPACT
Audit + Usability Check
This is a small usability check measured against my audit, so the numbers are estimates.
Fewer detours: Up to 7 of the 21 audit steps were restarts or confusion about why a permit couldn't be booked. The redesign targets both.
Usability check: Both participants completed their tasks (a happy path booking and a plan B path). The first tester used an early version with the dual bar, which led to the compact filter. The second tester found it hard to tell whether their date was selected, so I made the selected-date column stand out with color.
"That was simple and intuitive, which was nice, but the only problem I ran into was not realizing what date I selected." Usability tester
Date flexibility is the hardest part of getting a permit. This design helps backpackers keep a trip alive after their first choice disappears, without restarting their research.
IMPACT
Audit + Usability Check
This is a small usability check measured against my audit, so the numbers are estimates.
Fewer detours: Up to 7 of the 21 audit steps were restarts or confusion about why a permit couldn't be booked. The redesign targets both.
Usability check: Both participants completed their tasks (a happy path booking and a plan B path). The first tester used an early version with the dual bar, which led to the compact filter. The second tester found it hard to tell whether their date was selected, so I made the selected-date column stand out with color.
"That was simple and intuitive, which was nice, but the only problem I ran into was not realizing what date I selected." Usability tester
Date flexibility is the hardest part of getting a permit. This design helps backpackers keep a trip alive after their first choice disappears, without restarting their research.
REFLECTIONS
A good exercise
Interviews surprised me. I knew booking takes planning, but hearing every step, especially when plan A falls apart, showed how much work it is. Even experienced backpackers found the system confusing at times.
Paper first. I moved into high-fidelity AI prototypes before testing ideas on paper, which made changes expensive. Next time I'll test more on paper first.
Restraint. Each plan B feature made the booking screen busier, so I kept cutting until it still did its main job.
AI and testing. AI generated layouts quickly, but only a tester could tell me which one was confusing.
Next steps: I'd test with more people, including beginners, and iterate on the filter and date selection.
REFLECTIONS
A good exercise
Interviews surprised me. I knew booking takes planning, but hearing every step, especially when plan A falls apart, showed how much work it is. Even experienced backpackers found the system confusing at times.
Paper first. I moved into high-fidelity AI prototypes before testing ideas on paper, which made changes expensive. Next time I'll test more on paper first.
Restraint. Each plan B feature made the booking screen busier, so I kept cutting until it still did its main job.
AI and testing. AI generated layouts quickly, but only a tester could tell me which one was confusing.
Next steps: I'd test with more people, including beginners, and iterate on the filter and date selection.
REFLECTIONS
A good exercise
Interviews surprised me. I knew booking takes planning, but hearing every step, especially when plan A falls apart, showed how much work it is. Even experienced backpackers found the system confusing at times.
Paper first. I moved into high-fidelity AI prototypes before testing ideas on paper, which made changes expensive. Next time I'll test more on paper first.
Restraint. Each plan B feature made the booking screen busier, so I kept cutting until it still did its main job.
AI and testing. AI generated layouts quickly, but only a tester could tell me which one was confusing.
Next steps: I'd test with more people, including beginners, and iterate on the filter and date selection.