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How the Lottery System Works

Crews interested in a 12-day, 9-day, or 7-day trek slot should register for the Philmont Lottery, which occurs in December a year and a half before the summer for which the lottery is drawn. There are typically 35-40 slots available each day for 12-day, 9-day, or 7-day crews until mid-August.  12-day treks are available daily throughout the summer.  Generally, 9-day treks are available on Fridays and 7-day treks begin daily, excluding Fridays.  Cavalcades are limited to 27 crews on selected dates during the summer.

The information below offers a sample of how the registration process works. Please check back soon for updated information regarding 2025 and 2026 registrations. 

2024 Registration Information

Unit reservation entry requests for 2024 Expeditions (12-day, 9-day, 7-day, Cavalcade) for Philmont Scout Ranch will be made online beginning Saturday, October 1st thru Thursday, December 1st, 2022. Please read this information completely for instructions on the process, fees, and attendance requirements for Philmont. The following information is provided to assist your unit in placing a reservation request:

1.       From Saturday, October 1st at 9 a.m. MDT thru Thursday, December 1st, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. MST, reservation requests will be accepted online for 12-day, 9-day, 7-day and Cavalcade Expeditions. This is strictly a random draw and an entry made on October 27, 2022 will be treated equally as an entry made on December 1, 2022.

2.       Reservations will not be assigned in the order that requests are made. Reservations will be picked randomly by computer after December 1st.

3.       Units may enter only one reservation request during this process. However, the request may be made for consideration of multiple arrival dates, the minimum being 5 priority dates. Please do not attempt to make duplicate reservation requests.

4.       A unit representative may place a reservation request for members of their chartered unit only but are not limited to one crew (crew size = 8 to 12 participants), however, please be realistic when estimating attendance to avoid unnecessary expense (forfeited fees) and to permit the maximum number of units to obtain a reservation. Please refer to the formula on the worksheet to determine the number of crews you are requesting.

5.       A worksheet is provided in to assist you in collecting the information required to place your online reservation entry. Please complete the worksheet and have it available when you access the website.  DO NOT SEND THE WORKSHEET TO PHILMONT.

6.       Unit representatives may log on to https://registerphilmont.org/entry/2024 beginning Saturday, October 1st.  The system will require the unit representative to create a password to allow changes or corrections to the unit reservation entry anytime during the reservation request window. Please save this password. The representative will receive a confirmation email at the conclusion of the request process. Only one record is kept on file for each unit.

7.       Once the unit reservation request window closes, the system will randomly select units to receive reservations. When 2024 reaches capacity, groups will continue to be drawn and placed on a Wait List for the same year (2024) to fill cancellations.

8.       Units with a confirmed 2023 reservation for Philmont will be allowed to place a request for 2024. Units can attend in consecutive seasons. Reservations may not be transferred from one unit to another or one year to another. Philmont will maintain the Wait List and email the next available group on this list when one of their priority dates becomes available due to a cancellation.

9.       After the computer selection process is completed in early December 2021, an email will be sent to each representative giving them their unit’s status. You should receive this email no later than December 3, 2022.

10.   Units that are successful in obtaining a reservation will receive a confirmation email in December with a link to obtain the 2024 Invoice. A $150 non-refundable deposit, per participant is due January 30, 2023.

11.   Questions about the 2024 registration process may be directed to Philmont Scout Ranch by email to camping@philmontscoutranch.org or by phone: 575-376-1139.