A Guide to Washington’s Backpacking Permit System

Updated: February 2, 2026

Let’s talk wilderness permits in Washington. It’s sore of the bane of all backpackers and while I am usually one to miss deadlines for permit applications, I have many friends who are always on top of it. Part of the problem is every region has a different system, so this is my attempt to make a succinct one-page summary of all Washington permits that you might need to know to plan a summer trip.

Generally if a lottery system is available, you apply during an open period where you get entered into a random drawing. What camps and dates you list pay a factor, though so it’s not 100% random. This is because every region has its own capacity for how many overnight groups or people can be there on a given night. Once the lottery system closes and people have declined or picked their reservations, the rest go out to the public. Then it’s first come first served. Some regions have walk-up permits and others are entirely online, so check it first! And sometimes permits get released back into the system when people can no longer use them.

A note: There are plenty of other places that don’t require a permit where you can still hike to beautiful destinations and lots of walk-up permits that you don’t get them in advance. Sometimes that’s best because weather is not consistent in Washington and you could get rained on for your reservation, so don’t fret too much if you don’t get the permit lotteries.

The cheatsheet

Enchantments

• Overnight Permit Required: May 15 – October 31
• Advanced Lottery
  • Opens: February 15, 2026 7:00am
  • Deadline: March 1, 2026 11:59pm
  • Results: March 17, 2026
  • Confirmation Deadline: March 31, 2026
• Daily Lottery
  • Restrictions: you must physically be within 1 mile radius of the Leavenworth Ranger Station to apply. Everything happens day before your planned trip
  • Opens: one day prior to trip 7:00-10:00am Monday – Friday
  • Results: 11:00am morning prior to trip
  • Confirmation Deadline: 2:00pm the day before the trip and permit picked up between 12:00-4:00pm
  • Dates: May 14 – October 30 (one day before permit required)
• General Sale
  • Unclaimed permits available at recreation.gov starting April 1 at 7:00am, first come first served
• Zones:
  • Limited by party: Eightmile, Stuart, Colchuck, Snow (8 people and 3-5 groups)
  • Limited by person: Core (special privilege to camp in other zones, like a wild card, only 24 people allowed per day)
• Parking: Northwest Forest Pass for day hiking, included for overnight permits
• Fees: $6 lottery nonrefundable, successful permits $5/person/night
• Forest Service Info

North Cascades National Park

• Overnight Permit Required: year round
• Summer Reservations Available: May 15, 2026 – October 10, 2026
• Winter Permits: by email
• Early Access Lottery
  • Opens: March 2, 2026
  • Deadline: March 13, 2026 9:00pm
  • Results: March 20, 2026
  • Confirmation Deadline: April 21, 2026 9:00pm
• General Sale
  • Opens: April 29, 2026 7:00am
  • Online Reservations: available up to 2 days before trip
  • Walk-up Permits: first come first served, available within 24 hours in advance at the WIC
• Zones: cross country zones and specific camp sites – see the Wilderness Trip Planner
• Group Size: 4, 6, 8 or 12 people depending on campsite, 12 people for high use cross country zones, 6 people for all other zones
• Parking: Northwest Forest Pass for most trailheads
• Fees: $10/person permit + $6 fee (lottery and general access)
• National Park Info
• Reserve at recreation.gov

Olympic National Park

• Overnight Permit Required: year round
• Summer Reservations Available: May 15 – October 15
  • Higher Elevation Camps (Glacier Meadows/Elk Lake, Lake Constance, Flapjack Lakes): June 15 – October 15
  • Alpine Camps (Grand Valley, Royal Basin, Upper Lena Lake): July 1 – October 15
  • Seven Lakes Basin/High Divide Season: July 15 – October 15
• Winter Permits: Available starting Sept 15 online
• General Sale: April 15 at 7:00am online only
• Campsites: see the Wilderness Trip Planner
• Group Size: 12 people
• Entry: National Park Pass covers parking
• Fees: $8/person/night + $6 reservation fee
• National Park Info
• Reserve at recreation.gov

Mount Rainier National Park and Wonderland Trail

• Overnight Permit Required: year round
• Climbing Permit: additional to overnight, required for travel above 10,000 ft on glaciers (Camp Muir excluded)
• Summer Reservations Available: May 1 – October 11
• Winter Permits:
  • Online reservation available for groups of 13+
  • Walkups for groups 12 or fewer at Carbon River Ranger Station or Longmire Museum
  • Climbing permits October – April self register at Paradise Old Ranger Station
• Early Access Lottery
  • Opens: February 10, 2026 7:00am
  • Deadline: March 3, 2026 7:00pm
  • Results: March 14, 2026 (individual access window to reserve)
  • Confirmation Deadline: April 18, 2026
• General Sale
  • Opens: April 25, 2026 7:00am
  • Online Reservations: available up to 2 days before trip
  • Walk-up Permits: first come first served, available within 24 hours in advance at the WIC
• Campgrounds: For Ohanapecosh (closed first half of 2026) and Cougar Rock $20/night
  • First-come, first-served season: May 22, 2026 – June 22, 2026 and September 14, 2026 – October 11, 2026
  • Peak season (online reservation require – on a 6-month rolling basis): June 23, 2026 – September 13, 2026
• Campsites: see the Wilderness Trip Planner
• Group size: 5 people, 3 tents (larger groups require group campsite)
• Entry: National Park Pass covers parking
• Fees: $6 lottery/reservation non-refundable fee, $12/person/night
• National Park Info
• Backcountry Reservations at recreation.gov

Mount Margaret Backcountry

• Overnight Permit Required: May 1 – November 30
• Permits Released: 7:00 am on the 1st of each preceding month (i.e. April 1 permits released for May 1-31)
• Group size: 4
• Parking: Northwest Forest Pass
• Fees: $7/person/night + $6 reservation, non-refundable fee
• Mount Margaret Info
• Reserve at recreation.gov

Mount Saint Helens Climbing Permit

• Climbing Permit Required: year round
• Limited quota enforced: April 1 – October 31
• Permits Released: 7:00 am on the 1st of each preceding month (i.e. April 1 permits released for May 1 – 31)
• Winter Permits: Free, self-issued at trailhead November 1 – March 31
• Permit limits
  • April 1 – May 14: 350 people daily
  • May 15 – October 31: 110 people  daily
  • November 1 – March 31: no limit
• Group Size: 12 people
• Parking: Washington State Sno-Park Pass in winter, Northwest Forest Pass (or National Park Pass) in summer
• Fees: $20/climber/day
• Mount Saint Helens Info
• Reserve at recreation.gov

*all times are PST

WIC = Wilderness Information Center

Final Thoughts

You’ll also need to check group sizes, they vary from region to region but the permits will specifically say how many people it covers. Sometimes for the National Parks, it might be smart to request the full permit size since many are group limited as opposed to person limited. If it ends up you can’t go anymore, please remember to release/return your permits so someone else has a chance to get out there!

National Park Annual Pass also works on all National Forest land as well. Discover Pass (state) is not interchangeable with any of the national forest/park passes. Sno-park (state – winter only) pass is also not interchangeable with any other passes. Check before you go to see which pass is required.

Photos shot on Canon 5D Mark IV