Backcountry permits have been put in place to protect our wilderness areas from overuse, prevent crowding, and protect natural resources. By acquiring permits to backpack and following leave no trace principles, you’re helping support the land and organizations like our national parks.

Permits have never meant to be a barrier to entry, but we know first-hand that they can be confusing and difficult to secure. We can’t help how quickly permits sell out, but we hope this blog clears up details making backpacking more accessible to all.

Disclosure: We’ve included affiliate links with recommended hiking gear in this post. If you click through and buy something, we’ll receive a small portion of that sale. You won’t be charged more, and we haven’t been paid by any of these retailers to share their information. These are all our genuine preferences.

Types of backcountry permits

There are a few different types of permits. Extremely popular places, like the Enchantments, have a lottery system. To acquire these permits, you must apply for the lottery within the open window, check back to see if you won, and accept your permit if you did. Other permits are sold for general areas or specific campsites. Most permitted areas have a few permits saved for walk-in reservations at ranger stations as well.

How to reserve backcountry permits

Generally, permits go on sale for the season in early spring. Popular destinations sell out within minutes, so it’s best to have your ideal hiking route chosen, as well as backup options, in advance.

Some permits allow you to backpack anywhere along trails, like Shi Shi Beach for example, while others require you to book permits for specific campsites. Use resources like Washington Trails Association, Alltrails, The Mountaineers, and local ranger offices to plan your trip.

How much do permits cost?

Permits are usually very cheap. Most cost about $5 per person, per day. Make sure to print out or screenshot your permits. It’s common to have rangers patrolling trails and asking to see permits.

What areas require backcountry permits in Washington?

Each area in Washington has different permit rules and regulations. Generally, there are seasonal permit changes and various limits on group numbers (no more than 12 anywhere).

No matter where or when you plan on backpacking, please research past trail and weather conditions during the time you’re interested in backpacking. Often dates at the beginning or end of permit season may not be safe or accessible due to the weather.

Below you’ll find information on the permit season — this is when permits are required to backpack in this area – as well as information on permit reservations. This is when permits for these destinations go on sale.

Enchantments

Permit season

May 15th to October 31st

Permit lottery dates

Open between February 15th and March 1st
Winners announced and must claim their permit dates between March 17th and March 31st
Unclaimed permits go back on sale April 1st
Walk-in permits are available during permit season Monday through Saturday

Mount Rainier National Park

Permit season

May 26th to October 9th

Permit lottery dates

Early-access lottery open between February 12th and March 4th
- Winning this lottery doesn’t reserve your permit. Instead, it gives you a time slot to book a permit.
Winners announced March 14th
Winners are assigned a date to book their permits between March 21st and April 19th
- Winners with assigned dates earlier in this time frame will have the best chances of getting their desired locations and permit dates.
Unclaimed permits go on sale April 25th
One third of permits are reserved for walk-ins

North Cascades National Park

Permit season

May 17th to October 12th

Permit lottery dates

Early-access lottery open between March 4th and March 15th
- Winning this lottery doesn’t reserve your permit. Instead, it gives you a time slot to book a permit.
Winners announced March 22nd
Winners are assigned a date to book their permits between March 25th and April 23rd
- Winners with assigned dates earlier in this time frame will have the best chances of getting their desired locations and permit dates
Unclaimed permits go on sale April 29th
40% of permits are reserved for walk-ins

Olympic National Park

Permit season

Many coastal and lower-elevation areas are available all year
Trails at higher elevations are permitted between May 15th and October 15th

Permit reservations

Available starting April 15th
Backcountry campsite permits are available six months to the day when you are booking
Trail information
Use this map to find information on campsites and group sizes.

Mount Margaret Backcountry

Permit season

May 1st and November 30th

Permit reservations

Permits go on sale one month in advance on the first of the preceding month

Wallace Falls State Park

Permit season

Year round

Permit reservations

Backpacking permits are available for Wallace Lake and Jay Lake
Call the park office to acquire a permit prior to arrival (360-793-0420)

Where to backpack in Washington with self-issued permits

There are other areas in Washington — wilderness areas and national forests — that don’t require purchasing permits in advance. Instead, these destinations usually have a free, self-issued permit to fill out at the trailhead. Any number of people can obtain these permits, but groups are limited to 12 people.

We love that these self-issued permits allow for more spontaneity, and these areas can be just as stunning as the locations with strictly regulated permits. Unfortunately, they’re usually more crowded. Backpack during weekdays if you can, and arrive early to secure parking.

Parking passes

A backcountry permit does not double as a parking pass at trailheads. To park at trailheads, you’ll still need to purchase the required parking pass ahead of time. You’ll find what pass is required under the “map and directions” section for hikes on wta.org.

You’ll likely need a National Forest Pass ($30) or an America the Beautiful Pass ($80). The America the Beautiful Pass can be used in place of the National Forest Pass as well.

What to pack

This question deserves an entire post to itself! We’ve been backpacking for years now, and we remember how intimidating it was to start buying gear. Over the years, we’ve learned what works well for us and this blog shares all our favorite backpacking gear.

Where to backpack

If you’re new to backpacking, check out this blog for the best beginner backpacking trails in Washington. It has information on what kind of trails to look for in your first few trips and all the information you’ll need on each trail suggested.

If you’re more experienced, our favorite backpacking trail in Washington is the Chelan Lakeshore Trail. It’s worth the extra effort to reach it!

Leave no trace

Following the Leave No Trace Principles is so important. Please stay on designated trails, only have campfires when and where allowed, and pack out everything you pack in.