How to Get a Scott Permit
A Central Cascades day-use permit is a reservation for one trailhead on one day, and Scott Trailhead is one of the 19 where the Forest Service asks for one.
Check Scott permit availabilityDay use — the permit covers one calendar day at this trailhead
Duration
About Scott
Three Sisters - Scott Trailhead is one of the trailheads inside Oregon's Central Cascades Wilderness Permit area. The Forest Service requires a day-use permit at 19 trailheads across the Three Sisters Wilderness and its two neighbours, and the season runs June 15 through October 15. Day-use permits are released daily at 7:00 a.m. Pacific in a rolling 10-day and 2-day window ahead of your hiking date — the first releases of the year land on June 5 and June 13. There is no full-season advance sale, so the entire booking strategy for a day hike here is knowing which morning your date opens. Provides access to: Pacific Crest Trail #2000, Obsidian Trail #3528, and Scott Trail #3531 Some trailheads are not reachable by vehicle until mid or late June, including everything off the McKenzie Highway (Oregon 242) and the Cascade Lakes Highway. TripCheck.com carries the live Oregon road status.
Oregon put this system in place in 2020 because the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington and Three Sisters wildernesses sit within easy reach of Portland, Salem, Eugene and Bend, and the trailheads nearest those cities were being loved into the ground. The permit is not a fee gate; it is a headcount at the door of a very short summer season.
The Experience
The country here is young volcanic ground with old forest wrapped around it — obsidian, cinder, wildflower meadow and water so clear it reads as empty. The snow leaves late and comes back early, so the whole thing is compressed into the same four months everybody else wants.
Provides access to: Pacific Crest Trail #2000, Obsidian Trail #3528, and Scott Trail #3531
The permit does not route you. It admits you to the wilderness through this trailhead on this date, and where you go after that is your business — as long as you are out the same day, because a day-use permit does not cover an overnight and an overnight permit does not cover day use.
What to Expect
A permit tied to one trailhead and one calendar day, checked at the trailhead
Permits released at 7:00 a.m. Pacific on a 10-day and a 2-day rolling window — nothing sold further out
A digital PDF on a phone is accepted as proof
No restrooms inside the wilderness; trailhead facilities vary and may include parking, bathrooms, picnic tables and stock hitching posts
Cross-country travel skills needed for many of the high lakes and peaks — the Forest Service says so outright
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Permit Requirements
Day-use permits are valid only for entry on the date and at the trailhead printed on the permit
Day-use permits are issued per person and are non-transferable; the group leader has to be present at all times
One reservation can hold up to 12 permits per day if the quota is there, and every member of the party needs their own printed or PDF copy
Campfires are not allowed above 5,700 feet, and at additional lower-elevation destinations shown on the Forest Service permit-area maps
There are no restroom facilities inside these wilderness areas — pack out all trash and dispose of human and pet waste properly
Long-distance travellers on the Pacific Crest Trail holding a valid PCTA 500-mile permit are exempt, with extra camping restrictions
Hunters holding a valid Oregon deer, elk or mountain goat tag are exempt during the hunting season
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •A printed or PDF copy of the permit for every person in the party
- •All your water — the wilderness has no facilities and most of these trailheads have no tap
- •A detailed map; the Forest Service asks hikers and equestrians to carry one and to check conditions in advance
- •Sun protection for open lava and alpine ground
Recommended Gear
- •Traction and gaiters before mid-July on the higher trails
- •A stove rather than a fire — campfires are banned above 5,700 feet anyway
- •A wag bag or trowel, since there are no toilets past the trailhead
Hazards & Safety
Snow into late June on the high trails, and on some approaches later than that
Burned-area travel. The Forest Service is explicit that risk is higher in burned areas — falling trees and unstable ground, with no warning
Afternoon thunderstorms over open lava and alpine terrain with no shelter
No water at most trailheads and no restrooms anywhere inside the wilderness
Best Time to Visit
The permit season is June 15 to October 15 and that is close to the whole usable window. Trails often hold snow into late June, so late July through September is the reliable stretch. September is the quietest month inside the season, with the caveat that the higher trailheads can get their first snow before the season formally ends.
Pro Tips
Set an alarm for 7:00 a.m. Pacific. Permits are released on a 10-day and a 2-day rolling window and nothing is sold further out
The first releases of the season are June 5 and June 13 — the season itself starts June 15
Check TripCheck.com before you commit: several of these trailheads sit behind Oregon 242 or the Cascade Lakes Highway, which do not open until mid or late June
A PDF on your phone is accepted, so you do not need a printer
One reservation can carry up to 12 permits, but the named person has to be with the group the whole time
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Scott permit?
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Scott permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Scott?
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The permit season is June 15 to October 15 and that is close to the whole usable window. Trails often hold snow into late June, so late July through September is the reliable stretch. September is the quietest month inside the season, with the caveat that the higher trailheads can get their first snow before the season formally ends.
How difficult is Scott?
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Day hikers who can plan around a 7:00 a.m. release window and a road that may not be open when they want it.
What gear do I need for Scott?
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Essential gear includes: A printed or PDF copy of the permit for every person in the party, All your water — the wilderness has no facilities and most of these trailheads have no tap, A detailed map; the Forest Service asks hikers and equestrians to carry one and to check conditions in advance, Sun protection for open lava and alpine ground.
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