Mount Margaret Permit: Route and Dates
Mount Margaret permits are booked by advance reservation in Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
This guide covers the Mount Margaret Backcountry permit.
$7 per person per night plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee
Permit Cost
2,000'
Elevation Gain
strenuous
Difficulty
About Mount Margaret
Eight designated campsites on the ridgelines above Spirit Lake, one permit per site per night, released a month at a time.
The Mount Margaret route
- Elevation gain
- 2,000 ft
- Difficulty
- strenuous
Entry points: Norway Pass Trailhead, South Coldwater Trailhead
Southern Washington Cascades. Nearest town: Randle
Points along the route
- South Coldwater Trailhead
- Norway Pass Trailhead
- Whittier Ridge Route #214
- Panhandle Camp
- Ridge Camp
- Margaret Camp
- Obscurity Camp
- Snow Camp
- Bear Camp
- Dome Camp
- Shovel Camp
Mount Margaret permit detailsandAll Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument permits
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Pro Tips
A single cancellation is a whole site. There is no partial availability at seven of the eight camps.
Ridge Camp is the only site that can hold a group of more than four.
Check the Gifford Pinchot road status before you commit; Forest Road 25 is closed as a through route and upper State Route 504 has been shut by a slide.
Your permit includes two trailhead parking passes, so you do not need a separate Northwest Forest Pass for the trip.
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 Mount Margaret permit?
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Mount Margaret permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Mount Margaret?
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Late July through September, once the snowdrifts are gone and both approach roads are open. May and June permits are sellable but the Forest Service does not guarantee the area is reachable on May 1.
How difficult is the Mount Margaret route?
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Experienced backpackers who want a designated site to themselves and are comfortable on narrow ridge trail.
Where does the Mount Margaret route start?
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The permit covers 2 entry points: Norway Pass Trailhead, South Coldwater Trailhead.
What gear do I need for the Mount Margaret route?
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Essential gear includes: A backpacking stove, since fires are prohibited, A bear-resistant food canister: the Forest Service notes most sites have no trees to hang from, Water treatment, because every source must be treated and some are seasonal, Government-issued photo ID, which the permit is not valid without, The printed permit, displayed on your tent while you occupy the site.
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