How to Get a Summit Climb Permit
You climb to the rim of the crater the 1980 eruption left behind, and stand on what is now the high point of a mountain that lost 1,300 feet of itself in a morning.
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People Per Day
$20 per climber per day during the quota season, plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee per transaction. December 1 - March 31 permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead.
Permit Cost
1 day
Duration
strenuous
Difficulty
About Summit Climb
A climbing permit is required year round to climb Mount St. Helens, but the quota only applies from April 1 to October 31. In that window USFS caps the mountain at 350 climbers per day from April 1 to May 14, and 110 climbers per day from May 15 onward. Group size is limited to 12 individuals. Permits are released in one-month blocks on the first day of the preceding month at 7:00 a.m. Pacific — April permits go on sale March 1. The recreation fee is $20 per climber per day, raised from a lower figure for the 2024 season, plus a non-refundable $6 reservation fee per transaction. A permit holder can hold a maximum of five permits at a time and is restricted to one permit per day. From December 1 to March 31 there is no cap on the number of climbers, and permits are free and self-issued at the trailheads. That is the same mountain, the same closure area and the same rules — just no reservation and no fee, in exchange for full winter conditions.
Before May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens stood 9,677 feet and was the fifth-highest peak in Washington — the conical snow-covered mountain people called the Mount Fuji of America. The eruption removed an estimated 3.4 billion cubic yards of the cone, about 1,300 feet of height, and left a horseshoe-shaped crater open to the north. The southwestern rim, at 8,365 feet, is what you climb to now. USFS calls it the most active volcano in the Cascade Range, present tense.
The Experience
The route starts in forest, breaks out into boulder fields, and then turns into ash and pumice that gives back half of every step. And then it stops, abruptly, at an edge — with the crater and the dome below you and Rainier, Adams and Hood arranged around the horizon.
USFS describes the climb as strenuous but non-technical, suitable for people in good physical condition who are comfortable scrambling on steep rugged terrain. There are two trailheads and they split by season: Climber's Bivouac is the summer route, and Marble Mountain Sno-Park is the winter route.
The permit is valid from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on the date printed on it, and it does not authorize entry into the crater — the crater is closed to all entry. Within that constraint, individuals may choose their preferred route to the summit.
Overnight use inside the closure area requires two permits for two consecutive days. That is the only way to legally sleep up there.
What to Expect
A non-technical but strenuous climb on steep, rugged, loose ground
A permit valid only from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on its printed date
A climbing register at the trailhead that USFS asks you to sign before and after
A parking pass supplied with the permit for use in lieu of a Federal Recreation Pass at Climber's Bivouac
Photo ID checks — every individual listed on the permit has to carry government-issued ID
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Permit Requirements
Maximum group size is 12
Entry into the crater of the volcano is strictly prohibited; the crater is closed to all entry
The permit is valid only from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on the date of the climb
All individuals listed on the permit must carry government-issued photo ID and a copy of the permit while climbing
Landing drones or other aircraft on or along the climbing route or at the summit is prohibited
Overnight use within the closure area requires permits for two consecutive days
A Federal Recreation Pass is required at Climber's Bivouac; a Washington State Sno-park pass is required at Marble Mountain December 1 - March 30
Camp only at established campsites; it is illegal to cut any standing tree, dead or alive
Treat all water by boiling, purification tablets or filtering
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •The Ten Essentials — USFS explicitly cautions climbers not to substitute a cell phone for preparedness
- •Government-issued photo ID for every person on the permit, plus a copy of the permit
- •Boots that handle boulder fields and loose ash
- •Sun and wind protection; the upper mountain has no shelter of any kind
- •All your water, treated if you refill anywhere
Recommended Gear
- •Trekking poles for the ash descent, which is where most of the knee damage happens
- •Gaiters — the pumice gets into everything
- •Ice axe and traction for spring climbs on the steep snow slopes USFS warns about
- •A blue bag; USFS encourages their use
Hazards & Safety
Volcanic hazards. USFS states that these cannot be forecast, cannot be controlled, and may occur at any time without warning
Steep snow slopes in spring — USFS says to use extreme caution climbing or descending them
Loose ash and pumice above the boulder fields, which is exhausting up and treacherous down
Weather that changes without much warning on a fully exposed cone
Mountain goats habituated to humans; USFS asks climbers not to urinate on vegetation or in campsite areas because it draws them in
Best Time to Visit
The quota splits the year for you. April 1 to May 14 allows 350 climbers a day and is usually a snow climb — more permits, more equipment. From May 15 the cap drops to 110 a day and demand concentrates into summer weekends. Late spring gives you snow to descend instead of ash, which many climbers prefer. December through March needs no permit at all and is a serious winter objective.
Pro Tips
Permits are released in one-month blocks on the first day of the preceding month at 7:00 a.m. Pacific — April on March 1, and so on
The quota is 350 climbers a day until May 14 and 110 from May 15, so a two-week shift can be the difference between available and gone
You can hold five permits at a time, but only one per day
Group size changes have to be made at least seven days ahead, and once the permit is printed nothing can be changed
Refunds need seven days' notice. The only full refund including the $6 fee is if USFS closes the route
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 Summit Climb permit?
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Summit Climb permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Summit Climb?
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The quota splits the year for you. April 1 to May 14 allows 350 climbers a day and is usually a snow climb — more permits, more equipment. From May 15 the cap drops to 110 a day and demand concentrates into summer weekends. Late spring gives you snow to descend instead of ash, which many climbers prefer. December through March needs no permit at all and is a serious winter objective.
How difficult is Summit Climb?
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Fit hikers comfortable scrambling on steep, rugged, loose terrain. USFS calls this a popular climb for beginner and experienced mountaineers alike.
What gear do I need for Summit Climb?
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Essential gear includes: The Ten Essentials — USFS explicitly cautions climbers not to substitute a cell phone for preparedness, Government-issued photo ID for every person on the permit, plus a copy of the permit, Boots that handle boulder fields and loose ash, Sun and wind protection; the upper mountain has no shelter of any kind, All your water, treated if you refill anywhere.
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