Do I need a permit to backpack Paintbrush-Cascade Loop?

What the Paintbrush-Cascade Loop permit costs and covers

Fee

$20 flat permit fee, non-refundable, plus $7 per person per night, refundable until five days before your start date.

Group size limit

6 people

Applications open

Not a lottery - advance reservations opened January 7, 2026 at 8:00 am MST

Season starts

May 1

Season ends

October 31

What the rules require

• A backcountry permit is required for all overnight camping
• Individual permits can consist of up to six people; groups of 7-12 people must camp in designated group sites
• IGBC-approved bear canisters are required for food storage in the backcountry
• Campfires are not allowed in any mountain camping area
• Maximum two nights per location, ten nights between June 1 and Labor Day, and thirty nights per year
• Camp inside the marked zone boundary; the signs at each end of a zone define it
• Walk-up permits are issued one day before the start date, first-come first-served

Published rules for the Paintbrush-Cascade Loop, quoted as written.

Getting one

Dates for Paintbrush-Cascade Loop sell out and then come back as people cancel. PermitSnag watches Paintbrush-Cascade Loop and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.

Common questions about the Paintbrush-Cascade Loop permit