Do I need a permit to backpack Mount Rainier Wilderness?

What the Mount Rainier Wilderness permit costs and covers

Fee

$6 Recreation.gov reservation fee plus $12 per person per night. Youth 15 and under are free.

Group size limit

5 people

Applications open

February 10, 2026, 7:00 am PT

Applications close

March 3, 2026, 7:00 pm PT

Results

March 14, 2026 - awarded applicants book from March 21; general on-sale April 25 at 7:00 am PT

Season starts

Late May - Wilderness Information Centers opened May 22, 2026

Season ends

October 12, 2026 is the last reservable date; the centers close October 13

What the rules require

• A wilderness permit is required year-round for all overnight stays in the backcountry
• A climbing permit is required for travel above 10,000 feet or on glaciers
• Summer party size is 5 at individual trailside sites, in cross-country zones, and on bare ground in alpine zones; groups of 6 to 12 need a group site, or snow in an alpine zone. Winter is 12 everywhere
• Maximum four consecutive nights in any one camp or zone
• Cross-country camps must be at least a quarter mile from any road or established trail and 100 feet from lakes, streams and wetlands
• Hikers doing the complete Wonderland Trail must camp in designated camps only - cross-country zones are not permitted
• Alpine-zone camping is allowed only on permanent snow or ice, or on bare ground previously used as a campsite
• Climbers in alpine zones are required to use the Blue Bag system and pack waste out
• Parkwide fire ban since June 26, 2026 - stoves burning liquefied or bottled fuel are still permitted; bio-fuel stoves that burn twigs or cones are not
• Your reservation is cancelled if you do not appear by 12:00 pm on your start date
• Four consecutive nights is the maximum stay in any one camp or zone (a single permit can still cover up to 13 consecutive nights across the trip)
• Camping within 100 feet of water is prohibited except in a designated campsite
• The three designated camps on climbing routes are metered by TOTAL PEOPLE rather than by party, unlike every other camp on this permit

Published rules for the Mount Rainier Wilderness Permit, quoted as written.

Getting one

Lottery winners cancel and miss payment deadlines, and those dates go back into the booking system through the season. PermitSnag watches Mount Rainier Wilderness Permit and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.

Common questions about the Mount Rainier Wilderness permit