Do I need a permit to backpack Cascade Pass Zone?
Yes. You need a permit to backpack Cascade Pass Zone in North Cascades National Park, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
Permit required
What the Cascade Pass Zone permit costs and covers
- Fee
- $10 per person per trip for adults 16 and over, youth free, plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee.
- Group size limit
- 12 people
- Applications open
- March 2, 2026
- Applications close
- March 13, 2026, 9:00 pm PT
- Results
- March 20, 2026 - awarded applicants book March 24 to April 21; general on-sale April 29 at 7:00 am PT
- Season starts
- July 1 - reservations are not allowed for trips starting earlier
- Season ends
- October 10, 2026
What the rules require
- A backcountry permit is required year-round for all overnight trips in North Cascades National Park
- Group size is limited to 12 within all trail corridors and camps, and includes people and stock. Not all camps can take 12 - Sahale Glacier, Basin Creek and Johannesburg cap at four per site
- Bear canisters are required at Sahale Glacier Camp
- No campfires at Sahale Glacier, Pelton Basin, Basin Creek or Johannesburg
- Camping is prohibited at Cascade Pass, at Doubtful Lake and anywhere along the trail
- Reservations must be made at least 2 days before the trip start date, and permits collected by 11 am on day one
- Reservations are not accepted for trips starting before July 1 in this area
- All Cascade River Road permits, including Cascade Pass and Boston Basin, must be collected in person in Marblemount
Published rules for the Cascade Pass Zone, quoted as written.
Getting one
Dates for Cascade Pass Zone sell out and then come back as people cancel. PermitSnag watches Cascade Pass Zone and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.
Common questions about the Cascade Pass Zone permit
Do I need a permit to backpack Cascade Pass Zone?
Yes. You need a permit to backpack Cascade Pass Zone in North Cascades National Park, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
How much does a Cascade Pass Zone permit cost?
$10 per person per trip for adults 16 and over, youth free, plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee..
When can I apply for a Cascade Pass Zone permit?
The application window opens March 2, 2026. It closes March 13, 2026, 9:00 pm PT. Results: March 20, 2026 - awarded applicants book March 24 to April 21; general on-sale April 29 at 7:00 am PT.
How many people can be on one Cascade Pass Zone permit?
12 people.
When is the Cascade Pass Zone permit season?
Season starts: July 1 - reservations are not allowed for trips starting earlier. Season ends: October 10, 2026.