Mount Margaret Gear Checklist
The Mount Margaret Backcountry puts eight named campsites on bare ridges above Spirit Lake, with one permit per site per night. The ridges are open to sun and wind, snowfields can linger into July, and the trees that once held a bear bag are gone, so the forest recommends a canister. People write about carrying extra water for the climb from Norway Pass, spikes or poles for two steep snow patches early in the season, a paper map because junction signs go missing, and a trowel because the camp toilets are being removed.
What shapes your gear on Mount Margaret Backcountry
- Eight sites, small groups
- Camping is only at the eight designated sites. A group is limited to 4 people, or 8 at Ridge Camp. Recreation.gov lists $7 per person per night plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee, and permits go on sale in one-month blocks on the first day of the month before, at 7:00 AM Pacific.
- Season on paper
- Recreation.gov says an overnight permit is required from May 1 to November 30 but that snow often blocks the area until late spring or early summer and that drifts can last into July. The forest page lists June through October as the season of use.
From Recreation.gov (Gifford Pinchot National Forest) and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount Margaret Backcountry
- The walk from Norway Pass
- WTA lists the Mount Margaret hike at 11 miles round trip with 2,820 feet of gain. A July 2023 pair reached Bear Camp from the Norway Pass lot in about 2 hours after a late start to dodge the heat. A July 2020 hiker found the same climb very strenuous with heavy packs under a hot sun, arriving at 9:40 in the morning.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 4, 2023 and Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 30, 2020
- Toilets are going away
- When we read it on 2026-10-22, a notice on the Recreation.gov permit page said the Forest Service is removing the camp composting toilets, which are past their service life, and that every camper must bring a trowel. Toilet paper and garbage leave with you, and waste goes 6 to 8 inches down and 200 feet from water. Trip writers in 2020 and 2023 describe toilets at Bear Camp and Dome Camp.
From Recreation.gov (Gifford Pinchot National Forest), Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 30, 2020 and Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 4, 2023
- Getting there by road
- Both WTA writers tick the box for a road suitable for all vehicles. The 2020 hiker found the forest roads paved with uneven bumps and gravel patches, fine for a sedan. The 2023 pair says Forest Road 26 had lost its maintenance, with brush growing in on both sides and bumps that could damage a sedan driven fast.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 30, 2020 and Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 4, 2023
What the agency requires on Mount Margaret Backcountry
A permit for every overnight, and a photo ID
All overnight camping needs a valid permit. The permit holder must be 18 or older, carry a government photo ID, and display the permit on the tent while in camp. Recreation.gov says a permit can be printed up to 14 days before the trip and cannot be changed after printing.
A camp stove, not a fire
Recreation.gov says fires are not permitted and the forest page says to cook on a camp stove. The forest order for the Monument lists building or using a fire, campfire or stove as prohibited here, with an exemption for stoves burning gas, propane, alcohol or tablet and cube fuel.
From Recreation.gov (Gifford Pinchot National Forest), Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount Margaret Backcountry and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Volcanic Monument Restrictions, Forest Order 06-03-01-24-03
A trowel, a waste plan and a trash bag
Never put garbage in the composting toilets. Pack out all trash and toilet paper. Where the toilets have been removed, bury human waste 6 to 8 inches deep and 200 feet from water.
A parking pass already inside your permit
A car at the Norway Pass or Coldwater lot needs a recreation pass on display. The overnight permit comes with two parking passes that serve in its place.
What hikers carry on Mount Margaret Backcountry
Spikes or poles for the two snow patches below Margaret Camp
In early July 2023 a hiker recommended spikes for two steep snowfields between Bear and Margaret Camps, because shady patches and early mornings were slick. In late July 2020 the patches were easy with poles and no spikes. A 2019 report found little snow and needed no special gear.
The three reports disagree because they were written in different weeks. Match your choice to the season.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 4, 2023, Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 30, 2020 and Oregon Hikers forum: July 16-18 Mt Margaret Backcountry via Norway Pass
Extra water capacity and a way to scoop from a trickle
The 2023 pair describes water as a couple of small streams and snowfields and expects August to be harder. The 2020 hiker found the Dome Camp spring barely dripping and scooped it with soft reservoirs. A 2019 report says the Dome spring ran fine and Snow Lake had plenty. The forest adds that water availability changes over the summer.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 4, 2023, Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 30, 2020, Oregon Hikers forum: July 16-18 Mt Margaret Backcountry via Norway Pass and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount Margaret Backcountry
A hat, sunscreen and a plan for shade
The 2020 hiker calls the hike very exposed and says to bring a hat and sunscreen. The 2023 pair found the second day hotter, with almost no shade on the slopes facing south, and told readers to carry plentiful water and sunscreen.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 30, 2020 and Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 4, 2023
A topo or Green Trails map, with GPS as a backup
A 2019 hiker says a good topo or Green Trails map is the minimum, because many junction signs have fallen or twisted, and a GPS track helped on the slide-damaged Lakes Trail. The same writer heard of a group that got completely lost the day they hiked in.
From Oregon Hikers forum: July 16-18 Mt Margaret Backcountry via Norway Pass
A bear canister
Recreation.gov recommends bear-resistant canisters because there are no trees to hang food from. A 2013 October hiker found purplish bear droppings on the Lakes Trail and banged trekking poles together and shouted to avoid surprising a bear.
From Recreation.gov (Gifford Pinchot National Forest) and Oregon Hikers forum: Whittier Ridge, Lakes Trail, & Mt. Margaret's twin - 10/6/13
Gaiters and poles for late-season snow
The 2013 hiker met campers on the Lakes Trail who said gaiters would be needed from about Shovel Lake, put his own on, and says that with poles he would not have tried the snowy slopes without them.
From Oregon Hikers forum: Whittier Ridge, Lakes Trail, & Mt. Margaret's twin - 10/6/13
Pants and a jacket for the evening
On the second evening at Dome Camp, the 2020 hiker needed pants and a jacket. The 2013 hiker put the daytime temperature in the 50s with wind that built toward 30 mph at saddles.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 30, 2020 and Oregon Hikers forum: Whittier Ridge, Lakes Trail, & Mt. Margaret's twin - 10/6/13
Bug spray, just in case
The 2020 hiker used spray on the first day but found most bugs were not biting. The 2023 pair needed none in early July but expected bugs to peak in a few weeks. A 2019 pair had rain and wind that kept mosquitoes down, yet they were sure the insects were waiting for better weather.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 30, 2020, Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 4, 2023 and Oregon Hikers forum: July 16-18 Mt Margaret Backcountry via Norway Pass
4 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Mount Margaret Backcountry
Snow baskets or snowshoes on a late-season trip
On an October day, climbing the snowy slopes of an unnamed dome near the Boundary Trail, the 2013 hiker said it was the one time he wished he had snowshoes, and that baskets on the poles would have helped.
From Oregon Hikers forum: Whittier Ridge, Lakes Trail, & Mt. Margaret's twin - 10/6/13
Counting on the junction signs
The 2019 writer found many junction signs fallen or turned wrong, so a map was needed to confirm every turn.
From Oregon Hikers forum: July 16-18 Mt Margaret Backcountry via Norway Pass
Starting the Bear Camp climb at mid-morning in July
The 2020 hiker started up at 9:40 on a hot day with heavy packs and called the climb strenuous. The 2023 pair started late on purpose to avoid the sun and heat and reached Bear Camp in about 2 hours.
From Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 30, 2020 and Washington Trails Association: Mount Margaret trip report, July 4, 2023
Gear questions for Mount Margaret Backcountry
Do you need a permit for the Mount Margaret Backcountry?
Yes for any overnight stay. Recreation.gov requires a permit from May 1 to November 30 and camping is only at the eight designated sites. It lists $7 per person per night plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee, and says the permit includes two trailhead parking passes.
Can you have a campfire in the Mount Margaret Backcountry?
No. Recreation.gov says fires are not permitted and the forest page says to cook on a stove. The forest order exempts stoves that burn gas, propane, alcohol or tablet and cube fuel.
From Recreation.gov (Gifford Pinchot National Forest), Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount Margaret Backcountry and Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service): Mount St. Helens Volcanic Monument Restrictions, Forest Order 06-03-01-24-03
Do you need a bear canister in the Mount Margaret Backcountry?
Recreation.gov recommends bear-resistant canisters and does not require them, because the ridges have no trees to hang food from. A 2013 hiker saw bear droppings on the Lakes Trail.
From Recreation.gov (Gifford Pinchot National Forest) and Oregon Hikers forum: Whittier Ridge, Lakes Trail, & Mt. Margaret's twin - 10/6/13
How big can a group be in the Mount Margaret Backcountry?
Four people per group at the camps, or eight at Ridge Camp. Recreation.gov lists those limits.
Sources
- Mount Margaret Backcountry, Gifford Pinchot National Forest · Recreation.gov (Gifford Pinchot National Forest) · Agency
- Mount Margaret Backcountry · Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service) · Agency
- Mount St. Helens Volcanic Monument Restrictions, Forest Order 06-03-01-24-03 · Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USDA Forest Service) · Agency
- Mount Margaret trip report, July 30, 2020 · Washington Trails Association, mountain-view · Trip report
- Mount Margaret trip report, July 4, 2023 · Washington Trails Association, Just Plain Mike · Trip report
- July 16-18 Mt Margaret Backcountry via Norway Pass · Oregon Hikers forum, Quince · Trip report
- Whittier Ridge, Lakes Trail, & Mt. Margaret's twin - 10/6/13 · Oregon Hikers forum, adamschneider · Trip report