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North Cascades Backcountry Permit
North Cascades National Park · Washington
Lottery, then cancellations all season
Overnight wilderness permit for North Cascades National Park. An early-access lottery runs in early spring, then a general on-sale period opens reservations to the public.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on NC Backcountry were gone within 10 minutes.
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NC Backcountry Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodLottery
Demand LevelModerate6/10
SeasonMay 15, 2026 - the Wilderness Information Center opens and trips can start - October 10, 2026
Cost$10 per person per trip for adults 16 and over, youth free, plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee.
Max Group Size12 people
NC Backcountry Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, NC Backcountry in North Cascades National Park, Washington requires a permit issued via lottery.
- The NC Backcountry lottery typically opens March 2, 2026 and closes March 13, 2026, 9:00 pm PT, with results announced March 20, 2026 - awarded applicants book March 24 to April 21; general on-sale April 29 at 7:00 am PT.
- Cancelled NC Backcountry permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery OpensMarch 2, 2026
Lottery ClosesMarch 13, 2026, 9:00 pm PT
ResultsMarch 20, 2026 - awarded applicants book March 24 to April 21; general on-sale April 29 at 7:00 am PT
SeasonMay 15, 2026 - the Wilderness Information Center opens and trips can start - October 10, 2026
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodLottery
Demand Level6/10
LocationNorth Cascades, WA
Pro Tips
- •The walk-up allocation here is one of the best in the system - about 40% of sites, day-of or day-before. Marblemount opens at 7 am.
- •Take the email permit if you are offered it, but remember it does not exist for Cascade River Road trailheads or if you need to borrow a canister.
- •Check the per-camp food storage before you pack. Some camps want a hang, some have a box, and some require a canister outright.
- •Cross-country zones other than the six reservable ones are walk-up only - so if you want Ptarmigan Traverse country, plan to show up.
- •Recreation.gov will refuse an itinerary whose camps are further apart than a reasonable day's travel. Build the plan around real days, not the map.
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Varies
Duration
One night to two weeks. Recreation.gov's rules for this permit limit visitors to 14 days in the backcountry per permit and 30 days per calendar year, and overlapping reservations for the same permit holder are not allowed.
Highlights
- •$10 per person plus a $6 reservation fee, with one permit covering up to 14 days
- •About 60% of sites reservable in advance; roughly 40% held for walk-ups, day-of or day-before only
- •Most permits can now be issued by email - except Cascade River Road trailheads, which are in-person in Marblemount
- •Camp-based sites, usually three or four per camp with four people to a site
- •Group limit of 12 in trail corridors and camps, 6 in most cross-country zones
- •Only six cross-country zones are reservable in advance; the rest are walk-up
- •Bear canisters required at specific camps and loaned free at Marblemount and Glacier
Best Time to Visit
Mid-July through September. The Wilderness Information Center runs May 15 to October 10 and trips can start in that window, but the high camps hold snow well into July and the park blocks reservations before July 1 in the Cascade Pass and Copper Ridge areas specifically.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Steep snow into July at almost every high camp
- !Stream and river crossings on glacier-fed water
- !Fire closures on the Chilliwack side, with Whatcom, Graybeal and Graybeal Stock camps closed and the trail closed beyond Whatcom Pass
- !Cross-country zones with no trails and rugged terrain the park describes as making travel very difficult
- !Forest Service access roads whose status the park does not publish
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
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View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Verify your email and add payment info ahead of time.
2
Apply during the lottery window
Submit your application between March 2, 2026 and March 13, 2026, 9:00 pm PT. Apply for multiple dates to increase your odds.
3
Wait for lottery results
Results are typically announced March 20, 2026 - awarded applicants book March 24 to April 21; general on-sale April 29 at 7:00 am PT. Check your email and your Recreation.gov account.
4
If unsuccessful, monitor cancellations
Permits get cancelled daily. Peak cancellation times are 24-48 hours before the trip date.
5
Set up PermitSnag alerts
Get notified when cancellations happen. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand4/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill3/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation4/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment4/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Backpackers who want glaciers, solitude and a cheap permit, and can handle steep, wet, brushy country.
Recommended Experience
Solid multi-day backpacking; for cross-country zones, real navigation and often glacier travel. The navigation rating is set by those zones, where the park says travel is very difficult due to rugged terrain.
Not Recommended For
Anyone expecting gentle graded trail. This range is steep and the cross-country zones have no trail at all.
About This Permit
A backcountry permit is required year-round in North Cascades National Park for all overnight trips. Ninety-three percent of the park complex is designated as the Stephen Mather Wilderness.
Fees are $10 per person for adults 16 and over, youth 15 and under free, plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee - charged to apply to the early-access lottery, to reserve during general on-sale, and to get a walk-up permit. Card only, no cash. One permit can carry up to 14 days for a single fee.
The 2026 calendar: early-access lottery applications March 2 to March 13 with a 9:00 pm Pacific deadline, results March 20, awarded reservations March 24 to April 21, and general on-sale April 29 at 7:00 am Pacific. The Wilderness Information Center is open May 15 to October 10 and trips can start between those dates. Reservations must be made at least two days before the start date, permits can be picked up three days ahead, and any permit not collected by 11 am on day one is cancelled.
Approximately 60% of the park's backcountry campsite inventory is reservable in advance; the remainder is walk-up, first-come first-served, issued only the day of or the day before. Beginning in 2025 the park allowed most visitors with advance reservations to obtain permits by email - with the exception that all permits for Cascade River Road trailheads, including Cascade Pass and Boston Basin, must still be picked up in person in Marblemount, and anyone who needs to borrow a bear canister has to come in for it.
Group size is 12 within all trail corridors and camps and in the cross-country zones around Mount Shuksan, Eldorado Peak and Forbidden Peak; 6 for the remainder of the cross-country zones. Those limits include people and stock. Cross-country zones start a mile from designated camps and half a mile from trails, have no maintained camps or trails, and only six of them - Boston Basin, Eldorado, Sulphide Glacier, Price, Triumph and Tapto Lakes - can be reserved in advance.
Food storage is set per camp: some hang, some have a box or a wire, and some require a canister outright, including Sahale Glacier, Boston Basin, Eldorado, Sulphide Glacier, Tapto Lakes, Thunder Basin and Fisher. Canisters are loaned at the Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount and the Glacier Public Service Center. The park's booking system also refuses unrealistic itineraries: Recreation.gov will not let you book sites more than a reasonable day's hike or paddle apart. Long-distance PCT permit holders no longer need a separate overnight permit for Six Mile Camp and Bridge Creek Camp.
The Experience
Why It Matters
North Cascades has the most glaciers of any park in the lower 48 and a fraction of the visitors of its neighbours. The permit system reflects that: cheap, camp-based, with a real walk-up allocation and, since 2025, most permits issued by email rather than in person.
The Route
Camping is camp-based. Each designated camp has a listed number of sites, a per-site capacity and a food-storage method, and the park's group limit is 12 within all trail corridors and camps, including people and stock - though it notes that terrain means not every camp can take 12.
Beyond the camps are cross-country zones, which the park describes as beginning a mile from designated camps and half a mile from trails, with no maintained camps or trails and travel made very difficult by rugged terrain. The group limit there drops to 6, except in the zones around Mount Shuksan, Eldorado Peak and Forbidden Peak, where it stays 12. Only six cross-country zones can be reserved in advance - Boston Basin, Eldorado, Sulphide Glacier, Price, Triumph and Tapto Lakes - and the rest are walk-up only.
The Feeling
Steep, wet, green and vertical. Camps are small - often three or four sites of four people - with a pit or composting toilet and either a hang, a food box or a required canister depending where you are.
Trailhead Information
Wilderness Information Center, Marblemount
7280 Ranger Station Road, Marblemount WA 98267. NPS calls this the main backcountry permit office for the park complex, and says it is open mid-May to mid-October.
Restrooms
No water
Nearest Services
Marblemount, Washington. NPS says no permit services are available in Sedro Woolley or Stehekin.
Notes
Bear canisters are loaned here, and NPS says you must come in person to pick up your permit if you need to borrow one. All permits for Cascade River Road trailheads, including Cascade Pass and Boston Basin, are picked up here in person.
Glacier Public Service Center
10091 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier, WA 98244. NPS describes it as a U.S. Forest Service ranger station jointly staffed by National Park Service wilderness rangers during the summer season.
Restrooms
No water
Nearest Services
Glacier, Washington, on the Mount Baker Highway.
Notes
In-person pickup on Thursdays and Fridays only, between June 25 and September 25, for camps and cross-country zones reached along the Mt. Baker Highway. That includes the Fisher Chimneys route on Mount Shuksan, the Chilliwack and Copper Ridge trails, and Whatcom Pass. Bear canisters are also loaned here.
Rules & Regulations
- •A backcountry permit is required year-round for all overnight trips
- •Group size is 12 in all trail corridors and camps and in the Mount Shuksan, Eldorado Peak and Forbidden Peak cross-country zones; 6 in the remaining cross-country zones. Limits include people and stock
- •Cross-country zones begin a mile from designated camps and half a mile from trails
- •Reservations must be made at least 2 days before the start date
- •Permits must be picked up by 11 am on the first day of the trip or they are cancelled
- •Bear canisters are required at specific camps; the park publishes the storage method per camp
- •Recreation.gov will not book sites that are more than a reasonable day's hike or paddle apart
- •Anyone borrowing a bear canister must collect their permit in person
Gear Checklist
Required
- Whatever food storage your specific camps require - the park publishes hang, box, wire or canister per camp
- Water treatment
- Rain gear built for the wettest range in the lower 48
- An ice axe for any early-season high camp or cross-country zone
Recommended
- A Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful pass for USFS trailhead parking
- Trekking poles for stream crossings
- Gaiters for brush and burn scars
- A vehicle with clearance for the gravel access roads
Plan Your Trip
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Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for NC Backcountry
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Key Landmarks
Wilderness Information Center, Marblemount
7280 Ranger Station Road, Marblemount WA 98267. NPS calls it the main backcountry permit office for the park complex, open mid-May to mid-October. Bear canisters are loaned here, and every Cascade River Road permit is picked up here in person.
Glacier Public Service Center
10091 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier, WA 98244. A U.S. Forest Service ranger station jointly staffed by National Park Service wilderness rangers in summer. Permits can be picked up here in person on Thursdays and Fridays only, between June 25 and September 25.
Cross-country zones
Areas rather than camps. You hold a zone and choose your own ground inside it. Group size is 12 in the zones around Mount Shuksan, Eldorado Peak and Forbidden Peak, and 6 in the remainder, including stock.
Designated camps
Named camps with numbered sites, each site carrying its own person capacity. Food storage, toilet type and campfire rules are set per camp, not park-wide.
Six Mile Camp and Bridge Creek Camp
The two camps where North Cascades honors the Pacific Crest Trail Association long-distance permit. PCTA long-distance permit holders no longer need a separate overnight backcountry camping permit for these two.
Lottery Statistics
Competitive
estimated success rate
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NC Backcountry FAQ
Do I need a permit to camp in North Cascades National Park?
Yes, year-round, for every overnight trip. It costs $10 per person for adults 16 and over - youth 15 and under are free - plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee. One permit covers up to 14 days.
Can I get a walk-up permit in North Cascades National Park?
Yes, and the allocation is meaningful: approximately 60% of the park's backcountry campsite inventory is reservable in advance and the remainder is walk-up, first-come first-served, issued only the day of or the day before your trip. The Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount is open May 15 to October 10, 2026.
When does the lottery open for a North Cascades backcountry permit?
The 2026 early-access lottery took applications from March 2 to March 13 with a 9:00 pm Pacific deadline, notified results on March 20, and let winners reserve from March 24 to April 21. General on-sale opened April 29 at 7:00 am Pacific.
What is the group size limit in North Cascades National Park?
Twelve within all trail corridors and camps, and in the cross-country zones around Mount Shuksan, Eldorado Peak and Forbidden Peak. Six for the remainder of the cross-country zones. Those limits include people and stock, and the park notes that terrain means not every camp can actually take twelve.
Do I need a bear canister in North Cascades National Park?
At some camps, yes. The park publishes a food-storage method for each camp - hang, box, wire or canister - and canisters are required at camps including Sahale Glacier, Boston Basin, Eldorado, Sulphide Glacier, Tapto Lakes, Thunder Basin and Fisher. They are loaned at the Wilderness Information Center and the Glacier Public Service Center, but you have to collect your permit in person to borrow one.
Can I get a North Cascades permit by email?
Usually. Beginning in 2025 the park allowed most backcountry visitors with advance reservations to obtain their permits by email. The exceptions are Cascade River Road trailheads - including Cascade Pass and Boston Basin - which must be picked up in person in Marblemount, and anyone borrowing a bear canister.
Can I camp in a cross-country zone in North Cascades National Park?
Yes, but only six zones can be reserved in advance: Boston Basin, Eldorado, Sulphide Glacier, Price, Triumph and Tapto Lakes. The rest are walk-up only. Zones begin a mile from designated camps and half a mile from trails, have no maintained camps or trails, and the park says travel in them is very difficult due to rugged terrain.
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Late light on the glaciers from any west-facing camp; the range's east side gets first light on rock rather than ice.
Best Light
Clear mornings after a front passes. Cloud sits on these peaks more days than not.
Beat the Crowds
Ninety-three percent of the complex is wilderness and most visitors never leave SR 20. Anything more than a few miles from the highway is quiet.
Classic Shots
- 📍Glacier-clad summits from a high camp
- 📍The Picket Range from any ridge that sees it
- 📍Blueberry and heather colour above treeline in late September
- 📍Old-growth along the valley approaches
- 📍Cable car crossings on the Chilliwack
Can't Get a NC Backcountry Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Cascade Pass
Same AreaSahale Glacier Camp at 7,600 feet and Pelton Basin below it, off the Cascade River Road.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
The best scenery in the park for the mileage, and correspondingly hard to book. In-person permit pickup in Marblemount only.
Copper Ridge
Same AreaThe 13.9-mile ridge traverse from Hannegan Pass with a lookout at 6,260 feet.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Longer and drier, with fire closures on the Chilliwack side and the trail closed beyond Whatcom Pass.
Mount Rainier Wilderness Permit
Similar ExperienceTrailside, cross-country and alpine camping on a single glaciated volcano.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
More expensive at $12 per person per night, and all permits must be collected in person - but a bigger camp network and a February lottery instead of a March one.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your NC Backcountry trip
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