Reservation8/10
Olympic Coast
73-mile wilderness beach traverse along Washington's wildest coastline, from Shi...
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ReservationOvernightHigh Demand
Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit
The single overnight permit for backpacking anywhere in Olympic National Park's 95 percent wilderness, covering the Hoh rainforest, the High Divide, the Sol Duc and Elwha valleys, and 73 miles of wild Pacific coast. Required year-round and booked on Recreation.gov by wilderness area.
“One permit unlocks glaciated peaks, temperate rainforest, and wild coastline inside a single national park, the only place in the lower 48 where you can do all three on one trip.”
Track a specific zone— not the whole wilderness
Olympic Wilderness Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh8/10
SeasonMay 15 - October 15
Cost$8/person/night (ages 16+, free 15 and under) plus a $6 non-refundable reservation fee per permit. A $45 annual wilderness pass covers the nightly fee for 12 months.
Max Group Size12 people
Olympic Wilderness Permit Facts
- As of July 2026, Olympic Wilderness in Olympic National Park, National Parks requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Olympic Wilderness is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Olympic Wilderness runs May 15 through October 15.
- Cancelled Olympic Wilderness permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
SeasonMay 15 - October 15
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level8/10
LocationNPS
Pro Tips
- •Set an alarm for April 15 at 10:00 AM Eastern if you want the Hoh, Ozette, or Sol Duc high country in peak summer.
- •The east and south sides (Staircase, Dosewallips, Quinault) hold openings midweek when the marquee corridors are full.
- •Track cancellations with PermitSnag on a specific wilderness area rather than the whole park, spots reopen constantly through summer.
- •Borrow a bear canister at the Wilderness Information Center instead of buying one for a single trip.
- •For coastal camps, plan around the tide table before you plan around mileage.
What to Expect
Highlights
- •Book by wilderness area, not by a single trailhead, then plan camps within the area you reserved
- •Real-time availability and instant confirmation on Recreation.gov
- •Designated numbered camps in the busiest corridors (Hoh, Sol Duc, Ozette, coast)
- •Three distinct environments: glaciated peaks, old-growth rainforest, and wilderness coast
- •Free bear canister loans from the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles
Best Time to Visit
Late July through September is the driest stretch, with high-country snow mostly melted out and the longest coastal daylight for timing tides. May and June are green and quiet in the valleys but wet and snowbound up high.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Fast-moving Pacific storms and heavy rain in every season
- !River crossings that rise quickly after rain or snowmelt
- !Tide-dependent headlands on the coast that can trap hikers against cliffs
- !Snow lingering on high passes into July in the Sol Duc and Bailey Range high country
- !Little to no cell service across most of the wilderness
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
When to Go
Peak: AugustShoulder: Late September for larch color
Conditions
Warmest and driest season. Snow-free at most elevations by late July.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Best weather
- +Snow-free travel
- +Long days
Challenges
- !Bugs in early season
- !Crowded popular trails
- !Permit demand peaks
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand1/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk1/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment3/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Hikers of moderate fitness willing to put in the effort.
Recommended Experience
Basic hiking experience. Start with shorter trails if new to hiking.
About This Permit
The Olympic National Park Wilderness Permit is one permit that covers all overnight backpacking inside the park, split into 15 wilderness areas on Recreation.gov: Staircase, Dosewallips, Hurricane, Elwha, Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Hoh, Queets, Quinault, Bailey Range, Lake Crescent, North Coast, South Coast, plus a Pacific Northwest Trail thru-permit. You reserve the specific area and dates you plan to camp, and the same permit stays with you as you move between zones on a longer route.
Permits are required year-round for every overnight stay in Olympic wilderness. There is no lottery. Summer-season dates (May 15 through October 15) go on sale April 15 at 10:00 AM Eastern, and popular quota areas sell out fast. Outside that window you still need a permit, booked the same way. Paper self-registration at trailheads no longer exists, so book ahead on Recreation.gov or through the Wilderness Information Center.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Olympic protects nearly a million acres of designated wilderness (the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness) across three ecosystems that almost never sit side by side. Mount Olympus carries active glaciers, the Hoh and Quinault valleys hold some of the last old-growth temperate rainforest on earth, and the coastal strip stays roadless for miles. A backpacking permit is the only way to sleep out in any of it, and demand for the quota areas is real: Ozette, the Hoh, and the Sol Duc high country book out within minutes of opening.
The Route
There is no one route. The permit covers 15 wilderness areas, and where you camp is where you reserve. Valley approaches like the Hoh River, Elwha, and North Fork Quinault start low and green, gaining elevation slowly toward high camps and passes. The High Divide loop out of Sol Duc strings together Seven Lakes Basin and a ridgeline face-to-face with Mount Olympus. Staircase and Dosewallips open the drier east side of the range. The North and South Coast routes trade switchbacks for tide tables, sand, and headland scrambles on fixed ropes.
Most trips run 2 to 5 nights. Popular corridors use designated numbered camps and fill first, while quieter areas on the east and south sides often have space midweek. Bear canisters are required in every wilderness camp area, and the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles loans them free to permit holders.
The Feeling
Rain drips off moss the size of dinner plates in the valley bottoms, then the trail climbs into subalpine meadows where marmots whistle and the whole Bailey Range fills the horizon. Down on the coast you time your walk to the tide, watch bald eagles work the driftwood line, and fall asleep to surf instead of silence.
Rules & Regulations
- •Wilderness permit required year-round for all overnight stays
- •Bear canisters required in all wilderness camp areas
- •Maximum group size 12, with designated group sites for parties of 7 to 12 in areas like Sol Duc and Seven Lakes Basin
- •Affiliated groups may not exceed 12 people combined
- •Camp only in designated sites where they are assigned, and follow food storage rules
- •$8 per person per night for ages 16 and up, plus a $6 reservation fee per permit
Gear Checklist
Required
- Bear canister (loaner available free with a permit)
- Rain shell and waterproof layers for a wet maritime climate
- Printed permit and, for coastal routes, a current tide table
- Water filter or treatment
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Olympic Wilderness
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Key Landmarks
12,453 permits and 8,294 campsites secured by PermitSnag users
Olympic Wilderness FAQ
Is the Olympic National Park wilderness permit a lottery?
No. The Olympic wilderness permit is a first-come reservation, not a lottery. Summer dates (May 15 through October 15) open April 15 at 10:00 AM Eastern on Recreation.gov, and the busiest quota areas like the Hoh, Ozette, and Sol Duc high country can sell out within minutes.
How much does the Olympic National Park wilderness permit cost?
The permit charges $8 per person per night for anyone 16 and older, and youth 15 and under are free. Each overnight permit also carries a $6 non-refundable reservation fee. A $45 annual wilderness pass covers the nightly fee for 12 months but not the reservation fee.
Do I need a permit for every part of Olympic National Park?
One wilderness permit covers your whole trip, but you reserve the specific wilderness area (or areas) where you plan to camp each night. If your route crosses from, say, Sol Duc into Bogachiel, you book camps in each area on the same permit.
Is a bear canister required for the Olympic National Park wilderness permit?
Yes. Bear canisters are required in all Olympic wilderness camp areas. The Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles loans them free to anyone with a backpacking permit, first-come, first-served.
What is the group size limit on the Olympic National Park wilderness permit?
The maximum is 12 people. Parties of 7 to 12 must use designated group sites in areas such as Sol Duc and Seven Lakes Basin, and affiliated groups cannot exceed 12 people combined.
Can I still get a walk-up Olympic National Park wilderness permit?
There are no longer paper self-registration permits at trailheads. Book on Recreation.gov ahead of time, or contact the Wilderness Information Center for areas that release permits by phone or in person.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
Questions
Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Golden hour at Olympic Wilderness offers the best photography conditions with warm, directional light.
Best Light
Early morning typically provides the clearest conditions and best light quality.
Beat the Crowds
Weekdays and early mornings see fewer visitors for cleaner compositions.
Classic Shots
- 📍Classic view of Olympic Wilderness
- 📍Olympic scenery
- 📍Trail or route documentation
Can't Get a Olympic Wilderness Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Olympic Coast Trail
Same AreaThe wilderness coast leg of Olympic, sea stacks and tide-timed headlands from Shi Shi Beach south.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A dedicated coastal thru-hike instead of a park-wide backcountry permit, and it needs a Makah Recreation Pass for the Shi Shi start.
Enchanted Valley
Same AreaQuinault backcountry valley with a historic chalet and a wall of seasonal waterfalls.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A single popular valley rather than the whole park, and it books out fast in summer.
Seven Lakes Basin
Same AreaThe High Divide loop out of Sol Duc, lake basins facing Mount Olympus.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Focused on the Sol Duc high country, with snow lingering on the passes into July.
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