Washington’s Backcountry Permit System

Backcountry camping in Washington is something you don’t want to miss. But many require permits—and some of those require a lottery system. For first timers the process can seem daunting and confusing to say the least. (I was initially even struggling to explain it) Thats why I put together this complete guide to Washington’s backcountry permit system.

Here’s how it works for the Enchantments, Mount Rainier National Park, the North Cascades National Park and the Olympic National Park in Washington.

Table of Contents

Mount Rainier National Park – Washington’s Permit System explained

Mount Rainier’s backcountry is known for its glaciers, wildflower meadows, and jaw-dropping summit views. (It’s kinda amazing how often you get INCREDIBLE views of Rainier in one park.) It’s one of Washington’s most iconic landscapes, and getting a permit for backcountry camping here requires planning. Especially if you want to hike the Wonderland Trail. (A 93 mile trail that circumnavigates the entire mountain)

Mount Rainier requires permits for ALL back country campsites. And some of them are very sought after so its important to get early access.

2026 Washington Permit Calendar at a Glance

Area	Lottery Opens	Lottery Closes	Results	General Booking Opens
Enchantments	Feb 15	Mar 1	Mid-March	After lottery (cancellations only)
Mount Rainier	February	Mid-February	Mid-March	April 25
North Cascades	February	Mid-February	Mid-March	Late April
Olympic	N/A	N/A	N/A	Mid-April (no lottery)

Dates vary slightly each year — always verify at Recreation.gov

Pro tip: Set phone reminders for lottery opening dates. Missing the window means waiting another year.

How the Backcountry Permits work at Mount Rainier National Park.

About two-thirds of wilderness permits are up for grabs in advance for the backcountry. These permits are for the season running from the end of May through Columbus Day. You’ll need to reserve your spot at least two days before your trip starts.

Reservations for these sites open up on April 25, and there’s also an Early Access Lottery if you want a better chance at snagging a permit. And it can make all the difference. More details on that below.

The other third of the permits? They’re available on-site, first-come, first-served. So, if you’re feeling spontaneous, you’ve still got a shot! Just stop by any of the ranger stations.

Whats is early access?

Wilderness camp permits can fill up fast, so they created an early access lottery to give you a better chance at booking. It helps spread out the demand for multi-night trips and makes it easier to get a complete itinerary.

Once you’re picked, (Yay, you won the lottery) you’ll get a date and time when you can start booking. You can only make one reservation during the early access period, but after April 25, you can book more trips if spots are open.

If you get a later access time, you might not get your first choice, but you can still find a good spot. Don’t stress!

When to apply and when do you find out?

The early access permit lottery for Mount Rainier usually opens in February. Check out HERE for the exact date for the current year.

Results are usually announced by mid-March. Check the same website as above for the exact date.

Popular Rainier Backpacking Routes That Require Permits:

Wonderland Trail — The legendary 93-mile circumnavigation. A bucket-list thru-hike.
Spray Park — Wildflower meadows with Rainier views
Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground — One of the park’s most scenic camps
Summerland to Panhandle Gap — Alpine tundra and glacier views

Not ready for overnight permits yet? Start with my guide to the Best Day Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park — no permits required for day hiking.

Olympic National Park – Washington’s Permit System explained

Olympic National Park is like the ultimate backcountry playground—forests, coastlines, mountains, and even alpine lakes. Because of its popularity, certain areas have limited access, and require permits. Unlike Mount Rainier National park, NCNP and the Enchantments, the Olympic National Park opens its permits in Mid April for the season.

They keep it easy.

Popular Olympic Backpacking Routes That Require Permits:

Shi Shi Beach & Point of the Arches — Iconic coastal backpacking with sea stacks
Enchanted Valley — The “Valley of 10,000 Waterfalls”
Seven Lakes Basin — Alpine lakes in the High Divide
Royal Basin — Stunning glacial cirque

I’ve backpacked Shi Shi Beach and it’s one of my favorite coastal overnight trips in Washington. Read my complete guide: Epic Guide to Backpacking Shi Shi Beach

For day trip planning and logistics, see my Weekend in Olympic National Park Guide.

North Cascades National Park

North Cascades is known for its rugged beauty and relatively low visitor numbers compared to places like Mount Rainier and Olympic. I often scratch my head that its one of the least visited parks in the country. Say what?

How the Backcountry Permits work in North Cascades National Park

In the North Cascades National Park about 60% of backcountry sites are available to reserve in advance for peak season trips. The other 40% of sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis through walk-up permits at the permit station.

They also operate an early access lottery, similar to Mount Rainier National Park.

Popular North Cascades Backpacking Routes:

Cascade Pass to Sahale Arm — Glacier views and mountain goats
Copper Ridge Loop — Remote ridgeline camping
Thunder Creek — Old-growth forest and river valleys
Thornton Lakes — Alpine lakes with rugged peaks

The North Cascades are one of the least-visited national parks in the country, which means quieter trails and better permit availability than Rainier. For complete trip planning, see my Guide to North Cascades National Park.

If you’re visiting in fall for larch season, many of the best trails are just outside the park boundary on the Highway 20 corridor. Check out my Best Fall Hikes in Washington for options like Maple Pass, Blue Lake, and Cutthroat Pass that don’t require overnight permits.

EARLY ACCESS RECAP: Wilderness camp permits can fill up fast, so they created an early access lottery to give you a better chance at booking. It helps spread out the demand for multi-night trips and makes it easier to get a complete itinerary.

Once you’re picked, (Yay, you won the lottery) you’ll get a date and time when you can start booking.

If you aren’t picked, you will need to apply for a permit on the general open registration day.

The Enchantment Lottery – Washington’s Permit System explained

Every year, the lottery for the Enchantments usually opens in February. The exact dates can change, so you need to stay on top of it. You’ll enter through the Recreation.gov system.

Choosing your dates: This lottery works a little differently in that you pre select your preferred dates for your trip and how many people will be in your group as well as the zone you would like to camp in.

Once the lottery is open, you can apply for a permit. The process is like entering a lottery—you don’t need to pay up front for the permit, just the lottery fee. Enter your info and desired dates. After the application window closes, the lottery randomly selects winners.

Enchantments Zone Breakdown:

Core Zone — The most coveted permits. Gnome Tarn, Leprechaun Lake, Lake Viviane. Lottery odds around 2-3%.
Colchuck Zone — Camp at Colchuck Lake, day-hike into the Core via Aasgard Pass
Stuart Zone — Less competitive, access to Stuart Lake and surrounding peaks
Snow Zone — Enter via Snow Lakes trailhead, slightly better odds than Core
Eightmile/Caroline Zone — Easiest permits, beautiful lakes but outside the “classic” Enchantments

Results:

The lottery results are released after the deadline. If you’re lucky, you’ll get an email confirming that you’ve won a permit. If not, you’ll be notified that you didn’t win this round.

Costs and permits: Once you win a spot, you’ll pay for your permit. The fees can vary depending on the length of your stay and how many people are in your group. You have to make sure to follow the rules on campfires, group size, and wilderness ethics, or you could risk getting fined or kicked out.

Didn’t Win the Lottery? You Have Options:

Thru-hike it in a day — No permit required for day use. It’s an 18-mile, 4,500-foot sufferfest, but it’s doable with training. I’ve done it twice. Read my complete Enchantments Thru-Hike Guide for logistics, gear, and what to expect.
Day-hike to Colchuck Lake — 8 miles round trip, stunning turquoise water beneath Dragontail Peak. No permit needed.
Try for walk-up permits — Limited number released daily. Requires flexibility and luck.
Watch for cancellations — Check Recreation.gov regularly as dates approach.

Training for the Enchantments: The Enchantments aren’t beginner-friendly, whether you’re backpacking or thru-hiking. If you’re building toward this goal, start with:

Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking — Master the fundamentals first
8 Easy Overnight Trips Near Seattle — Build experience on shorter trips
Robin Lakes — Similar difficulty to Aasgard Pass, great training ground

Best Time for Enchantments Permits: Most people apply for summer dates, but fall (late September/early October) offers golden larches and slightly better lottery odds. Check my Washington Larch Timing Guide for peak color predictions.

Why is there a lottery for the Enchantments?

Because this area is so popular, there are way more applicants than there are permits available. That’s why it’s all about the luck of the draw. Without a lottery system, people would flood the area, potentially ruining the experience for everyone. The lottery helps to keep the wilderness preserved and ensure everyone has a fair chance.

Alternatives if you don’t win: If you don’t get a permit in the lottery, there’s always the chance of cancellation spots opening up later, or you could try thru hiking the Enchantments in one day.

Chances of getting an permit for the Enchantments

The chances of getting a permit for the Enchantments lottery can vary significantly each year, depending on several factors like how many people apply, how many permits are available, and how many people enter for the same dates.

On average, for peak season dates (like the summer months), the chances of winning a permit can be relatively low. There are only about 40 permits available per day for each of the core Enchantment camping zones and the demand is extremely high.

Here are a few rough estimates to give you an idea:

If you’re applying for a weekend or holiday date: Your chances might be as low as 5-10%. These dates are the most popular, so there are lots of applicants.
For mid-week dates: Your odds might increase a little bit, to maybe 10-15%, since fewer people apply for dates that fall on weekdays.
Off-season dates: If you’re applying for early or late-season dates (before the peak summer rush or into the fall), your chances can go up, as fewer people are vying for those dates. In these cases, your chances could be 20-30% or better, depending on demand.

Don’t Want to Deal with Permits? Try These Instead

Not every great backpacking trip in Washington requires a lottery win. Here are incredible overnight adventures with no permit lottery (though some still require self-registration at trailheads):

Alpine Lakes Wilderness (Outside Enchantments Zones):

Robin Lakes — Stunning views of Mount Daniel, challenging but rewarding
Spectacle Lake — Remote and beautiful
Waptus Lake — Big lake, easier terrain

Easy First-Timer Trips:

8 Easy Overnight Trips Near Seattle — Perfect for building skills without permit stress
Chain Lakes Loop at Mount Baker — Alpine lakes, Mount Baker views, beginner-friendly

Family-Friendly Options:

9 Easy Backpacking Trips with Kids in Washington — Shorter distances, easier permits

Solo Adventures:

Solo Backpacking for Women — Safety tips and confidence-building for going alone

Multi-Day Adventures (No Lottery):

PCT Section J — 90 miles through Washington’s best alpine terrain. No lottery, just self-registration

For more options, see my complete list of 13 Best Backpacking Trips in Washington.

General Tips for Navigating Washington’s Permit System

1. Plan Ahead — Way Ahead Lotteries open in February for summer trips. That means you need to know what you want to do months in advance. Start by browsing my 13 Best Backpacking Trips in Washington to identify your target destinations.

2. Be Flexible on Dates Mid-week permits are easier to get than weekends. If you can take a Wednesday-Thursday trip instead of Saturday-Sunday, your odds improve significantly.

3. Apply for Multiple Lotteries Nothing stops you from entering the Rainier, North Cascades, AND Enchantments lotteries in the same year. Hedge your bets.

4. Have a Backup Plan Didn’t win? Pivot to a no-permit-required trip. My beginner backpacking trips guide and kids backpacking guide are full of alternatives.

5. Don’t Sleep on Walk-Up Permits Many parks hold back 30-40% of permits for day-of walk-ups. If you’re local and flexible, showing up early at a ranger station can work — especially mid-week.

6. Check for Cancellations People’s plans change. Check Recreation.gov regularly as your target dates approach. Prime weekend spots do open up.

7. Build Skills While You Wait Use the time between applying and (hopefully) winning to get ready. Read my Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking and do some practice overnight trips. You don’t want to win a permit and then realize you’re not prepared.

Ready to Use That Permit?

Destination Guides:

Thru-Hiking the Enchantments — Complete guide to Washington’s most coveted hike
Best Hikes in Mount Rainier — Day hikes and backpacking routes
North Cascades Complete Guide — The least-visited national park
Olympic National Park Weekend — Coastal and alpine adventures
Backpacking Shi Shi Beach — Iconic Olympic coast overnight

Build Your Skills:

Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking — Master the fundamentals
8 Easy Overnight Trips Near Seattle — Practice runs before the big permits
Backpacking with Kids — Family-friendly overnights
Solo Backpacking for Women — Go it alone with confidence

Plan Your Timing:

Best Fall Hikes in Washington — Larch season alternatives
Larch Timing Guide — When to go for golden larches
Winter at Mount Rainier — Off-season adventures

More Bucket-List Backpacking:

Chain Lakes at Mount Baker — Beginner-friendly alpine camping

13 Best Backpacking Trips in Washington — The ultimate list

Robin Lakes — Train for the Enchantments here

Good luck!

Hopefully this gave you a better idea into Washington’s backcountry lottery and permit system.