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Mount St. Helens Climbing Permit

Wilderness Permit

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Overview

Day-use climbing permit for Mount St. Helens (8,366 ft), the most active volcano in the Cascade Range. Located in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot NF, Washington. Single division -- one permit covers the standard climbing route (Monitor Ridge / Climbers Bivouac). Non-technical but strenuous scramble over steep volcanic terrain to the crater rim. Max group size 12. Permits required year-round. Quota season April 1 -- October 31 with daily caps. Outside quota season (Nov 1 -- Mar 31) permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead.

Bottom Line

This is a pure FCFS permit -- no lottery. Permits release in monthly batches on the 1st of the preceding month at 7:00 AM Pacific (e.g., April permits on March 1). The tight quota window is May 15 -- Oct 31 with only 110 climbers/day, and weekends sell out fast at the monthly drop. Early season (Apr 1 -- May 14) has a generous 350 climbers/day cap and is much easier to get. Midweek dates are reliably available even in summer. If your target date is sold out, watch for cancellations -- they return to recreation.gov immediately with no set schedule, which is where alerts are most useful. The permit holder is limited to one permit per day and five active permits at a time, so hoarding is constrained.

Reservations

Quota season (Apr 1 -- Oct 31):

  • Apr 1 -- May 14: 350 climbers/day
  • May 15 -- Oct 31: 110 climbers/day
  • All FCFS, released at 7:00 AM PT on the 1st of the preceding month (one-month rolling window)
  • Reservations made through recreation.gov /api/permits/ endpoint (facility ID 4675309, division 999)
  • No lottery -- first come, first served only

Off-season (Nov 1 -- Mar 31):

  • No quota, no fee, no online reservation
  • Self-register at the trailhead
  • Sno-park pass required at Marble Mountain Sno-Park (Dec 1 -- Mar 30)

Permit rules:

  • Permit holder must be 18+ and carry valid government-issued photo ID
  • One permit per person per day; max 5 active permits at a time (new one allowed once a date passes or permit is printed)
  • Group member names/size can be changed up to 7 days before the climb date or before printing the permit
  • Permits printable starting 14 days before the climb date; once printed, no changes allowed
  • Permit date cannot be changed -- must cancel and rebook
  • Overnight use within the closure area prohibited unless you hold permits for consecutive days

Fees

  • $20/climber/day recreation fee (during quota season only)
  • $6 non-refundable reservation fee per transaction
  • Cancel 7+ days before climb date for refund of recreation fees (minus $6 reservation fee)
  • No refund for cancellations 6 days or fewer before the climb date
  • No refund for no-shows or adverse weather
  • Full refund (including $6 fee) only if the USFS closes the climbing route
  • Federal Recreation Pass (or equivalent) required for parking at Climbers Bivouac trailhead (a parking pass is provided with the climbing permit)
  • Off-season: free, no reservation fee

Group Size and Rules

  • Max group size: 12
  • All group members must carry a copy of the permit and valid photo ID (children may use alternative ID)
  • Entry into the crater is strictly prohibited
  • No drones or aircraft landings on or along the climbing route or at the summit
  • Fill out the climbing register at the trailhead before and after your climb
  • Blue Bags (waste bags) encouraged
  • Pets strongly discouraged on the climbing route
  • Do not rely on cell phones for emergency communication -- coverage is unreliable on the mountain

Availability