Olympic National Park Wilderness Permits

Overview

Itinerary-based wilderness permit for Olympic National Park (Daniel J. Evans Wilderness), Washington. You build a night-by-night campsite itinerary from 159+ designated camps spanning glacier-capped alpine basins, old-growth temperate rainforest valleys, and 70+ miles of wild Pacific coastline. Required year-round for all overnight wilderness stays. Popular areas include Enchanted Valley, Shi Shi Beach, the Ozette coast loop, Hoh River, Sol Duc/Seven Lakes Basin, Flapjack Lakes, Royal Basin, Grand Valley, and Glacier Meadows (Mt. Olympus approach). Many sites are marked "No Campfires." Stock camps, group sites, cross-country zones, and winter-only sites also exist.

Bottom Line

All reservations for the May 15 -- Oct 15 summer season open on April 15 at 7:00 AM PDT and go FCFS -- there is no lottery. The most popular camps (Enchanted Valley, Flapjack Lakes, Royal Basin, Shi Shi Beach, High Divide corridor) sell out within minutes of the opening. Midweek starts and September dates have better odds. Some permits are held as "In Station" walk-ups available only through the Wilderness Information Center (WIC) by phone or in person. Cancellations return to recreation.gov immediately with no set schedule -- this is where alerts are most useful. High-country sites have a shorter reservable window due to snowpack. The per-person-per-night fee structure ($8/adult/night) makes longer trips expensive compared to flat-fee permits elsewhere.

Reservations

Permit required year-round. Summer season: May 15 -- October 15.

• Reservations open April 15 at 10:00 AM EDT / 7:00 AM PDT for the full summer season, FCFS
• High-country areas have a shorter reservable window (contact WIC for exact dates)
• "In Station" sites are walk-up only -- call WIC at (360) 565-3100
• Cross-country trips (e.g. Bailey Range traverse) must be booked through WIC by phone
• Permits are issued by WIC staff 3 days before your trip start; you then print at home
• Cancel 3+ full days before start date for a refund (minus $6 reservation fee)
• Start date cannot be changed -- must cancel and rebook
• Cancellations return to the system immediately

Fees

• $6 non-refundable reservation fee per permit
• $8/person/night for adults (16+)
• Free for youth 15 and under (must be included in group size)
• Annual Olympic Wilderness Pass waives nightly fee for pass holder only
• Separate park entrance fee required

Group Size and Rules

• Max group size 6--12 depending on camp area (check the NPS Wilderness Trip Planner Map)
• Groups of 7+ in Sol Duc/Seven Lakes Basin, Hoh Lake Trail, Hoh River Valley, Grand Valley, Royal Basin, Flapjack Lakes, Lake Constance, and Upper Lena Lake must use designated group sites
• Affiliated groups cannot combine beyond 12 people and must camp/travel 1+ mile apart
• Permit holder must be 16+
• Max 8 stock animals; stock prohibited in some areas
• Bear canisters required for all overnight trips -- bear wires and self-constructed hangs are not accepted (free loaners at WIC)
• No pets on any park trail, meadow, beach, or undeveloped area
• No vehicles, bicycles, or wheeled devices on trails
• No fishing license required within the park