National Parks - Washington

SKIP TO NORTH CASCADES PERMITS

Mt. Rainier National Park

Official NPS Website - Mt. Rainier National Park

All activities with a total group size of 25 or more people  must obtain a Special Use Permit (SUP) from Mt. Rainier National Park. Branch activity committees are responsible for obtaining these SUPs. More information and regulations on Permits for Organized Group Recreation can be found on the park's Permits & Reservations page. The permit application may be downloaded here. If you need additional support applying for an SUP, please contact  staff at info@mountaineers.org.

All overnight groups need to secure camping permits. Special Use Permits do not cover overnight use.

Paradise

One of the areas within Mt. Rainier National Park that is often used for Mountaineers trips and course field trips is Paradise. Due to its popularity with Mountaineers courses for climbing instruction, Paradise is one of the routes/places included in our Internal Climbing and Scrambling Lottery for course-related field trips. For more about the Internal Lottery, please click here. 

Below are links to the Paradise permitting calendar. Use the iCal feed to get calendar alerts.

PERMITTING CALENDAR FOR ParadiseParadise CALENDAR - ICAL FEED

Observation Rock

One of the areas within Mt. Rainier National Park that is often used for Mountaineers trips and course field trips is Observation Rock. Due to its popularity with Mountaineers courses for climbing instruction, Observation Rock is one of the routes/places included in our Internal Climbing and Scrambling Lottery for course-related field trips. For more about the Internal Lottery, please click here. 

Below are links to the Observation Rock permitting calendar. Use the iCal feed to get calendar alerts.

PERMITTING CALENDAR FOR Observation RockObservation Rock CALENDAR - ICAL FEED

North Cascades National Park

Official NPS Website - North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National park currently does not require The Mountaineers to obtain permits for any of our trips, but courses and course field trips require a Commercial Use Authorization. The Park typically accepts applications for 2-year CUAs  through mid-March each year, and CUA's are activity-specific. Please contact info@mountaineers.org if you would like to apply for a CUA for a field trip or paid clinic for an activity we do not already have a CUA for. Please follow all Mountaineers group guidelines when leading trips or courses in North Cascades National Park. 

Notes:

• Leaders are responsible for securing backcountry permits or other required permits even if  we have a CUA.
• All course field trips or paid clinics must have a First Aid and CPR certified leader present. The First Aid and CPR certificates must be uploaded to the park web portal by Mountaineers staff prior to the trip
• All mountaineering field trips or paid clinics must have a WFR-certified leader and a leader with documented climbing certifications (an AMGA certification OR Mountaineers climb leader with a recent resume of training and experience). Both qualifications must be uploaded to the park web portal by Mountaineers staff prior to the trip

Mountaineering CUA current through 12/31/2027

Day Hiking CUA current through 12/31/2027

Olympic National Park

Official NPS Website - Olympic National Park

All fee-based (course-related) trips require a Non-Profit Special Use Permit, along with documentation from the IRS of The Mountaineers non-profit status. Branch activity committees are responsible for applying for these Special Use Permits. For more information and to apply for a permit, contact the Olympic National Park Concessions Assistant or call 360-565-3028.