How to get in01 pathPermit
Olympic Wilderness
Overnight wilderness camping in Olympic requires a Recreation.gov permit year-round — summer inventory opens on a fixed April release, not a lottery.
Overnight · Multi-day
HikeCampModeratePhysical effort · Estimate
Moderate — A solid outing — fitness helps, but it is not alpine epics.
Coast, rainforest, or alpine overnight miles — often muddy, rooty, and long.
Editorial estimate of the typical trip — not lottery hardness, and not an Official agency grade.
Photo by David Kovalenko
Good fitBackpackers who will book on the April summer release (or winter window) and can carry a required bear canister.
Usually notTravelers expecting a Rainier / North Cascades-style Early Access lottery timeslot.
Permit type
Wilderness Overnight Permit
How you get in
No % yet
Agency has not published odds
First-come reservation inventory on the April release — not a lottery. Bear canisters required parkwide for overnight trips; free loans at WICs (Official).
When to apply
Window closed
Apr 15 – Apr 15
Summer season reservation release · Official dates
Reservations for the summer season (May 15 – October 15) become available on April 15 at 7:00 a.m. PDT / 10:00 a.m. EDT on Recreation.gov. High-country areas may have a shorter bookable season due to snow (Official NPS / Rec.gov).
We checked 2026-09-23
The managing agency (and Recreation.gov when the product lives there) is authoritative for dates, fees, and whether registration is open. We summarize — always confirm on the official page before you apply.
If you miss this window, try these instead:
- WIC phone / email for camps not shown on the trip planner map
- Day hikes that do not need a wilderness overnight permit
Sources & notes
Other apply windows
- Year-round overnight requirementA wilderness permit is required for all overnight stays year-round. Winter-season reservations typically open mid-September for the following winter window (Official NPS). Some sites list In Station or walk-up only — contact the WIC.
A wilderness permit is required for all overnight stays year-round. Winter-season reservations typically open mid-September for the following winter window (Official NPS). Some sites list In Station or walk-up only — contact the WIC.
Backup options
Nearby or alternate ways in if these draws miss.
- Contact the Wilderness Information Center for In Station or walk-up listed sites
- Shoulder itineraries outside the busiest High Divide / Seven Lakes dates
- WIC phone / email for camps not shown on the trip planner map
- Day hikes that do not need a wilderness overnight permit
Field notes
All field notesPlaybooks for the confusing parts of applying — not live calendars.
Dates, group rules, a backup, entry day — the apply checklist is under Before you go
The managing agency (and Recreation.gov when the product lives there) is authoritative for dates, fees, and whether registration is open. We summarize — always confirm on the official page before you apply. Rec.gov permit 4098362 (Olympic / Daniel J. Evans Wilderness). Summer season reservations (May 15 – October 15) typically open April 15 at 7:00 a.m. PDT. Not an Early Access lottery product. About Official / Estimate / Not confirmed yet