Mount Rainier from near Emerald Ridge in June

The park saves approximately 30 percent of available wilderness permits to be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. These permits can be issued the same day your trip starts, or up to one day before your trip starts, but no sooner than one day. The only way to acquire a first-come, first-served permit is by coming to any Ranger Station in the park and attempting to get the permit, which is subject to availability. First-come, first-served permits cannot be issued over the phone.

The first-come, first-served permit was not available when I tried to get it.

I want to get a first-come, first-served permit for Summerland on July 15, but when I get to the Ranger Station they tell me there are no more permits for that night. How is this possible?

Scenario 1: Other parties may have gotten the permits before you that very same day (or one day before) from any Ranger Station in the park.

Scenario 2: Let's say you want Summerland on the night of July 15. You show up at a Ranger Station that has the earliest opening hours only to find the permits are gone. How is this possible?

A party may have come into the Ranger Station on July 13 to get a first-come, first-served permit to do a four day hike. Their permit looks like this:

July 13 Sunrise Camp
July 14 Glacier Basin Camp
July 15 Summerland Camp
July 16 Indian Bar

Summerland Camp has been obtained by this party for the night of July 15, the same night you are attempting to get that campsite.

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When you come into the Ranger Station to attempt to get your permit, be sure to have the following information:

• An emergency contact phone number
• The license plate number of any vehicle being left overnight in the park
• The make, model and color of the vehicle

In the summer, Ranger Stations where you can acquire permits are: The Longmire Wilderness Information Center at Longmire, the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise, the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center at Ohanapecosh, the White River Wilderness Information Center at the White River Entrance, the Sunrise Visitor Center at Sunrise and the Carbon River Ranger Station at the Carbon River Entrance. Note: there is no Ranger Station at Mowich Lake. The closest Ranger Station is at the Carbon River Entrance. For Ranger Station and WIC hours, travel here.

In the winter, permits are available at the Longmire Museum every day and the Jackson Visitor Center on weekends. Self-registration is available at the Carbon River Ranger Station, Ohanapecosh Ranger Station, and the Highway 410 entrance arch at the park's north boundary. For more information on winter camping, travel here.

The option to getting a first-come, first-served permit is to attempt to get a reservation. For more information on reservations, travel here.