Do I need a permit or reservation to visit Mount Rainier?
To visit Mount Rainier National Park, you may need a permit or reservation, in addition to paying the park entrance fee, depending on your activity. To determine what you need ask yourself the questions below:
Campgrounds are open during the summer season only. If you want to camp in one of the three vehicle campgrounds, you may need a camping reservation through Recreation.gov. Some campsites may be available first-come, first-served, but reservations are recommended.
If you want to stay in the National Park Inn or Paradise Inn (summer only), make a reservation with Rainier Guest Services.
If you want to backcountry camp in the wilderness, you need a wilderness permit. Some walk-up permits are available, although reservations are strongly encouraged during peak summer season.
Only official concessions or companies with Commercial Use Authorizations (CUA) are permitted to operate within the park (with the exception of vehicle tours, which pay the commercial tour fee). Check to ensure your activity provider is a current CUA holder.
What about non-profits? Organized groups in which participants exchange money for a service within Mount Rainier National Park are required to get a Special Use Permit in lieu of a CUA (SUPilCUA). This includes organizations that are non-profit; city, state, and collegiate recreational programs; military morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) programs; or those that offer fundraising climbs.
A CUA is required if you provide goods, activities, services, agreements, or other function for members, clients, or the public which:
take place at least in part on lands managed by the National Park Service,
use park resources, and
result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit.
The CUA holder is required to pay entrance fees on a per-person basis.
Groups from qualified education institutions are eligible for a fee waiver if they are coming to study park resources.
Fee waivers must be applied for at least one month prior to your planned visit.
Complete an Educational Fee Waiver application and email to mora_fee_waiver@nps.gov. Applications accepted by email ONLY; no fax or mail-in applications
Click on "View full screen" under the map for the best experience. Use the + or - toggle in the upper left corner of the map to zoom into an area. Use the tabs at the top of the map to switch between locations for weddings and film and still photography and locations for scattering ashes. A toggle on the lower left of the map will switch the view to summer versus winter locations (when this toggle is turned on drag the transition bar left to right to see the different locations available in the park in each season). You can also filter locations by specific location, area, or trail.
NOTE: Much of the park closes during the winter and there are fewer permit locations available during the winter season. Check road conditions for current status.
NOTE: Ricksecker Point is closed for the 2025 season due to construction. SUP locations along the road are not available in 2025.
Use the map above to search for locations for weddings, film and still photography, and scattering ashes that require a special use permit. Search for a location by:
Point, refers to a specific location in the park.
General Area, such as the Upper Mountain Area.
Mount Rainier Guest Services Operated Facility, such as the Paradise Inn.
Trails, indicated by black lines.
Green shaded areas for authorized locations to scatter ashes with a permit.
Tan shaded areas for locations where scattering ashes is prohibited except at specified roadside locations.
NOTE: Click on any these icons on the map, including trails and shaded areas, for more information.
Special Use Permits
Mount Rainier National Park, a recognizable national landmark with inspiring vistas and natural settings, is an ideal spot for a variety of special activities. Most special events and activities held within Mount Rainier National Park require a Special Use Permit. These permits are issued and approved only after National Park Service staff determine that the activity will not impair park values, resources, and visitor enjoyment.
A Special Use Permit is required for activities that provide a benefit to an individual, group, or organization, rather than the public at large and for activities that require some degree of management by the National Park Service in order to protect park resources and the public interest.
Please allow four weeks for the processing of permit applications. First Amendment applications will receive an application review within two business days.
Please read this legal notice regarding payment of fees by check.
For information on Special Use Permits or to email in your application, please contact the Special Use Permit Coordinator at mora_special_use@nps.gov or via phone at 360-569-6513. For Fee Waiver inquiries contact mora_fee_waiver@nps.gov. Applications accepted by email ONLY; no fax or mail-in applications.
Activities and events that require Special Use Permits include:
Fundraiser Climbs: Applicants interested in conducting a fundraising climb may apply using the CUA Application Form 10-550, found on the Commercial Services page.
Permit for Special Events
Depending on the size and complexity of the planned event, the park may require you obtain a special park use permit. If issued, the permit will include terms and conditions that protect park resources while allowing you to enjoy the park without interfering with other park visitors.
For most recreational activities, a permit is required if group size is greater than 24.
Location options for activities may be restricted, depending on group size.
On trails or in wilderness, groups must break into parties of 12 or less and maintain separation by staggering start times by at least 20 minutes, paying close attention to route selection and pace. Groups must not merge along the route or gather at any time.
Competitive events are not allowed in park wilderness.
We are unable to close areas for events, including roads.
The permittee must obtain all necessary wilderness and/or climbing permits prior to the activity. Entrance fees will not be waived.
Activity monitoring and cost-recovery charges may be required. Permit coordinators can help determine potential costs, if any, for the activity.
Email the application, along with your Pay.gov Transaction ID, to mora_special_use@nps.gov.
Applications should be submitted at least four weeks before the requested date. Please contact the Permit Coordinator via email if expediting of your application is requested (less than four weeks advance submission).
Once your application is received by the Permit Coordinator, they will work with you on conditions of your requested permit. A management fee of $250will be assessed for Special Events to recover costs associated with this permit request.
The management fee must be paid prior to finalization of the permit. .
Permit for Still Photography & Filming Activities
Still photography and filming have been redefined by the EXPLORE Act (PL 118-234 Section 12.5). Regardless of distribution platform, any video, still photograph, or audio recording for commercial or noncommercial content creation in a System unit shall be considered to be a filming or still photography activity.
A permit is not required for these activities if:
a) Involves 6 or less individuals
AND
b) Meets every requirement outlined in A – H
OR
The documenting is incidental to an already allowed or authorized activity.
A permit is required for any of these activities if it:
Includes more than 8 individuals
OR
Does not meet each of the following requirements outlined in A - H
(A) A person conducts the filming or still photography activity in a manner that—
(i) does not impede or intrude on the experience of other visitors
(ii) except as otherwise authorized, does not disturb or negatively impact—
I) a natural or cultural resource; or
(II) an environmental or scenic value; and
(iii) allows for equitable allocation or use of facilities of the applicable System unit.
(B) The person conducts the filming or still photography activity at a location in which the public is allowed.
(C) The person conducting the filming or still photography activity does not require the exclusive use of a site or area.
(D) The person does not conduct the filming or still photography activity in a localized area that receives a very high volume of visitation.
(E) The person conducting the filming or still photography activity does not use a set or staging equipment, subject to the limitation that handheld equipment (such as a tripod, monopod, and handheld lighting equipment) shall not be considered staging equipment for the purposes of this subparagraph.
(F) The person conducting the filming or still photography activity complies with and adheres to visitor use policies, practices, and regulations applicable to the applicable System unit.
(G) The filming or still photography activity is not likely to result in additional administrative costs being incurred by the Secretary with respect to the filming or still photography activity, as determined by the Secretary.
(H) The person conducting the filming or still photography activity complies with other applicable Federal, State (as such term is defined in section 3 of the EXPLORE Act), and local laws (including regulations), including laws relating to the use of unmanned aerial equipment.
All costs incurred by the National Park Service for issuing the permit, scouting locations, monitoring, or otherwise supporting the filming activities will be reimbursed by the permittee as a condition of the permit. As authorized by 54 U.S.C. § 103104 and in accordance with other applicable law and policy, the National Park Service will recover all costs of providing necessary services associated with this permit, including the costs of administering the permit and monitoring the permitted work or activities. The non-refundable application fee covers the initial processing of the application. Additional cost recovery fees associated with these permitted activities will not be waived.
Performance bond and liability insurance requirements must be met. The required amount of insurance will be determined by the potential risk to park resources and the complexity of activities.
General commercial liability insurance must be issued by a United States company. “United States Government” must be named as “additional insured” on the insurance certificate. Certificates naming the United States Government as “certificate holder” only are not acceptable.
Email the application, along with your Pay.gov Transaction ID, to mora_special_use@nps.gov.
A minimum of 90 days is requested to process the application and issue a permit. Please contact the Permit Coordinator via email if expediting of your application is necessary (you are unable to submit prior to 90 days of proposed acitivity).
Once your application is received by the Permit Coordinator, they will work with you on conditions of your requested permit. A minimum management fee of $375 will be assessed to recover costs associated with this permit request.
The management fee must be paid prior to finalization of the permit.
Permit for Weddings
A permit is required for all wedding ceremonies held within Mount Rainier National Park. Most ceremonies in the park are brief and simple; elaborate ceremonies do not work well in the park’s natural setting. Weather in the park is unpredictable. At higher elevations such as Paradise and Sunrise, snow often remains on the ground well into July.
Party size determines which locations may be used for wedding ceremonies. Please visit the Special Use Permits Location Map for more information.
1-12 participants: may use certain pre-determined locations, which may include select trails, picnic areas, roadside locations, and campground amphitheaters.
13-24 participants: may use certain pre-determined locations, which may include picnic areas, roadside locations, and campground amphitheaters.
25-60 participants: may use certain pre-determined locations, which may include roadside locations and campground amphitheaters.
60 + participants: may use campground amphitheaters.
Ceremonies may not:
Impede the activities of other park visitors.
Areas may not be roped off or blocked in any way to the general public.
Include the throwing of rice, confetti, etc.
Include seeding flowers, or any plants on the WA State noxious weed list.
All equipment must be requested and pre-approved.
Ceremony and photography must occur on durable surface (such as trail, rock, snow, or pavement) to avoid erosion or damage to fragile meadows.
Outdoor areas will not be closed off during ceremonies and parking cannot be reserved.
Email the application, along with your Pay.gov Transaction ID, to mora_special_use@nps.gov.
Applications should be submitted at least four weeks before the requested date. Please contact the Permit Coordinator via email if expediting of your application is requested (less than four weeks advance submission).
Once your application is received by the Permit Coordinator, they will work with you on conditions of your requested permit. A management fee of$250 will be assessed for Weddings to recover costs associated with this permit request.
The management fee must be paid prior to finalization of the permit.
Permit to Scatter Ashes
Human ashes may be scattered in Mount Rainier National Park with a permit.
Party size determines which locations in the park may be used for the spreading of ashes. Please visit the Special Use Permits Location Map for more information.
1-12 participants may use wilderness and primitive areas as well as many roadside locations.
13-24 participants may not use wilderness or primitive locations, but may use certain pre-determined locations as identified in the map linked above.
25-30 participants are limited to locations identified in the map linked above.
If group size is over 12, this activity may not take place at Paradise or Sunrise between the hours of 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm on weekends due to congestion.
Ceremonies may not impede the activities of other visitors. Outdoor areas will not be closed off during ceremonies and parking cannot be reserved.
Cremated remains must be pulverized and fully dispersed. Ashes may not be dispersed within 100 yards of any body of water, trail, roadside, or in a developed area.
No container, urn, flowers, or memorial markers may be left within park boundaries.
Ashes may not be spread within half a mile of Tipsoo Lake or Reflection Lake. These areas are not available for scattering of ashes due to the fragile ecosystems.
Scattering of ashes at any location above 10,000 ft will be dispersed as airborne, and not into crevasses, vents, on to snow, glacial ice, or any ground surface.
Email the application, along with your Pay.gov Transaction ID, to mora_special_use@nps.gov.
Applications should be submitted at least four weeks before the requested date. Please contact the Permit Coordinator via email if expediting of your application is requested (less than four weeks advanced submission).
Once your application is received by the Permit Coordinator, they will work with you conditions of your requested permit. A management fee of $150 will be assessed for Scattering Ashes to recover costs associated with this permit request.
The management fee must be paid prior to finalization of the permit.
Permit for Military Activities
Special Use Permits are required for all military uses. Determining when and where military units may conduct activities within park areas is a discretionary decision made by the park superintendent.
Military exercises may be allowed only if they relate to usual and normal park activities such as search and rescue, outdoor survival, and events not simulating conditions encountered in combat situations.
Military ceremonies are allowed in certain areas, depending on audience size and equipment needs.
From June through September, military activities may be restricted to Tuesday through Thursday depending on location.
The permittee must obtain all necessary wilderness and/or climbing permits prior to the activity. The per-person fee for these permits will not be waived.
Location of activities may be restricted, depending on group size and day of the week.
On trails or in wilderness, groups must break into parties of 12 or less and maintain separation by staggering start times by at least 20 minutes, paying close attention to route selection and pace. Groups must not merge along the route or gather at any time.
No weaponry will be carried, displayed, or used, except for ceremonial purposes, authorized public demonstrations, or in accordance with existing special park legislation. Weapons are not allowed in buildings.
A liaison officer will be designated by the military organization to be available to the superintendent throughout the permitted activity.
Complete an application form and email it to mora_special_use@nps.gov.
Applications must be submitted at least four weeks before the requested date. Please contact the Permit Coordinator via email if expediting of your application is requested (less than four weeks advance submission).
Application fees are not charged for military activities, but cost-recovery charges may be required.
Permit Coordinators can help determine potential costs, if any, for the actual activity.
