Planning Your Wilderness Trip

The Daniel J. Evans Wilderness remains one of the wildest regions in the contiguous United States. Nearly 50,000 campers enjoy Olympics' wilderness annually, with additional thousands exploring local day hikes. Listed below are various resources to help preserve this fragile ecosystem.

 

Step One

Decide where to backpack and check area regulations and amenities.

 

Hiker on Anderson Glacier Trail

Interactive - Wilderness Trip Planner Map

Wilderness Trip Planner Map

Backpacking FAQ Page

Storing Food Properly in the Backcountry

Protect Olympic - Leave No Trace Guidelines

 

Still have Questions? Drop by or call a Wilderness Center - Information Center Hours & Locations

 

Step Two

Check the current trail and road conditions. Consider forecasted weather, tidal restrictions, stream levels, and snow conditions.  

 

Sunset at Strawberry Point

Current Trail Conditions

Weather & Tides

Trail Descriptions & Information

 

Step Three

Reserve your permit. Permits are required year-round for all overnight hikes. The majority of backcountry campsites can be self-booked through Recreation.gov.

 

View of Mt. Olympus

Click Here to Book your Backpacking/Wilderness Permit

See our Wilderness Permit Reservations page for more information about permits.

 

Step Four

Check the additional information & resources below for additional information pertaining to your trip.

 

• Pets in the Park

  Pets are not allowed in designated Wilderness or on overnight trips. See our Pets in the Park page for pet friendly day use areas.

• Wilderness Regulations

• Backcountry Travel Basics

• Wilderness Safety

 

Additional Resources

• Backpacking with a Large Group
• Traveling with a Horse or Pack Animal
• Mountaineering in the Park  
• Winter Wilderness Conditions and Travel
• Guiding in the Park
• Hiking the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail

 

In 1988, Congress designated 95% of Olympic National Park as Wilderness. In December 2016, Congress re-designated the "Olympic Wilderness" as the "Daniel J. Evans Wilderness" to honor Senator Evans' dedication to preserving our wildest places. The Wilderness Act of 1964 directs federal agencies to manage wilderness so as to preserve its wilderness character. Find out more about National Park Service Wilderness areas, wilderness designation, the Wilderness Act and other nearby wilderness areas.

Import our Camp Area and Trailhead locations into your mapping program (Google Earth, CalTopo, etc.) and GPS

• Camp area coordinates: GPX Format | KMZ Format | KML Format

• Trail head coordinates: GPX Format | KMZ Format

• Trail layer: KMZ Format