Wilderness Camping at Mount Rainier National Park

A backpacker hikes along a trail in the Sunrise Area on route to a wilderness camping site.

NPS/C. Meleedy Photo

Approximately 97% of Mount Rainier National Park is designated wilderness, with only a small part of the park easily accessed along road corridors. Hiking and wilderness camping provides a way to explore this wilderness and experience a greater portion of the park.

Most backpackers prefer to use the established designated trailside camps along the park’s trail system. Camping along trails is only permitted at these established camps. All camps have primitive toilet facilities, marked sites, food storage poles (bear poles) for hanging food and garbage, and a nearby water source.

Resources for planning wilderness camping trip:
Wilderness Guidelines & Regulations
Trail & Backcountry Camp Conditions
Wilderness Trip Planner (PDF)

Permits

A permit is required year-round for all overnight stays in the backcountry. A wilderness permit allows the permit holder and their group to camp in a designated camp or area. A climbing permit is required for travel above 10,000 feet or on glaciers. Permits must be obtained in person at a wilderness information center or visitor center. Walk-up permits are available year-round. Advanced reservations are available for the peak season (June-September) on Recreation.gov. For details on wilderness permit reservations, including applying for the early access lottery, visit the wilderness permit webpage.

Party Size

• Summer: Party size is limited to 5 people for camping in individual sites at trailside designated camps, camping off-trail in cross-country zones, and camping on bare ground in alpine zones. Parties may not exceed five people. Party size for “groups” is defined as 6 to 12 people. Group camping is permitted at specific group sites at 25 designated camps, and when camping on snow in alpine zones.

• Winter: Party size is limited to 12 people for all areas. Large group (over 12 people) winter camping is available at Paradise by reservation. More on winter camping at Paradise.

Safety

Hikers need to emphasize personal safety as they journey by foot through the backcountry and along many of the popular trails. For trail conditions and information, talk with a ranger at any visitor center or wilderness information center. Be prepared for encounters with wildlife. Use the following tips to keep your journey safe:

• Protect yourself by wearing appropriate outdoor clothing including footwear.

• Be prepared. Carry the ten essentials even on a short sightseeing hike.

• Always tell someone of your travel plans so they can notify the park if you fail to return.

• Do not travel alone. If visibility is poor, do not travel at all.

Pay Attention To The Weather
At Mount Rainier, the weather can change rapidly. Hikers who aren’t prepared for weather conditions increase their risk of becoming lost or injured. Avoid problems by planning and preparing for Mount Rainier’s changeable weather. For more information on weather, including current forecasts, go to the weather webpage.

Hiking in Geohazard Zones
As a volcano topped with glaciers, the landscape of Mount Rainier can change suddenly and unexpectedly. Rising water level, shaking ground and a rumbling noise may signal a debris flow or lahar. If you are near a river and notice: a rapid rise in water level, feel a prolonged shaking of the ground, and/or hear a roaring sound coming from up valley (often described as the sound made by a fast–moving freight train), then move quickly to higher ground! A location 160 feet (50 m) or more above river level should be safe. Learn more about geohazards.

Hiking in Spring
After a long, dark winter it can be exciting to be back in the park in spring! However, it's also easy to underestimate the risks and hazards at higher elevations on the mountain. Rivers are running strong with melting snow, and snow can linger at the higher elevations well into June or July. Plan to be self-sufficient when traveling in the wilderness as the park does not mark hazards, stabilize avalanche slopes, or designate safe routes. You are responsible for your own safety. Follow the tips for safe spring hiking.

Leave No Trace

When traveling in the wilderness of Mount Rainier National Park you should be prepared to Leave No Trace, or only minimal signs of your visit. The National Park Service is a cooperating agency in the Leave No Trace national educational program. Please incorporate the following ideas and practices into your planning and travel in wilderness areas.

• Plan ahead and Prepare: Seek information regarding weather, route conditions, restrictions, less-traveled routes, etc. Know the park regulations.

• Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces: In popular or high use areas, concentrate use. Hike on existing trails and select durable rest spots. In designated wilderness camps, camp only in designated sites.

• Dispose of Waste Properly: “Pack it in, pack it out.” Reduce litter at the source by repackaging food into reusable containers. Reduce food waste leftover from cooking by planning meals carefully. Pack out all trash, food scraps, and toilet paper. 

• Human waste: All trailside camps at Mount Rainier have pit or composting toilets. In a cross-county zones the "cathole" method is the most widely accepted alternative in areas with soil. To promote decomposition, choose a site in organic soil rather than sandy mineral soil. With a small garden trowel dig a cathole six to eight inches deep and four to six inches in diameter. Mix in dirt and cover, attempting to disguise the hole with brush and ground cover. Pack out all toilet paper. A less impacting option is to utilize “Blue Bags” and pack out all your waste, depositing the bags in designated collection barrels. In alpine zones, climbers are required to utilize the Blue Bag system.

• Leave What You Find: Leave all sites as you found them. Do not dig trenches, level sites, or construct tables, chairs, or rock cairns. Clean up a site with these intrusions. Avoid damaging live trees and plants. Never hammer nails into trees or girdle trunks with tent lines. Pick only berries and only pick what you can consume on the spot. Leave natural objects and cultural artifacts. Natural objects of beauty or interest such as rocks, antlers, or fossils, must be left undisturbed for others to enjoy. It is illegal to disturb or remove any such objects in a national park. The same applies to cultural artifacts such as pot shards, projectile points, and other items.

• Respect Wildlife: Do not feed or approach any animal. Hang your food. In some sub-alpine areas without tall trees, the use of a bear-proof canister is highly recommended. Remember to place other scented products, like toothpaste, deodorant, and trash, along with your food.

• Be Considerate of Other Visitors: Be considerate of other visitors and help protect the quality of their experience and desire for solitude. Let nature’s sounds prevail; avoid loud voices and noises. In crosscountry zones, camp out of sight of trails and minimize the visual impact of your presence. Find a balance between ecological and social impacts.

Winter Camping

Camping on snow is allowed almost anywhere in the park with a permit once snow depth is sufficient, typically starting in January. The Paradise area requires at least five feet of snow before camping is allowed. Mazama Ridge, Reflection Lakes, and other areas require at least two feet of snow. Winter camping ends by May 15 each spring. Permits for overnight camping in the backcountry are required year-round. Learn more about winter camping.
 

Details

Duration

2-14 Days

Wilderness camping can include a single overnight trip or a multi-day excursion.

Activity

Backcountry Camping

Age(s)

All ages, but minors must be with an adult parent or guardian.

Pets Allowed

No

Activity Fee

Yes

In addition to a park entrance fee, a wilderness permit is required for all overnight camping in the park’s backcountry.

There is a non-refundable $6 fee for all walk-up backpacking and climbing permits. Payment is accepted by credit/debit only, no cash.

Winter group camping permits are $20.

Reservations

No

While reservations are not required, they are strongly recommended during the peak summer season (June-September) on Recreation.gov. For details on wilderness permit reservations, including applying for the early access lottery, visit the wilderness permit webpage.

Season

Year Round

For wilderness camping, summer is defined as May 15 to September 30 and when snow depth is less than two feet outside these dates. Winter is defined as when snow depth is greater than two feet (5 feet at Paradise) between the period of October 1 to May 14.

Time of Day

Any Time

Accessibility Information

The Mount Rainier National Park has over 275 miles of maintained trails covering a wide variety of terrain, from dense forest to exposed alpine ridges. Most trails are dirt, with sections of rock or log steps, and include significant elevation change. Backcountry camping sites are typically bare dirt cleared of vegetation but may include some rocks and roots for uneven footing.