Climbing
How to Obtain a Permit
ALL CLIMBERS MUST HAVE A PERMIT
Peak Season permits are $22.00 (April 1 through October 31).
- The total fee of $22 includes a $7 service charge- $5 of which goes toward the Mountain Stewards volunteer program to maintain and protect the climb route, and a $2 cart fee.
- A permit is required to climb above 4,800 feet on Mount St. Helens year-round. Begun in 1987, the permit system helps protect the volcano and its organisms from harm, reduces crowding, and helps inform climbers regarding hazards, Leave No Trace principles, and safety.
- After purchasing online, the registration receipt will be emailed to your entered email address. The email will be from “Kinsail,” our cart manager, and occasionally this may be directed into your junk-mail folder.
- Each climber must prominently display a hang-tag permit on his or her clothes or pack. Permits are valid for 24 hours starting at midnight of the climb date and may be picked up one day prior to the climb date.
- Groups are limited to 12 climbers. (Carried children do not need a permit.)
- There are two kinds of permits: off-season (free) and peak-season ($22 per person). For off-season permits (November 1 through March 31), climbers must stop at the Lone Fir Resort on SR 503 in Cougar, WA to obtain their permit in person. For peak-season permits (April 1 through October 31) climbers must purchase a permit in advance from this website.
- As of now, all permits must be purchased at least 24 hours before climbing. You will pick up permits at the Lone Fir Resort in Cougar, WA, on route to the trailhead. Permits can be picked up the day before or the day of the date of the climb. Please refer to the Lone Fir Resort’s website for current hours of operation.
- Permits cannot be exchanged or refunded. All sales are final. Read about how to buy your permit.
- From May 15 through October 31, the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument limits permits to 100 per day to protect the volcano from over-use. Permits are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Climbers must purchase peak-season permits at least 24 hours in advance of their climb date.
- Climbers must read and sign their permits and abide by permit rules. Group leaders may register and pick up permits for their entire group.
- Dogs are allowed but not recommended. Ash and pumice can be harmful to a dog’s pads, and dogs are as susceptible to snowblindness as humans. There is no shade or water. If your dog gets into trouble, there is no rescue system.
| SEASON | PERMIT COST | LIMIT |
|---|---|---|
| April 1 through May 14 | $22 | none |
| May 15 through October 31 | $22 | 100 climbers per day |
| November 1 through March 31 | none | none |
