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Backpacker Magazine – Backpacker.com Online Exclusive

National Park Permit Center Information

Need trip-planning beta for your National Park adventure? See our comprehensive list of National Park phone numbers, websites, and drilled down details here. You’ll be ready to hit the trail in no time.

by: The Backpacker Editors

    Tags:

Parks General Phone Number Permit Office Phone Number Website Other
Acadia 207-288-3338 877-444-6777 nps.gov/acad No backcountry camping; reserve car sites six months in advance through National Recreation Reservation Service NRRS-, telephone number at left.
Adirondacks     apa.state.ny.us  
Arches 435-719-2100   nps.gov/arch Free permits at visitor's center; no advance registration.
Big Bend 432-477-2251   nps.gov/bibe Backcountry planning worksheet: nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/upload/BC_worksheet.pdf
Canyonlands 435-719-2313 435-259-4351 nps.gov/cany Backcountry permit application: nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/upload/ReservationForm.pdf
Capitol Reef 435-425-3791 x111   nps.gov/care Free permits at visitor's center.
Catskills        
Channel Islands 805-658-5730 877- 444-6777 nps.gov/chis Permits handled through the National Recreation Reservation Service NRRS-, telephone number at left.
Denali 907- 683-2294   nps.gov/dena Advanced backcountry permits not available; permits available at Riley Creek entrance.
Mountaineering permit: nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/upload/05regform-2.pdf
Everglades 305-242-7700   nps.gov/ever Pick up permits in person only the day of or one day before.
Glacier 406- 888-7800 406-888-5819 nps.gov/glac Backcountry permit application: nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/upload/bcguide07application.pdf
Grand Canyon 928- 638-7888 928-638-7844 (river); 928-638-7875 nps.gov/grca

Backcountry permit application: nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/permit-request.pdf
River lottery FAQ: http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/River_and_Weighted_Lottery_FAQs.pdf

Grand Teton 307- 739-3300   nps.gov/grte

Online backcountry reservations: backcountry.grandtetonpark.org
Backcountry application: nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/upload/2007_bc.pdf

Great Sand Dunes 719-378-6300   nps.gov/grsa Free permits at visitor's center.
Great Smoky Mtns. 865- 436-1200 865-436-1231 nps.gov/grsm Can make reservations one month ahead of first day of trip.
Haleakala 808-572-4400   nps.gov/hale Free permits at visitor's center; no advance registration.
Isle Royale **See Below   nps.gov/isro Isle Royale National Park requires a backcountry/camping permit from all who stay overnight in the campgrounds, at dock, or who anchor out.
Joshua Tree   760-367-5545. nps.gov/jotr A permit is not required for day hiking in the backcountry. You are permitted to camp in the backcountry when you park and register at a backcountry registration board. No fee. Registration site: nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/bcboards.htm
Lassen Volcanic 530- 595-4444 530- 595-4444 nps.gov/lavo

A Wilderness Camping Permit is required for all camping in Lassen's wilderness. nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/wilderness-permit-information.htm
No fee.

Mount Rainier 1-360-569-2211   nps.gov/mora

Fees and reservation info: www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm

North Cascades 206 386-4495 ext.11 360- 854-7245 nps.gov/noca There are almost 140 backcountry campsites available, from boat-in sites to high alpine backpacking sites. Camping is allowed only at established sites along trail corridors. Camps include toilets, tent pads, and in some cases tables and firepits. All backcountry sites require a free permit available at ranger stations. Permits are issued on a first come, first served basis.
Olympic 360- 565-3131 360- 565-3100 nps.gov/olym Wilderness Camping Permits are required for all overnight stays in the Olympic National Park wilderness backcountry. Be sure to check to see if reservations are needed. Permits are limited in some areas.
Rocky Mountain   970-586-1242 nps.gov/romo You must have a backcountry/wilderness permit to camp overnight in Rocky's backcountry/wilderness. You can pick one up at the Beaver Meadows Visitors Center Backcountry Office or at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center.
Sequoia/Kings Canyon   559- 565-3766. nps.gov/seki Wilderness permits are required for all overnight camping outside designated car campgrounds. Day hikes do not require permits, except in the Mount Whitney area. nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/wilderness_permits.htm
Shenandoah 540- 999-3500 540- 999-3500 nps.gov/shen The permit can be obtained at visitor contact stations during business hours. Permits for Appalachian Trail long-distance hikers are available by self-registration on the trail near Shenandoah National Park entry points. If you are planning your visit well in advance allow two full weeks–permits are also available by mail from Park Headquarters.
Voyaguers/Boundary Waters   1-877-550-6777 www.bwcaw.org Permits required; see website for details.
White Mountains 603 528-8721   www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain

Passes and permit information: fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/passes
Camping and cabin permits handled by reservations.gov

Wrangell-St. Elias 907-822-5234   www.nps.gov/wrst No fees to enter the park. Camping and lodging information: nps.gov/wrst/planyourvisit/camping-and-lodging.htm
Yellowstone 406-646-4403 307-344-2160 nps.gov/yell Yellowstone has a designated backcountry campsite system, and a Backcountry Use Permit is required for all overnight stays. nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/backcountryhiking.htm
Yosemite   209/372-0740 nps.gov/yose Free wilderness permits are required year-round for any overnight stay in the Yosemite Wilderness. Permits are not required for day hikes. yosemitesecure.org/wildpermit
Zion 877-444-6777   nps.gov/zion/

Backcountry permits are required for all overnight trips including climbing bivouacs–all through hikes of the Virgin River Narrows and tributaries, any trip into the Left Fork of North Creek the Subway–and all canyons requiring the use of descending gear or ropes.
nps.gov/archive/zion/Backcountry/ReservationsAndPermits.htm

**Isle Royale numbers Rock Harbor Visitor Center 906- 482-0984 Windigo Visitor Center 906- 482-0984 Houghton Visitor Center 906- 482-0984 Administrative Offices 906- 482-0985
Long Trails

     
Continental Divide Trail (CDT)       The CDT traverses many national parks, which each require separate backcountry permits. Contact each park's land manager for details. Montana-Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico
Appalachian Trail (AT)   304-535-6331 appalachiantrail.org
Contact the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.786985/k.26EF/Plan_a_Hike.htm
Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)      

The PCT has a thru-permit for those hiking 500 or more continuous miles along the trail.
pcta.org//planning/before_trip/permits/thru_permit_form.html

If you're going on shorter trips, you need to get permits from the park or forest where your trip originates.
pcta.org/planning/before_trip/permits.asp




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READERS COMMENTS

Hannah Ewards
Jul 23, 2010

your web link for Voyageurs/Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota is wrong the correct site is www.bwca.org or www.campvoyageur.com

Drew
Jun 11, 2008

Is there anyway that I could get links to National Forest site?

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