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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

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