To get a Wonderland Trail permit, you enter Mount Rainier's early-access wilderness reservation lottery in spring, or try for one of the limited walk-up permits at a ranger station once the hiking season opens. The Wonderland Trail is a roughly 93-mile loop that circles Mount Rainier, and because every overnight stay happens at a designated wilderness camp, a permit is required for the whole trip. Demand far exceeds supply, so understanding the system before you apply is the difference between walking the loop and sitting on a waitlist.
Do you need a permit to hike the Wonderland Trail?
Yes. Any overnight trip in Mount Rainier's wilderness, including the full Wonderland loop and shorter segments, requires a wilderness permit that assigns you to specific camps for specific nights. Day hikers on sections of the trail do not need a wilderness permit, but almost no one completes the loop in a day. Because the permit ties you to a night-by-night camp itinerary, you plan your entire route before you ever set foot on the trail.
How does the Wonderland Trail permit lottery work?
Most reservable permits are released through an early-access lottery on Recreation.gov in the spring, followed by a general on-sale window when remaining dates open to everyone. You submit a ranked list of itineraries with entry dates, direction, and camps, and if you are drawn you confirm and pay a reservation fee. Exact opening dates, fees, and the number of itineraries you can rank change from year to year, so check the current-year rules on Recreation.gov and the park's wilderness page before you build your application.
What if you don't win the lottery?
A share of permits is held back for first-come, first-served walk-up requests, issued at wilderness information centers a day or two before your start date. Walk-up permits reward flexibility: midweek starts, counter-clockwise or clockwise direction, and willingness to accept less popular camps all improve your odds. Arrive early, bring several backup itineraries, and be ready to adjust your mileage between camps.
When should you hike, and how should you plan camps?
The prime window is roughly mid-July through September, after most snow melts from the high passes and before autumn storms arrive; early season can mean snow travel and river crossings. Most hikers finish the loop in 9 to 13 days, averaging 8 to 12 miles a day between camps, with significant elevation gain and loss on nearly every segment. Food-storage rules and cache options at trailheads can shape your itinerary, so confirm current requirements when you reserve.
Planning a Washington trip around the loop? Start with our Mount Rainier National Park guide, then consider pairing it with Olympic or North Cascades National Park for a longer road trip. You can see every park in our Washington national parks overview, or browse all national parks and guides by state.
FAQ
How hard is it to get a Wonderland Trail permit?
It is competitive. Popular midsummer dates and clockwise routes fill quickly in the lottery, but flexible hikers who accept midweek starts and less-requested camps, or who pursue walk-up permits, regularly succeed.
How long does it take to hike the Wonderland Trail?
Most backpackers take 9 to 13 days for the full 93-mile loop. Strong, experienced hikers occasionally finish faster, but the constant elevation change makes it tougher than the mileage alone suggests.
Can you hike the Wonderland Trail without a reservation?
You can try for a first-come, first-served walk-up permit at a wilderness information center, but you cannot legally camp along the trail without a permit of some kind. Never start the loop assuming you can camp without one.
When do Wonderland Trail permits go on sale?
The early-access lottery and general on-sale windows typically open in spring on Recreation.gov, but the exact dates shift each year. Check the current-year schedule as soon as it is announced so you are ready to apply.