Mount St. Helens climbing permits are now on sale

Please note, there are important changes to the permit process in 2015. At time of purchase, you must now print your permits, fill in climbers name on each permit, and bring them with you to the trailhead. Climber registers are located at both Climbers Bivouac and Marble Mountain Sno-Park trailheads; climbers are required to sign the register at the trailhead when they begin their climb. Plastic permit holders are available at climber registers for climbers to display each permit in a visible manner while climbing Mount St. Helens.

National Forest Day Passes (parking permits) are no longer provided with climbing permits at time of purchase. Funds from pass sales will be used to maintain the toilets, parking and campsites at Climbers Bivouac. Climbers will need to display a National Forest Recreation Day Pass ($5/day), Annual Northwest Forest Pass, or an Interagency Annual Pass on each car parked at Climbers Bivouac. Day passes are available for purchase at a self-service pay station at Climbers Bivouac, at Monument facilities, or online at discovernw.org/store_rec-reation-passes_1PASS/.

Please note that the area of Mount St. Helens above treeline is a Traditional Cultural Property of Cowlitz and Yakama Tribal groups. For thousands of years, the mountain has been a central place in the culture and mythology of the Tribes, where resources were gathered and young people were sent to test themselves. It is a place charged with powerful energy. When you cross above the Loowit Trail into the region where the climbing permit is required, please conduct yourself in a manner that is respectful of both Tribal interests and this special place.

For more information contact the Mount St. Helens Institute at 360-449-7883.