Mount St. Helens Climbing Permits Available Feb. 1

If you want to climb Mount St. Helens this year, get ready to apply for a permit on Feb. 1!

A great day for a summit on Monitor Ridge. Photo by Quena Batres.

Permits for the 2018 climbing season, from April 1 to Oct. 31, go on sale Thursday, Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. and are sold online on a first-come, first-served basis through the Mount St. Helens Institute.

• Climb the Mountain
• > Buy Your Permit 
• > WTA Hiking Guide entry for Worm Flows Route (winter route)
• > WTA Hiking Guide entry for Monitor Ridge (summer route)
• > More Information about Climbing Mount St. Helens

Permits will be sold online only. Weekends and holidays go the fastest, so be sure to check your calendars now. The cost is $22 per permit and includes a service charge to help the Mount St. Helen's Institute. You may purchase up to twelve permits for each day.

Permits are required for climbing above 4,800 feet on the volcano. From May 15 through October 31, climbing is limited to 100 people per day. It may seem like a lot of permits, but they go quickly, especially with guides and outfitters snapping up a dozen at a time.

From Nov. 1 to March 31, permits are free and available in person at either the Climbers Bivouac or Marble Mountain Sno-Park's climber registers.

Climbing Mount St. Helens is a challenging, but not technical, climb. It boasts a relentless elevation gain, constant exposure to the elements and unstable footing, but the view from the crater rim is unrivaled and breathtaking. Everyone remembers their first climb to the rim.

2018 Permit System Updates

Climbers will now be asked to register the names of all fellow climbers in their group after receiving their confirmation email. This information will increase safety and help prevent unauthorized climbing permit resales.

Read more about the permit system and the 2018 updates on the Mount St. Helens Institute website.

UPDATE: Due to overwhelming demand for climbing permits, the Mount St. Helen's Institute as well as transaction processing partner, Discover Your Northwest, have run into technical issues. Permits are rescheduled to go on sale on Monday February 26 at 9 a.m.

Approximately 20% of all 2018 permits were purchased on the original release date of February 1, meaning there are still 80% of all permits up for grabs.