Getting Your Permit
- All PNT thru-hikers must have a permit for their trip. Wilderness Permits for Olympic National Park are booked on Recreation.gov. Once you have booked your permit, the Wilderness Information Center (WIC) will review your trip and issue the permit. Note that permits are issued no more than 3 days in advance unless requested by the permit holder.
Thru-hikers must carry a copy of their permit on them while hiking. A paper copy of the permit is preferred, but a digital copy of the permit, saved to a phone, is acceptable.
Alternative PNT Route
- The alternative PNT route takes hikers through the Grand Valley quota area and along the Obstruction Point and Hurricane Ridge Roads.
- Unless hikers are able to book a separate permit for Grand Valley, the alternative route is not advised due to the extreme distance between legal campsites. Grand Valley is a popular area and may no longer have availability for last minute reservations.
Food Storage
- Proper food storage is essential in Olympic National Park. Bear canisters are required for all food, garbage, scented items and beverages other than water in the Sol Duc area (Sol Duc side of Appleton Pass to Mink Lake trail junction on Little Divide) and along the entire wilderness coast.
- In other areas, food must be stored in bear canisters or hung 12 feet high and 10 feet out from the nearest tree. In areas where food cannot be hung properly, such as those above the tree line, food must be stored in bear canisters. Bear canisters are available for loan at the Port Angeles WIC or the Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station. Bear canisters may also be rented from private establishments in the area. More>
Quota Areas Along the Route
The main route of the PNT passes through two quota zones: the Sol Duc area and the Ozette area of the North Coast.
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Sol Duc/Seven Lakes Basin quota area is not included as a part of the new PNT permit zones. Typically, PNT thru-hikers bypass the Sol Duc quota area by camping at Appleton Pass the night before, hiking through the Sol Duc in a day, and then camping along the upper Bogachiel River Trail. Camping in the Sol Duc quota area is not allowed unless specific Sol Duc campsites have been booked. If you were unable to obtain a permit in the Sol Duc quota area, be prepared to hike the 19 miles and 4,900’ of elevation gain to pass through the Sol Duc zone and make it into the Bogachiel Zone before camping.
- A permit for the North Coast PNT Zone is valid for all sites between Sand Point and Hole in the Wall. Camping north of Sand Point (including Wedding Rocks, Cape Alava, South Ozette River, North Ozette River, Seafield Creek and Shi Shi) is not included in the North Coast PNT Zone.
The alternative PNT route passes through the Grand Valley quota zone
- Hikers attempting the alternative route are strongly advised to book a separate permit for Grand Valley. Beyond Grand Valley, the route follows a series of park roads and steep trails. There are no legal camping options for an extreme distance.
Refer to the interactive PNT map on this page to see which sites are allowable under each PNT camping zone.
Campsite Selection
Camping in designated campsites in the PNT Zones is encouraged. However, hikers may camp in dispersed sites, provided:
- Camping occurs at least one mile beyond any park road or trailhead. Camping at trailheads is not permitted.
- The selected site is not within the boundaries of a quota area, such as the Sol Duc.
- Hikers select durable surfaces to avoid damaging vegetation.
- Hikers practice Leave No Trace principles.
To see where each zone begins and ends, refer to the PNT Camping Zone map provided on this page to help you book your permit reservation.
Where Can I Learn More About the PNT?
The
Pacific Northwest Trail Association website is the central source for PNT information, including planning a PNT journey, trail conditions along the length of the trail, maps and guides, and volunteering to help maintain and manage the PNT.
