The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail travels through many different public and private lands. Rules and regulations along the PNT will vary. By learning about each place you plan to visit, you can help protect the PNT experience for generations to come.
Visiting our National Forests
Visiting by Car
Parking a vehicle at trailhead in a National Forest in Washington will typically require a Northwest Forest Pass. The interagency America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or standard amenity fees. The Interagency Annual Pass is $80 for a year pass and is available to the general public.
Front Country Camping on our National Forests
Many front country camping opportunities can be found on or near the PNT. Whether you plan to tent-camp, or camp with an RV or other vehicle, each national forest will provide a variety of options. There are many opportunities for camping in primitive campgrounds and for dispersed camping at little to no cost along the trail.
Several developed national forest campgrounds are also available near the trail corridor. Some national forests also offer lodging on the PNT at historic cabins and at fire lookout towers. Most of these primitive shelters must be reserved in advance through the Recreation.gov website.
Backcountry Camping on our National Forests
There are no fees for dispersed backcountry camping on the PNT in any of the national forests along the trail. Free self-registration permits may be required at some trailheads. When choosing a dispersed campsite, always follow local regulations and Leave No Trace principles. You can find more important information about food storage and fire precautions on our Plan Your Trip webpage and on the PNTA’s strip maps.
Visiting our National Parks
Visiting by Car
Vehicle entrance fees are collected from those visiting the PNT in Glacier and Olympic National Parks using personal transportation. There are no entrance or day use fees for visiting North Cascades National Park.
Due to unprecedented visitation levels in recent years, Glacier National Park has introduced a vehicle reservation system for four popular areas in the park, including the Polebridge area, which provides access to the PNT on the west side of the Park. Glacier National Park has also implemented a Ticket to Ride system for park shuttles.
Backcountry Camping in our National Parks
Backcountry permits are required for overnight camping the three national parks along the PNT. Glacier National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Olympic National Park National Park provide designated backcountry sites for wilderness camping. Camping is only allowed only in specific campsites in these National Parks; dispersed or at-large camping is not allowed.
At this time there is no “coordinated permit” available for PNT thru-hikers (like what is offered for the Pacific Crest Trail). Every PNT hiker must follow each park’s unique permit application process and obtain a valid backcountry permit if they plan to visit the PNT in our national parks.
Campground Camping in our National Parks
Glacier National Park
There are 13 park-operated front country campgrounds, and each campground varies in use. Whether you wish to tent-camp, camp with an RV or other vehicle, one or more of the park campgrounds should suit your interest. Bowman Lake Campground is a first-come first-served campground located on the PNT on the west side of the park.
North Cascades National Park
Four drive-in campgrounds located along SR-20 in the park are within a short drive of the Pacific Northwest Trail at Ross Lake. Campground reservations are made through the Recreation.gov website. See the Park’s website for more information, reservations, and current status.
Olympic National Park
Fairholme, Kalaloch, Mora, and Hoh Rain Forest campgrounds are the only park-operated campgrounds that accept reservations in summer, available online at Recreation.gov. All other campgrounds are first-come, first-served. The Ozette Campground is located a short walk from the western terminus of the PNT and the popular “Ozette Loop” hike. Kalaloch Campground is located a short drive from the PNT on the South Coast. And the Mora Campround is located two miles from the PNT at Rialto Beach.
State, City & County Lands
Idaho
Priest Lake State Park, located just south of the PNT, on Upper Priest Lake, requires a fee for vehicles and for camping in the state park. The Idaho State Parks Passport is accepted here.
Washington
Washington State Forests and Parks require a Discover Pass to park at trailheads and access recreation sites by vehicle. The Check Out Washington program provides fee-free access to state lands by making the Discover Pass free to check out from participating libraries.
State forest campgrounds and backcountry sites along the PNT, such as the Loomis State Forest in Eastern Washington and the Blanchard Forest, in the Chuckanut Mountains are first-come, first-served, and are free to use.
Those visiting Washington State Parks by vehicle are required to have a Discover Pass or to pay an entrance fee. All of the Washington State Parks along the Pacific Northwest Trail, except for Joseph Whidbey State Park, have fee-based camping facilities and take advance reservations online.
Deception Pass State Park in the Puget Sound, is Washington’s most popular state park and sites are limited during the peak season. Walk-up hiker/ biker sites may be available at the Cranberry Lake Campground west of the PNT. More sites are available nearer the PNT at the Quarry Pond Campground at mile 971 (see park brochure and map).
Other Public Lands
Idaho
Washington
Bureau of Land Management – Okanogan Highlands
Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve
Loomis State Forest
Loomis Natural Resource Conservation Area
Harry Osborne-Les Hilde State Forest
Alger State Forest
Blanchard Mountain State Forest
Jefferson State Forest
Olympic State Forest
Willy-Huel State Forest
Bay View State Park
Deception Pass State Park
Fort Ebey State Park
Whidbey State Park
Fort Casey State Park
Bogachiel State Park
Cascade Trail – Skagit County Parks and Rec.
Squires Lake Park – Whatcom County Parks and Rec.
Padilla Bay Shore Trail – Skagit County Parks and Rec.
City of Anacortes Community Forest Lands
Larry Scott Trail and ODT – Jefferson County Parks and Rec.
Vehicle and Campground Fees
Parking a vehicle at trailhead in a National Forest in Washington will typically require a Northwest Forest Pass. The interagency America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or standard amenity fees. The Interagency Annual Pass is $80 for a year pass and is available to the general public.
Washington State Forests and Washington State Parks require a Discover Pass to park at trailheads and recreation sites. The Check Out Washington program provides fee-free access to state lands by making the Discover Pass free to check out from participating libraries.
Entrance fees may be charged at Olympic and Glacier National Parks to those visiting by vehicle. Some Washington State Parks may also require an entrance fee.
Developed campgrounds in Washington State Parks and on our National Forests typically charge a fee for overnight camping.
