Climbing Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens Climbing
Update
[Last Updated: 1
October 2008]
Fall / Winter
Climbing Access: Snowfall and wind will form
unstable cornices (snow overhangs) on the crater rim (please see climbing
page and scroll down to cornice photo). Forest
Road 81-830 to Climber's Bivouac is now open. Forest
Road 83 (access to Lava Canyon) will reopen on Friday, October 3.
Permits
are required above 4800 foot elevation on the volcano
year round. During the Nov 1 to March 31 winter climbing season
permits are available at no charge by self-registration at the Climber's Register.
Climber's Register is located at the Lone Fir Resort,
16806 Lewis River Road, Cougar, WA. (360) 238-5210.
2009 Climbing
Permit Sales will begin on February 1, 2009: Permits for the April
1 through October 31 climbing fee season are sold online, in-advance on a
first-come, first-served basis through the Mount
St. Helens Institute.
Climbing Details
Climbing Home
Climbing Safety
Current Conditions
Before Climbing
Permit System
Additional
Mount
St. Helens Institute Offers Guided Climbs & Field Classes
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2008 Field
Seminar Program:
For the latest schedule,
online registration and other event information visit the Mount
St. Helens Institute website.
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Become
a Mount St. Helens Volunteer -
Help
us share the wonder and protect this special place. Join us for a day,
a weekend or a summer-long internship or volunteer position.
Explore the amazing viewpoints
and trails around Mount St. Helens. Download
a full-color Visitor Guide to the Monument.
Mount St. Helens Permit System
(USFS Photo
- Aerial view of the south side of Mount St. Helens and the Monitor Ridge
Climbing Route-- June 2006.)
Everyone must have a
climbing permit to be above 4,800 feet elevation on Mount St. Helens.
The permit system has been in effect since 1987. The permit system helps
to protect the volcano’s physical and biological features and processes,
reduces crowding, and provides climbers with information on climbing conditions,
Leave No Trace principles, and safety.
- Climbing permits are required year-round.
- Each climber must display their own hang-tag climbing permit.
- Permits are valid for 24 hours starting at midnight for the date of
climb and are nontransferable.
- Maximum party size is 12 climbers.
- Access is limited to protect the volcano’s physical and biological
features and processes, and to reduce crowding.
During the limited use season,
permits will be available for advance purchase only,
on-line, first come, first served, until the daily use
limit is reached. Weekends and summer dates fill up first but mid-week
dates are often available. Climbers can purchase available permits
online up to 24-hours before the day of the climb.
Climbing & Permit Fees Table
Mount St. Helens - Climbing Permit Fee System |
Season |
Climbing Limits |
Fees Charged |
November 1 - March 31 |
n/a |
n/a |
April 1 - May 14 |
n/a |
Fee Charged |
May 15 - October 31 |
100 permits per day |
Fee Charged |
Permit Fee Structure
- Mount St. Helens climbing permits, for April 1 - October
31, are sold by advance purchase by the Mount
St. Helens Institute (MSHI) through an on-line vendor.
For additional clarification please see the climbing season information
below. The Mount St. Helens Institute is a non-profit partner of Mount
St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, providing educational and
resource management programs. MSHI also raises funds to help support
Monument programs.
- The MSHI on-line vendor is a secure website that
accepts all major credit and debit cards. Climbers will be emailed a
permit purchase confirmation receipt at the time of purchase.
- There is a $15.00 fee for each climbing permit, plus a service
charge of $7.00. The total cost is $22.00 per complete climbing permit.
If climbing is suspended by the Forest Service, permit sales will also
be suspended. People who already purchased permits may receive a refund
for only their ($15.00) permit fee. However, the service charge
($7.00) is not refundable. Please plan accordingly.
- Climbing permits are available online by advance purchase
only. Do not wait until the day of your climb to purchase your permit.
Unsold permits may be purchased online until 24-hours before
the date of the climb.
- Climbers must present their emailed confirmation receipt to obtain
their actual permit at the Climbers Register, located at the Lone Fir
Resort during store business hours. Trip leaders are asked to pick-up
their entire groups permits. All climbers need to read and sign their
permits and abide by all permit conditions. The business hours at the
Lone Fir Resort are adjusted seasonally. It is very important climbers
visit their website or call ahead to verify.
- Once you complete your permit purchase through the online
vendor, all sales are final. Refunds are not possible. You cannot change
climbing dates once your purchase is complete. Please plan accordingly
before completing your purchase.
- The climbing permit fee is part of a national program which allows
the Monument to retain funds collected from climbing permit sales to
support services and facilities for climbers.
Climbers Bivouac Camping
Camping is allowed at
Climber's Bivouac. It is a developed site with parking, tent
pads, fire grates and toilets, but no running water and no picnic tables.
Please pack out all litter. A permit is required for parking at the Climbers
Bivouac. Climbers will be issued a permit for parking when they pickup
their climbing permit at the Lone Fir
Resort.
For visitors using the Bivouac
parking area to access other trails around Mount St. Helens a Northwest
Forest Pass is required to park at Climbers Bivouac.
Climber's
Registration & Permit Seasons
All climbers must sign-in
and sign-out at the Climber's Register before and after their climb.
The Climber's Register is located outside the Lone
Fir Resort and is accessible 24 hours a day.
The Lone
Fir Resort is located in the town of Cougar, Washington on State Route
503, 28-miles east of the town of Woodland and Interstate 5.
Climbing Season - November
01-March 31
- A permit is required.
- A permit fee is not charged.
- Climbing use is unrestricted.
- On-line registration is not required.
- You must self-register and pick up your permit at the Climber's Register
at the Lone Fir Resort.
Climbing Season - April 01-May
14
- A permit is required.
- A permit fee is charged.
- Climbing use is unrestricted.
- Advance purchase on-line
is required.
- You must pick up your hang tag climbing permit
at the Lone Fir Resort. You
must present your emailed online purchase confirmation when you pick
up your permit.
Climbing Season - May 15-October
31
- A permit is required.
- A permit fee is charged.
- Climbing use is restricted to 100 daily permit holders.
- Advance purchase on-line
is required.
- You must pick up your permit at the
Lone Fir Resort.
- You must present your emailed online purchase confirmation
when you pick up your permit.
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