From November 1 through March 31 there is no charge for permits and also no quota. During this period permits are self-issued 24 hours outside Jack's Restaurant and Store.
There is a $15.00 fee for climbing permits from April 1 through October 31 available during business hours outside Jack's Restaurant and Store. Typical hours for Jacks is 7am - 8pm. Busy weekends, they're open from 6am and close after 8pm. ((If you're going to get there after/before store opens, there is an option to call Jacks ahead of time and have them put your permit in a locked box outside the restaurant (you'll have to pay by credit card and they'll give you a lock code). However, this info is only true before the quota starts on May 15))
So effectively, from April 1 to May 14 you have to pay $15 but there is no quota.
From May 15 through October 31 climbing is limited to 100 people per day. Advance reservations for sixty permits a day are available by mail or in person at Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters. At least forty unreserved permits are available starting at 6:00 pm each evening at Jack's Restaurant and Store. The permits are for climbing the next day. When demand exceeds availability, a lottery is held to distribute permits. Climbers are urged to arrive 15 minutes early to enter the lottery. Each climber present can enter the lottery. Each person drawn can purchase up to four permits. The lottery is continued until all permits are issued. Remaining permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
A snowpark pass is required to park at Marble Mountain Snow Park from mid-November through April.
Permits are self issue in the winter Nov 1 to Mar 31. There is a permit book and permit tags in a box outside of the shelter in the marble mountain snow park, so no need to stop anywhere else on your way up in the winter.
Hi, I went up the Worm Swift route June 9th 2009. This is now the official winter route according to the USFS - and winter apparently last even until mid June!
Also there is now a clear trail/use trail some way up past Chocolate falls.
esugi - Apr 3, 2004 1:30 pm - Hasn't voted
Route CommentFrom November 1 through March 31 there is no charge for permits and also no quota. During this period permits are self-issued 24 hours outside Jack's Restaurant and Store.
There is a $15.00 fee for climbing permits from April 1 through October 31 available during business hours outside Jack's Restaurant and Store. Typical hours for Jacks is 7am - 8pm. Busy weekends, they're open from 6am and close after 8pm. ((If you're going to get there after/before store opens, there is an option to call Jacks ahead of time and have them put your permit in a locked box outside the restaurant (you'll have to pay by credit card and they'll give you a lock code). However, this info is only true before the quota starts on May 15))
So effectively, from April 1 to May 14 you have to pay $15 but there is no quota.
From May 15 through October 31 climbing is limited to 100 people per day. Advance reservations for sixty permits a day are available by mail or in person at Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters. At least forty unreserved permits are available starting at 6:00 pm each evening at Jack's Restaurant and Store. The permits are for climbing the next day. When demand exceeds availability, a lottery is held to distribute permits. Climbers are urged to arrive 15 minutes early to enter the lottery. Each climber present can enter the lottery. Each person drawn can purchase up to four permits. The lottery is continued until all permits are issued. Remaining permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
A snowpark pass is required to park at Marble Mountain Snow Park from mid-November through April.
dirth - Jan 29, 2009 5:49 pm - Voted 10/10
Permit UpdatesPermits are self issue in the winter Nov 1 to Mar 31. There is a permit book and permit tags in a box outside of the shelter in the marble mountain snow park, so no need to stop anywhere else on your way up in the winter.
damgaard - Jun 19, 2009 11:09 am - Hasn't voted
official winter routeHi, I went up the Worm Swift route June 9th 2009. This is now the official winter route according to the USFS - and winter apparently last even until mid June!
Also there is now a clear trail/use trail some way up past Chocolate falls.