Beginning January 1, 2024, Mt. Hood climbers traveling above an elevation of 9,500 ft. will need a climbing permit. The Mt. Hood Climbing Permit will be available for online purchase as a single trip three-day pass for $20, or an annual pass for $50. Permit fees will fund additional climbing rangers, climbing safety information, and natural resources protection.
Every year around 10,000 people attempt to climb Mt. Hood. In spring and summer, it is not uncommon for visitors with little or no mountaineering experience to attempt to climb the 11,240-ft. peak, highlighting the need for more climber education and trained staff on the climbing route.
The Mt. Hood climbing permit will fund additional climbing rangers to provide adequate climbing patrols and resource protection within the Mt. Hood Wilderness. Additionally, the permit will allow the Forest to provide better climbing safety education, increase coordination and collaboration with existing mountain safety and rescue organizations, improve sanitary conditions while reducing human waste, and enable infrastructure improvements. Information from the permit system will also help the forest determine program improvements into the future.
“Mt. Hood is an iconic mountain, but it has a delicate alpine environment and summiting it is a technical climb,” said Meta Loftsgaarden, Mt. Hood Forest Supervisor. “The climbing permit will help improve safety for climbers while protecting the natural resources of this iconic place.”
No advance reservations are needed. Climbing permits will be available for purchase on Recreation.gov beginning January 1, up to the start of one’s climb. There is no limit on the number of permits issued. More information is at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mthood/climbing
Recreation Fees on National Forests
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) allows the Forest Service to collect and retain fees for special recreation permits. Recreation fees helps forests maintain and improve infrastructure and hire additional recreation staff. They also help provide quality recreation opportunities that meet visitor expectations and create a more financially sustainable recreation program for the benefit of future generations.
Under REA, all new and changing fees are approved by a local citizen’s advisory committee. Following a period of public feedback and proposal revision, the Mt. Hood-Willamette National Forest advisory, committee reviewed the climbing permit proposal in late 2022 and supported approval by the Regional Forester. More information about the Mt. Hood-Willamette National Forest advisory committee is at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mthood/advisorycommittee
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