There are two things required to climb or ski on any glacier or above 10,000' elevation in Mount Rainier National Park:
1.) Climbing Cost Recovery Fee
- Each person in your party must pay $82. The fee must be paid online at Pay.gov (pay through the Mount Rainier NP Special Use Permit Application Fees form).
- You will be asked for your proof of purchase when you register at a wilderness information center in the park.
* Your Climbing Cost Recovery Fee is no longer valid for the entire climbing season as of May 2026
2.) Wilderness Permit. This includes climbers who are attempting single-push climbs as well as ski mountaineering.
All of the climbers on a team must have paid the Climbing Cost Recovery Fee before a Climbing Permit can be issued. Only one permit is necessary per team for each climb; however, each climber must pay their own Climbing Cost Recovery Fee.
All Wilderness Permits must be picked up in-person at a ranger station.
Reservations for a permit (~66% of total capacity) are available in advance through Recreation.gov. Note that once you've confirmed a reservation for a climbing permit, you must still register in-person at a ranger station to pick up your permit.
~33% of all the permits are saved for walk-ups (climbers registering not more than 24 hours in advance of their climb).
The wilderness permit costs $12 per person. Plus $6 per permit.
You have a three-person climbing team.
Climbing Cost Recovery: $246; each party member pays $82
Wilderness Permit: $42 ($36 ($12x3 people), Plus $6)
* Example does not cover entrance into the park.
If ranger stations are closed for the season, climbers must pick up their permit at either the self-registration kiosk in Paradise or at the Longmire Museum. This option is NOT available during the summer/spring climbing season.
More information can be found on Mount Rainier National Park's Official Website
