Singular among the jewels in the crown of Sisters Country are our trails, which lead a hiker into the wonders and glories of the Cascades backcountry.
Those wonders are on the map internationally and in danger of being “loved to death.” So the U.S. Forest Service has implemented a permit system.
Central Cascades Wilderness Permits are required for all overnight-use within the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters wilderness areas June 15 through October 15.
Overnight permits are available through a rolling seven-day window on Recreation.gov.
Overnight trips can be up to 13 nights (14 days maximum) with groups no larger than 12 individuals. The processing fee for an overnight permit remains at $6. Permit availability is based on the starting trailhead and start date.
All reservations for Central Cascades Wilderness Permits need to be made through Recreation.gov either online, via the Recreation.gov app on Google Android and Apple iOS devices, or by calling their call center at 1-877-444-6777 or TDD 877-833-6777. Search for “Central Cascades Wilderness.” Overnight permits are NOT available at local Forest Service offices or outside of the reservation system.
Day-use permits are required on 19 of 79 trails within those same three wilderness areas during the permit season. However, day-use permits do not have advance reservations ahead of the season. Day-use permits will be opened for reservation in a 10-day and two-day rolling window beginning on June 5.
The system was implemented in 2021, prompted by increasingly heavy use of certain forest trails. Certain trails had seen 15-20% increases in use each year, and the impacts — from simple wear-and-tear to garbage and waste left behind — have begun to materially affect the health of the forest and the quality of the wilderness experience.
The permit system is designed not only to reduce wear-and-tear, but to improve the backcountry experience for users.
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