BEND — As spring slowly emerges in Central Oregon, camping gear is dusted off and hikers give their boots a fresh coat of lanolin. But a new ritual for local hikers also begins — going online to book hiking permits for trails in the Central Oregon Cascades.

The limited-entry permit system in the Central Oregon Cascades now enters its fourth year. Many early system bugs have been ironed out and hikers who have used the reservation website to book permits are familiar with the process.

For those who have never gotten a permit, we’ve pulled together a primer to help beginners understand the process, how it works and why it’s needed.

Why was the permit system started?

Trailheads requiring day-use permits

Mount Washington Wilderness Trailheads

Pacific Crest at McKenzie Pass

Benson Tenas

Three Sisters Wilderness Trailheads

Obsidian

Scott

Lava Camp Lake

Tam McArthur Rim

Broken Top

Crater Ditch

Todd Lake

Green Lakes/Soda Creek

Devil’s Lake/South Sister

Sisters Mirror

Mount Jefferson Wilderness

Breitenbush Lake

South Breitenbush and Crag Creek

Whitewater Creek

Pamelia Lake

Marion Lake

Duffy Lake

Jack Lake

Hiking trails in the Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington and Three Sisters wilderness areas were bursting at the seams a decade ago, following a period when use grew dramatically. More people in the region meant more day-trippers and hikers in the Cascades, leading to trail widening and increased trash in otherwise pristine areas.

Taking a cue from other wilderness areas that adopted a permit system for similar reasons, the U.S. Forest Service adopted a permit system for Central Oregon in 2021 to control visitor numbers and protect sensitive habitats. The system is designed to disperse hikers across the region by limiting numbers on popular trails and encouraging the use of lesser-known trails.

Where and when are the permits required?

The system affects 19 of 79 trailheads between June 15 and Oct. 15 in the Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington and Three Sisters wilderness areas. Trailheads include Broken Top, Tam McArthur and Todd Lake. Overnight-use permits are required for all trails in the three wilderness areas.

Overnight permits can be reserved starting April 2 at 7 a.m. At this time, 40% of overnight permits will be released. The remaining 60% of overnight permits will become available on a seven-day rolling window throughout the permit season.

Day-use permits can be reserved starting June 5 at 7 a.m. They are released on 10-day and two-day rolling windows — 40% of the permit quota will be available 10 days before the day of the trip and the remaining 60% will be released two days before the day of the trip.

The 10- and two-day rolling windows were implemented to reduce the number of no-shows and increase the opportunity for people to get day-use permits.

No permits are needed from Oct. 16 to June 14.

Is there a limit on permits?

Individuals are allowed to hold three overnight permits. Once the permit has expired, a hiker can make another overnight reservation. The limit is designed to prevent hoarding of permits and it is believed the fewer permits an individual has the more likely they will be used.

Where do I get a permit and what’s the cost?

Reservations for a Central Cascades Wilderness permit can be made through recreation.gov or on the recreation.gov app. Hikers can also call the recreation.gov call center at 877-444-6777. Permits are not available at Forest Service offices. There is a $1 processing charge for day-use permits per individual and a $6 processing charge for overnight-use permits per group. Overnight groups can be up to 12 people.

What if I need to cancel?

The Forest Service encourages permit holders to cancel their reservations online when they know they cannot go on a hike. This frees up the reservation for another user. The Forest Service will only refund a processing fee if the hiking area is closed.

Are there any exceptions to the permit system?

Permits aren’t needed for hikers already possessing a Pacific Crest Trail long-distance permit issued by the Pacific Crest Trail Association for long-distance hikers traveling more than 500 miles along the trail.

Individuals volunteering with the Forest Service do not require a permit.

Do the same rules apply to hunters?

Hunters with elk or deer hunting tags from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife can use their tags instead of wilderness permits during the hunting season. Entry is allowed one day prior to the start of hunting season and one day after.

Three additional support persons can accompany the licensed hunter with a maximum of four people per hunting tag. Hunters must have their hunting weapons with them and proof of a hunting tag.

Michael O’Casey, a Sisters-based hunter and sometimes hiker, said the process has worked well for him so far.

“I’ve also used the permit exemption successfully when I have had a Metolius Bow tag for deer in the high Cascades and never had any issues with that,” said O’Casey. “I’m grateful for that opportunity as it would have been difficult to secure the overnight permits or day passes needed to enable an opportunity at success for the hunt.”

How is the system working out?

After its inaugural year, the permit system was overhauled in 2022 to address user concerns.

One modification was made to the quota for overnight permits, which is now based on the entry date. Before the change, hikers had to block out consecutive days on the trail to use when they made their reservations, a process that the Forest Service said created confusion.

Since the process started in 2021, the Deschutes National Forest reports reduced crowding on trails and better distribution of trail users, said Lisa Machnik, heritage and lands staff officer for the forest.

Jaimie Olle, a spokesperson for the Forest Service, said, “In some areas, there are signs of wildlife returning, and overall, rangers are having to deal with significantly less trash and human waste.

“Current and future users will all benefit from use that is managed to preserve and protect wilderness character for the long term.”

On the trail

Once a permit is in hand, the user must enter the wilderness area at the designated trailhead. But from that point, users may travel anywhere in the wilderness and exit at any trailhead. Likewise, there is no requirement to pre-select a campsite.

Hikers should be mindful that even if a trailhead has a day-use fee, users must still pay a fee or show a Northwest Forest Pass or other recreation pass. The Central Cascades Wilderness permit won’t cover the fee.

There’s another caveat to the permit system: the Forest Service permits hikers to start a day-use trip at a trailhead that doesn’t require permits and then hike to an area that does require permits. Once the hiker is in the wilderness, the hiker is free to travel anywhere in the wilderness area. Hikers entering from trailhead that doesn’t require a permit must still fill out a free, self-issue permit, available at the trailhead.

Total overnight permits issued

2021: 10,653

2022: 10,551

2023: 13,440

Total day-use permits issued

2021: 22,962

2022: 28,884

2023: 28,838

Total people with a permit

2021: 96,913

2022: 103,013

2023: 110,486

* Day-use permits are per person; overnight permits can each cover a group of up to 12 people.