Peaks & views · Rocky Mountains
Chief Mountain / Glacier eastern front
MI ≈15.1 · ≈6,449 ft
Dramatic Glacier National Park start
A 1,200-mile National Scenic Trail from the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park to the Pacific Ocean on Washington's Olympic Coast, crossing three national parks and seven national forests. No single permit covers it: three separate park permits and long free-registration stretches of national forest apply along the way.
“1,200 miles from the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park to the Pacific Ocean on the Olympic Coast, three park permits and 600 free miles of national forest in between.”
Plan your Pacific Northwest Trail trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Walk-up permit
How to get PNT
PNT is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we alert on.
PNT permit season
- route distance, point to point
- 1200mi
The four passes of the PNT
1200 miles from Chief Mountain (eastern terminus area) to Cape Alava (western terminus), over four passes.
Mile 0 at Chief Mountain (eastern terminus area)
Pass
Boulder Pass
- ELEVATION
- ≈7,488 ft
High pass in Glacier National Park's Northern Loop, on the PNT's route through the park.
PNT key landmarks
PNT elevation
MILES 0 TO 1200 · 5 TO 8,977 FTMap of the Pacific Northwest Trail, Chief Mountain (eastern terminus area) to Cape Alava (western terminus)
5 of 5 places in this section
This device cannot draw the interactive map.
Terrain USGS 3DEP · Water USGS NHD · Trail © OpenStreetMap contributors
How to get a PNT permit
As of September 2026, PNT in Pacific Northwest Trail, Montana requires a permit issued via walk-up. PNT rates 5/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. The PNT route covers 1200 miles, rated expert.
- Type
- Thru-Hike
- Location
- Northern Rockies to Olympic Peninsula, MT
How this permit is issued
Get this permit in person at the trailhead or ranger station, or by phone.
Official permit page →Step 1: Check the agency page for the process
This permit is not sold online. Confirm where and when it is issued (and any fee) at pnt.org before your trip.
Step 2: Arrive early
Walk-up permits are issued first-come, first-served. Where the agency sets a daily quota, popular trailheads can run out on weekends and holidays.
Step 3: Have backup plans
Popular trailheads fill fast. Know alternate routes or dates.
Learn more:
More on PNT: Live availability activityPacific Northwest Trail permit itinerary
How much a PNT permit costs
PNT permit fee: Free for the trail itself; land units it crosses (Glacier National Park, Pasayten Wilderness, Olympic National Park) may each require a separate backcountry permit.
The PNT hike
- Distance
- 1200 miles
- Route Type
- Point to Point
- Duration
- 2-3 months
- Difficulty
- Expert
1,200 miles from the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park to the Pacific Ocean on the Olympic Coast, three park permits and 600 free miles of national forest in between.
About this permit
The Pacific Northwest Trail runs 1,200 miles from the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park to the Pacific Ocean on the Olympic Coast, crossing Montana, Idaho, and Washington. Congress designated it a National Scenic Trail in 2009. No single permit covers a thru-hike: you need Glacier's park-wide wilderness permit, a North Cascades backcountry permit, Olympic's wilderness permit (which already carries its own PNT thru-permit zone), and free self-registration for roughly 600 miles of national forest in between.
The route
From Chief Mountain the route crosses Glacier's Northern Loop over Boulder Pass to Goat Haunt on Waterton Lake, then west through the Yaak and Selkirks into Washington, over the North Cascades, across Puget Sound by ferry, and out to the Pacific through Olympic National Park.
Why it matters
This is the only National Scenic Trail that runs coast to divide rather than north to south, so it strings together grizzly country, a Puget Sound ferry crossing, and rainforest on the way to salt water.
How hard the PNT hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required5/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity3/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route4/5
Best for: Experienced hikers with excellent fitness and relevant technical skills.
Recommended experience: Should have completed 10+ mile day hikes with significant elevation gain.
When to hike PNT
Best time to visit
Mid-July through September, westbound (Glacier to Olympic) or eastbound, matching snowmelt in the Rockies and Cascades.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
⚠️
Backcountry Tips
- Today: Wind gusts to 66mph. Secure tent, avoid exposed ridges.
- Windy conditions: Bring wind-resistant shelter if camping.
Today
🌧️
37°
32°
Wed
🌧️
40°
29°
Thu
☁️
40°
28°
Fri
🌧️
44°
31°
Sat
☁️
46°
24°
Sun
☀️
53°
31°
Mon
☁️
51°
36°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
PNT rules, gear and safety
Hazards & considerations
- Grizzly bear country through Glacier, the Yaak, and the Selkirks; bear-resistant food storage required
- Long, lightly maintained or unmaintained tread in several sections, with real route-finding demands
- A Puget Sound ferry crossing that has to be scheduled around ferry timetables
- Short hiking season: high passes in Glacier and the North Cascades typically do not clear until July
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for PNT.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for PNT · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
PNT FAQ
Is there one Pacific Northwest Trail thru-hike permit?
No. pnt.org's own backcountry permits page lists separate permits for Glacier National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Olympic National Park, plus about 600 free miles of national forest where you self-register at the trailhead.
How long is the Pacific Northwest Trail?
1,200 miles. pnt.org describes it as a "1,200 mile-long route" from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean, and OpenStreetMap's own PNT relation records a matching distance.
Does the Pacific Northwest Trail need a Glacier National Park permit?
Yes. It uses the same single wilderness permit that covers all of Glacier's backcountry, Recreation.gov permit 4675321, with a $10 permit fee plus $7 per person per night, and pnt.org notes a 16-mile-per-day limit on advance reservations for thru-hikers.
Is there a dedicated Olympic National Park permit for Pacific Northwest Trail hikers?
Yes, sort of: Olympic's single wilderness permit already includes a Pacific Northwest Trail thru-permit area among its 15 wilderness zones, so you book it the same way as any other Olympic wilderness area, on Recreation.gov.
When do I need to reserve North Cascades National Park permits for a Pacific Northwest Trail hike?
Advance reservations open April 29 on Recreation.gov. Thru-hikers can also call the Wilderness Information Center at 360-854-7245 to arrange a walk-in reservation.
Do I need a permit for the national forest sections of the Pacific Northwest Trail?
Not an advance one. pnt.org states permits are not required for roughly 600 miles of national forest along the route, and self-registration permits are available at the trailheads.
When did the Pacific Northwest Trail become an official National Scenic Trail?
March 30, 2009, when President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 into law.
PNT trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
No questions yet
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Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a PNT permit
Where to stay near PNT
- Many Glacier CampgroundGlacier National Park
- St. Mary CampgroundGlacier National Park
- Rising Sun CampgroundGlacier National Park
- All Montana campgrounds
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
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