Olympic park to launch online permit reservations

PORT ANGELES, Wash.

The Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center will move to an online reservation system allowing backpackers to check the availability of sites in real time, plan their trip and receive immediate confirmation.

Olympic National Park officials say the online reservation system will launch through recreation.gov at noon Monday.

Olympic National Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum said the new online system is more efficient and allows more time for specialists to answer questions and help with trip planning.

Wilderness permit reservation requests also can be submitted in person at a park Wilderness Information Center with phone reservations to be available in late April.

The fee for online, phone or in person reservations will be $6 in addition to the regular permit fees. Wilderness Permit fees are $8 per person, per night for individuals 16 or older. Annual Wilderness Passes are $45 per person.