At the start of 2024, climbers wanting to summit Mount Hood must first obtain a permit. According to the U.S. Forest Service, any climber planning to travel above 9,500 feet on the 11,249-foot mountain needs to buy a $20 three-day permit or a $50 annual pass.
In the announcement, the Forest Service said the permitting system was proposed in late 2022 due to the growing popularity of climbing Mount Hood. The agency explained that nearly 10,000 people climb the mountain annually, but it has only had funding for a single seasonal climbing ranger. The permitting system will change that.
“Money collected from the climbing permit will fund additional climbing rangers, more safety and climber education, more frequent conditions reports and forecasting, more resource protection and waste management, and a better overall climbing program,” the Forest Service said.
The launch of a permitting system ends a years-long debate about whether one should even exist. According to reports, Mount Hood — a dormant volcano and tallest point in Oregon — has claimed the lives of more than 130 climbers since the 1880s.
For the most part, most climbing groups and local climbers have high hopes for the system. During the commenting period, many argued that more data would allow site managers to better plan and improve the climbing experience.
Although the Forest Service won’t limit the number of climbers allowed to be on the mountain, the agency said the permit system will put it in line with several other Cascades peaks.
For those wanting a permit, you can buy one on Recreation.gov starting Jan. 1, 2024.