Wilderness camping reservations start March 15

Starting in mid-March, Mount Rainier National Park will accept online reservation requests for wilderness camping and climbing permits, including overnight trips on the Wonderland Trail.

Reservations on the park’s Wilderness Permit webpage will begin at 9 a.m. March 15. Requests received that date and through March 31 will be processed in random order beginning on April 1. All requests received on or after April 1 will be processed in the order they’re received, after March requests have been handled.

Online is the only method in which reservations can be made. They won’t be taken by postal mail, fax or telephone, or other delivery methods. Fee payments will only be accepted online, as well.

This process is the first step in a phased solution to upgrading the park’s reservation system. A park spokeswoman said work is continuing on an online reservation system that eventually will allow users to see real-time campsite availability while requesting a reservation.