When To Book/Reserve Outdoor Adventures for 2022

We've arrived at that time where many people are mapping out their year. This is when you should be thinking about making your camping reservations, as many people have already begun that process, and spots may become fully booked soon, leaving you high and dry.  Camping spots within state parks officially become reservable nine months in advance at washington.goingtocamp.com. 

     Camping in state parks isn't the only thing that needs to be reserved ahead of time.  Social media has driven up the popularity of certain hiking trails so much that several trails now require entering an online lottery system to obtain a permit to be able to use the trail.  This is the case for ascending Mt. Rainier above 10,000 or climbing on any of its glaciers.  Such permits can be obtained here, at recreation.gov.

     Other hiking trails that require winning the lottery are growingly popular 20-mile Enchantment Lakes trail, if you wish to stay overnight, can be applied for here starting February 15th through the end of the month.  Overnighting on the Wonderland trail, the 93-mile route which circumnavigates Mt. Rainier, also requires winning a lottery, which can be applied for here. Anywhere in the backcountry in North Cascades National Park does as well, can be applied for here.  Another popular overnight backpacking destination, Enchanted Valley, out on the Peninsula, doesn't require a lottery win, but it does require booking reservations here. The other hiking trails that require winning the lottery are growingly popular Enchantment Lakes, which can be applied for here between February 15th, and anywhere in the backcountry in North Cascades National Park, can be applied for here.

Prusik Peak towering over Gnome Tarn in the Enchantment Lakes

     Hiking up to the summit (or anywhere above the Loowit trail) at Mt. St. Helens doesn't require winning a lottery, but it does require a reservation like camping at state parks.  Reservations are available here. 

Lake Chelan

Ocean City State Park (Ocean Shores)

Sol Duc Hot Springs, Olympic National Park

Cranberry Lake Campground

Fort Casey

Lake Wenatchee

Colonial Creek Campground (Diablo Lake)

Moran State Park, Orcas Island

     We hope you are successful in obtaining the reservations of your dreams and have a wonderful year in 2022 full of fun and adventures!