Planning Your Next Outdoor Adventure? Don’t Overlook These Resources
Updated 06/23/2026
Since the places we go hiking and backpacking are within national forests, designated wilderness areas, and national parks, utilizing public land resources is an important part of the trip planning process.
Contact public land management agencies to research:
- info about permits and passes
- current conditions for roads and trails
- regulations for campsites, food storage, group size, campfires and more
- alerts and warnings for wildfires, closures, and restrictions
The type of info provided online varies from agency to agency so don’t be shy about calling them to ask questions you have. Rangers may be more up-to-date on current conditions and able to provide info not found online.
Ultimately, if you are well informed before you head out on a trip, you are less likely to need their assistance once out in the backcountry.
Designated Wilderness Areas
Wilderness areas are among the most popular destinations for hiking and backpacking in the Pacific Northwest. Designated areas are protected with regulations that differ from location to location, covering everything from permits and group size, to whether or not campfires are allowed, as well as restrictions on campsite locations.
Note that only non-motorized access is allowed – anything with wheels (including bicycles) are not allowed, and drones are not permitted within designated wilderness areas.
National Forest websites contain useful information for trip planning in wilderness areas, including trail descriptions, alerts and warnings, permit info, driving directions and ranger district contact info.
Wilderness areas in Washington
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness
- Glacier Peak Wilderness
- Goat Rocks Wilderness
- Indian Heaven Wilderness
- Mount Adams Wilderness
- Mount Baker Wilderness
Wilderness areas in Oregon
- Eagle Cap Wilderness
- Hells Canyon Wilderness
- Mount Hood Wilderness
- Mount Jefferson Wilderness
- Strawberry Mountain Wilderness
- Three Sisters Wilderness
Interactive Map
Explore wilderness areas using this interactive map:
National Parks
The National Park Service provides extensive information on hiking and backcountry camping in national parks. Within Oregon and Washington, these include the North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and Crater Lake National Park.
Check each park’s wilderness trip planning resources for locations of backcountry campsites, availability of toilets, food storage requirements, group size, campfire regulations, and permit requirements. Note that dogs are usually not allowed on trails in national parks.
National Park Trip Planning Resources
- Crater Lake National Park
- Mount Rainier National Park
- North Cascades National Park
- Olympic National Park
National Forests
There are seventeen national forests and numerous designated wilderness areas within Oregon and Washington, with permits and regulations varying from place to place. Most areas within national forests have self-issued permits available at the trailhead, but some areas require reserving permits in advance.
National Forests in Oregon
- Deschutes National Forest
- Fremont-Winema National Forest
- Klamath National Forest
- Malheur National Forest
- Mount Hood National Forest
- Ochoco National Forest
- Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
- Siuslaw National Forest
- Umatilla National Forest
- Umpqua National Forest
- Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
- Willamette National Forest
National Forests in Washington
- Colville National Forest
- Gifford Pinchot National Forest
- Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
- Olympic National Forest
National Forests Interactive Map
This interactive map is a useful tool for research on trails, roads and campgrounds within national forests. Click on the icons for trailheads, campgrounds or sno-parks, or you can click on the numbers representing roads and trails.
Useful information for hiking includes whether or not the trail is open, trail names (with links to info about each), typical trail grade, and the type of road and conditions for driving to the trailhead.
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