The Wilderness Information Center will begin accepting wilderness permit reservation requests beginning Thursday, Feb. 15, for the 2018 season. Reservation requests will now be accepted via email, mail or in person at the center, 3002 Mount Angeles Road, Port Angeles.

The reservation request form is currently being updated and will be available on the park website before Feb. 15.

The Wilderness Information Center previously accepted reservation requests via fax, mail or hand delivery beginning March 15 of every year. Reservation requests will no longer be accepted via fax. Switching from fax to email will streamline permit processing for center staff and make the reservation process easier and more accessible to the general public, park officials say.

Reservations are strongly encouraged when planning trips that include one or more nights to quota areas and group sites:

• Ozette Coast (Yellow Banks to Point of the Arches)

• Royal Basin/Royal Lake

• Lake Constance

• Upper Lena Lake

• Flapjack Lakes (including Gladys Divide)

• Grand Valley and Badger Valley

• Sol Duc/Seven Lakes Basin

• Hoh Lake and CB Flats

• Hoh River Trail group sites

• Upper Hoh River Trail sites (Elk Lake, Glacier Meadows, Martin Creek)

Wilderness Permit fees are $8 per person, per night for individuals 16 or older. Annual Wilderness Passes are $45 per person (annual flat rate).

For more information about wilderness permits and backpacking in Olympic National Park, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/wilderness-trip-planner.htm.