Enchantments Lottery: Dates, Odds and How to Apply
Turquoise alpine lakes, golden larches, and granite spires. The Forest Service calls the Enchantments lottery highly competitive and puts it at under 10%, and only 24 people a day get into the Core Zone. Here's how to maximize your chances.
Core Enchantment Zone permit alertsThis guide covers the Core Enchantment Zone permit.
Enchantments lottery at a glance
The Forest Service calls the Enchantments advance lottery highly competitive and puts it at typically less than 10% of applicants succeeding. The Core Zone is the hardest way in: only 24 people a day enter it, 16 of them through the advance lottery.
When the Enchantments lottery runs
| Applications open | February 15 |
|---|---|
| Applications close | March 1 |
| Results announced | March 17 |
The window the managing agency publishes for this permit. Agencies move it, so check the official permit page before you apply.
Enchantments lottery odds
| Year | Lottery | Applications | Awarded | Success rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Advance lottery — all zones75% of available permits are issued through the advance lottery. | Not published | Not published | <10% |
| 2026 | Core Zone daily quota24 people per day enter the Core Zone: 16 through the advance lottery, 8 through the daily lottery. USFS publishes no Core-Zone-specific success rate. | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Sources: Okanogan-Wenatchee NF — Enchantments Overnight Permits · Recreation.gov Enchantments advance lottery
Last checked against the agency August 6, 2026. See the full Enchantments odds breakdown
Apply as a crew
Five people each entering the Enchantments lottery for the same dates turns about 5% into about 23%. Whoever wins takes the group.
<10%
Advance Lottery
5
Permit Zones
$6 + $5/person/day
Permit Cost
May-Oct
Season
19 mi
Traverse
The Core Zone Reality
Only 24 people a day enter the Core Zone: 16 through the advance lottery and 8 through the daily lottery, with a group size of up to 8. Every person in your party takes one of the 24, which is why the Core Zone is one of the hardest permits to get in America. But there are strategies that work, and alternatives that still deliver an incredible experience.
Three Zones, Three Different Allocations
Core Zone
Most competitive • 24 people/day
The heart of the Enchantments: Perfection Lake, Inspiration Lake, Leprechaun Lake, Lake Viviane, and views of Prusik Peak. This is what photographers come for.
Colchuck Zone
Moderate competition • 3 groups/day
Camp at stunning Colchuck Lake beneath Dragontail Peak. From here, you can day-hike up Aasgard Pass to see the Core Zone without an overnight permit for that zone.
Snow Zone
Largest allocation • 5 groups/day
Snow Lakes and Nada Lake from the south trailhead. Beautiful but less dramatic than the Core. Works well as an exit point for the full through-hike.
Key Dates
Lottery Timeline
Season Info
Get Enchantments Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
5 Strategies to Improve Your Odds
Apply for Colchuck Zone
Colchuck is allocated by group, three per day, and it lets you camp at a stunning lake and day-hike into the Core via Aasgard Pass. Best of both worlds.
Enter the Daily Lottery Too
One permit from each zone is held back for it, and the Core Zone reserves eight of its 24 daily spaces there. It is a second draw, not a consolation prize.
Know What the Lottery Covers
Three quarters of available permits go through the advance lottery. The rest move through the daily lottery and cancellations, which is where a lost lottery gets rescued.
Lottery Pool with Friends
Each person can submit their own lottery application. If anyone wins, they can add others to their permit. Multiply your odds.
Hunt Cancellations
After the lottery, cancelled permits return as first-come, first-served. PermitSnag monitors 24/7 and alerts you instantly.
The Aasgard Pass Question
Aasgard Pass is a notorious 2,200-foot scramble connecting Colchuck Lake to the Core Zone. It's the fastest way in, but it's not easy.
2,200 ft
in < 1 mile
Elevation Gain
Talus & Scree
Class 2-3
Terrain
~Late June
Check conditions
Snow-Free
Ascending
Most prefer
Best Direction
Lost the Lottery? Day-Use Permits Are Free
Day use still requires a permit, but it is free and you issue it to yourself at the trailhead kiosk. No lottery, no fee, no advance planning. Fill one out before you start and you can experience the Enchantments in a single long day:
Full Traverse
18 miles from Stuart Lake to Snow Lakes. Start at 4am, finish in 12-15 hours. Brutal but doable.
Colchuck Day Hike
8 miles round trip to Colchuck Lake. Stunning views of Dragontail Peak without the permit.
Aasgard Day Mission
Climb Aasgard Pass from Colchuck, explore Core Zone, return same day. 14+ hours, very demanding.
What Happens When You Win
Pay permit fee
$6 application, then $5/person/day
Confirm itinerary
Dates & group size
Print permit
Self-print, no pickup
Arrange shuttle
For through-hike
Start hiking
Display permit
Didn't Win? You Still Have Options
Cancellation Alerts
Permits get cancelled throughout the season. PermitSnag monitors 24/7 and alerts you instantly.
Day Hike Traverse
No lottery needed, but still fill out the free self-issue day-use permit at the trailhead. 18 miles in a day is tough but lets you experience everything.
Try Snow Zone
The biggest zone allocation at five groups a day, for a beautiful, less crowded alternative. Still wilderness, still worth it.
Pro Tips from Enchantments Veterans
Larch season is worth the crowds
Late September turns the Enchantments golden. Apply for those dates if you can handle the competition.
Start Aasgard Pass early
The sun hits the pass by mid-morning. Start at dawn for cooler temperatures and safer conditions.
Filter all water
Plenty of lakes, but giardia is present. Filter everything. Don't trust that crystal-clear water.
Two-car shuttle
Park one car at Stuart Lake Trailhead, one at Snow Lakes. Makes the through-hike much easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the odds of winning the Enchantments lottery?
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The Forest Service says the advance lottery is highly competitive and that typically fewer than 10% of applicants get a permit. It does not publish a rate for each zone. What it does publish is capacity, and that is where the Core Zone's reputation comes from: 24 people a day enter the Core, 16 of them through the advance lottery and 8 through the daily lottery.
When does the Enchantments lottery open?
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The Enchantments lottery runs from mid-February to the start of March: applications open February 15 and close March 1, with results in mid-March. Permits the winners never claim go back on Recreation.gov after the draw.
What is the difference between Enchantments permit zones?
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The Core Zone (most competitive) includes the iconic lakes like Perfection, Inspiration, and Leprechaun. Colchuck Zone includes only Colchuck Lake. Snow Zone covers the lower lakes accessed from the Snow Lakes trailhead. Each zone has separate quotas and lottery odds.
Can I do the Enchantments through-hike without camping?
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Yes. The 18-mile Enchantments Traverse can be done as a very long day hike (12-15 hours). You still need a day-use permit, but it is free and self-issued at the trailhead rather than won in the lottery. What you cannot do without a lottery permit is camp overnight, in any zone.
When is the best time to visit the Enchantments?
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Late September to early October is legendary for golden larch season. July-August offers the most reliable weather but higher permit demand. Snow typically clears from Aasgard Pass by late June or early July.
Is it called an "Enchantments permit" or an "Enchantment Lakes permit"?
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Both names refer to the same place - the Enchantments (also called Enchantment Lakes) in Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The permit itself is issued per zone (Core, Colchuck, Snow, Stuart, or Eightmile), not as one single "Enchantments permit," so which zone you apply for depends on where you plan to camp.
Do I need a permit just to visit the Enchantments, or only to camp overnight?
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You need a permit either way. Day hiking into the Enchantments - including the full 18-mile through-hike done in a single day - requires a day-use permit, which is free and self-issued at any of the three trailheads. Fill it out at the trailhead kiosk before you start. The lottery is only for overnight camping permits in one of the five zones.
Don't Miss Your Enchantments Permit
Cancellations happen throughout the season. PermitSnag monitors Enchantments availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts
Enchantments and its neighbours
The through-hike is drawn in the same lottery as the zones, and it is the one most people miss.
- Enchantments Through-Hike permitThe 18-mile Snow Lakes to Stuart Lake traverse, drawn in the same February USFS lottery as the zone permits.
- Mount St. Helens climbing permit datesWashington's one climbing quota that is not a lottery: permits for a whole month go on sale at 7:00 AM PT on the 1st.