Do I need a permit to thru-hike Enchantments?

What the Enchantments permit costs and covers

Fee

$6 non-refundable lottery application + $5 per person per day

Group size limit

8 people

Applications open

February 15

Applications close

March 1

Results

March 17 (accept and pay by March 31)

Season starts

May 15

Season ends

October 31

What the rules require

• A permit is required for overnight use from May 15 through October 31, and it is issued for one zone and one entry date: "Once a permit reservation is made, no changes may be made to the permit zone or entry date"
• There is no through-hike permit. Recreation.gov publishes no such product for this area, only its five zones
• Day users "need only fill out a free day-use permit, available at any of the three trailheads accessing the Enchantment Permit Area", plus a Northwest Forest Pass to park
• Core Zone entry is allocated by people, not groups - a party of four uses four of the 24 daily places
• Group size cannot be increased on a Core permit after the lottery, and individuals cannot be added later
• Maximum group size is eight, including stock; two permits cannot be combined to make a larger group
• You must enter on the exact date on your permit or it is not valid, and you may not exit and re-enter on a different date
• Camp only in the zone on your permit; Core permit holders may camp in any zone
• All group members must start on the reserved date and camp with the permit holder
• The signed permit and photo ID must be carried; permits on cell phones are not valid for the advanced lottery
• Dogs and all pets are prohibited, except service dogs as defined by DOJ regulations
• No campfires above 5,000 feet or within half a mile of any lake - which is most of the permit area. Wood-burning stoves are not allowed either
• Maximum stay is 14 days, and one permit per person per zone annually including serving as an alternate
• Camp only in previously impacted sites - do not move rocks, build walls or disturb soil

Published rules for the Enchantments Through-Hike Permit, quoted as written.

Getting one

Lottery winners cancel and miss payment deadlines, and those dates go back into the booking system through the season. PermitSnag watches Enchantments Through-Hike Permit and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.

Common questions about the Enchantments permit