National Forests & Wilderness Backcountry Permits
Designated wilderness areas within National Forests, managed by the US Forest Service. Home to some of the most competitive permit lotteries.
About National Forests & Wilderness Permits
National Forest wilderness areas offer some of the most remote and stunning terrain in the US. The Forest Service manages these lands with a lighter touch than National Parks, but quota systems protect the most popular destinations. The Enchantments lottery is legendary for its difficulty. BWCAW entry points require advance planning. These permits reward those who plan ahead.
Best Time to Visit
High Sierra and Pacific Northwest areas are best July through September. Lower elevation forests extend into spring and fall. Winter travel requires additional preparation and often different permit systems.
Top National Forests & Wilderness permits
The most sought-after permits in this category.
- Core Enchantment Zone permit· Enchantments
- Enchantments Through-Hike permit· Enchantments
- Enchantments daily lottery· Enchantments
- Four Pass Loop permit· Maroon Bells
- Conundrum Hot Springs permit· Maroon Bells
- Kirk Creek Campground permit· Los Padres
- Colchuck Zone permit· Enchantments
- Lake One (EP30) permit· BWCAW
- Sawbill Lake (EP38) permit· BWCAW
- Central Cascades Obsidian permit· Central Cascades
- Devils Lake/Wickiup (South Sister) permit· Central Cascades
- Timberline Trail permit· Mt. Hood
Signature Experiences
The most sought-after permits in National Forests & Wilderness
Core Zone
10/10“Twenty-four people a day enter the Core Enchantment Zone - the high lake basin between Aasgard Pass and Upper Snow Lake, and the hardest overnight permit in Washington to draw.”
Enchantments Thru
10/10“Twenty-four people a day are allowed into the Core Enchantment Zone. Sixteen of those places come from one February lottery, and the other eight from a daily lottery you have to be standing inside the geofence to enter.”
Daily Lottery
9/10The one-day-ahead lottery for the Enchantment Permit Area. You apply from a phone inside a one-mile geofence around the Leavenworth Ranger Station, between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m. PT, for the next day's entry.
Parks & Wilderness Areas
Browse permits by location (13 locations)
Enchantments permits
Washington's premier alpine destination in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest....
BWCAW permits
Over 1 million acres of pristine lakes in Superior National Forest....
SHT permits
310-mile footpath following the rugged ridgeline above Lake Superior from Wisconsin to Canada....
Central Cascades permits
Oregon's volcanic peaks in Willamette and Deschutes National Forests....
Mt. Hood permits
Oregon's iconic volcanic peak with the Timberline Trail circling its glaciated slopes....
Mt. St. Helens permits
The volcano that famously erupted in 1980, now offering unique volcanic terrain and the Loowit Trail...
Maroon Bells permits
Colorado's most photographed peaks in White River National Forest....
Los Padres permits
Rugged coastal wilderness from Big Sur to Santa Barbara. Includes Ventana and Silver Peak Wilderness...
Wind Rivers permits
Wyoming's Wind River Range: remote alpine wilderness with America's largest glaciers outside Alaska ...
Thru-Hikes & Long Trails
Epic multi-day traverses in National Forests & Wilderness (7 trails)
Enchantments Thru
Enchantments
18-mile point-to-point traverse through the Enchantments, from Snow Lakes to Stuart Lake (or via Aas...
3-4 days for the Core Zone, per the Forest Service
SHT Thru-Hike
SHT
310-mile ridge walk above Lake Superior from the Wisconsin border to the Canadian border—the Midwest...
2-4 weeks
Timberline Trail
Mt. Hood
Circle Oregon's most iconic peak on a 41-mile loop through alpine meadows, past cascading waterfalls...
3-4 days
Loowit Trail
Mt. St. Helens
Walk through the aftermath of one of America's most violent volcanic eruptions—a 30-mile loop across...
2-3 days
Wind River High Route
Wind Rivers
America's premier off-trail alpine traverse—80 miles of glacier crossings, 12,000-foot passes, and r...
6-8 days
CT Thru-Hike
CT
Walk 486 miles from Denver to Durango through the heart of the Rocky Mountains—crossing eight mounta...
4-6 weeks
Collegiate Loop
CT
160-mile loop combining the Colorado Trail's Collegiate East and West routes through the heart of th...
10-14 days
Search National Forests & Wilderness Permits
Find specific permits or browse all 107 permits
Core Zone
LotteryPopularEnchantments · National Forests & Wilderness
Enchantments Thru
LotteryPopularEnchantments · National Forests & Wilderness
Daily Lottery
LotteryEnchantments · National Forests & Wilderness
Four Pass Loop
ReservationPopularMaroon Bells · National Forests & Wilderness
Conundrum Hot Springs
ReservationMaroon Bells · National Forests & Wilderness
Kirk Creek
ReservationLos Padres · National Forests & Wilderness
Colchuck
LotteryEnchantments · National Forests & Wilderness
Lake One (EP30)
ReservationBWCAW · National Forests & Wilderness
Sawbill Lake (EP38)
ReservationBWCAW · National Forests & Wilderness
Obsidian
ReservationCentral Cascades · National Forests & Wilderness
Devils Lake/Wickiup (South Sister)
ReservationCentral Cascades · National Forests & Wilderness
Timberline Trail
Walk-UpPopularMt. Hood · National Forests & Wilderness
Plaskett Creek
ReservationLos Padres · National Forests & Wilderness
Pine Ridge
Walk-UpLos Padres · National Forests & Wilderness
Cirque
Walk-UpWind Rivers · National Forests & Wilderness
3 Days Ahead
ReservationIndian Peaks · National Forests & Wilderness
Moose Lake (EP25)
ReservationBWCAW · National Forests & Wilderness
Snowbank Lake (EP27)
ReservationBWCAW · National Forests & Wilderness
Seagull Lake (EP54)
ReservationBWCAW · National Forests & Wilderness
Saganaga Lake (EP55)
ReservationBWCAW · National Forests & Wilderness
Explore Other Regions
Planning a bigger trip? Check out permits in other areas.
National Forests & Wilderness Permit FAQ
How many backcountry permits does PermitSnag track in National Forests & Wilderness?
PermitSnag tracks over 107 backcountry permits across National Forests & Wilderness, including day-use permits, overnight permits, thru-hike entries, and specialized permits like canyoneering and river access.
What are the most popular permits in National Forests & Wilderness?
The most competitive National Forests & Wilderness permits include Core Zone, Enchantments Thru, Daily Lottery. These permits often sell out immediately when released.
How do I get notified about National Forests & Wilderness permit cancellations?
Sign up for PermitSnag to receive instant alerts when National Forests & Wilderness permits become available due to cancellations. Our system monitors availability 24/7 and notifies you immediately.