Core Zone Lottery Odds
The Enchantments Core Zone is one of the longest-odds permits in the country: roughly 2% of applications win. Other zones (Colchuck, Snow, Stuart, Eightmile) run meaningfully better.
Figures from official agency statistics, last verified July 5, 2026.
Success rates by year
| Year | Lottery | Applications | Awarded | Success rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Advance lottery — all zones790 winning applications for the Core Zone | 42,765 | — | <10% |
| 2024 | Advance lottery — Core Zone16 people per day via the advance lottery | — | — | ~2% |
Sources: Okanogan-Wenatchee NF — Enchantments Overnight Permits · Recreation.gov Enchantments advance lottery
How to improve your Core Zone odds
- 1
Apply for May, June, or October starts. Midsummer Core dates draw the heaviest competition.
- 2
Sunday start dates have historically had the best odds of the week.
- 3
Consider Colchuck or Snow zones. You can still day-hike into the Core from either, and odds are several times better.
- 4
Cancelled permits return to Recreation.gov continuously through the season. Monitoring the zone you want is the main path in after the lottery.
The backup plan: cancellation alerts
<10% odds means most applicants lose. But lottery winners cancel all season, and those dates quietly return to the booking system. PermitSnag watches Core Zone continuously and alerts you within seconds when dates open, which is how most people who lose the lottery still get on the trail.
Core Zone lottery questions
What are the odds of winning the Core Zone lottery?
The Enchantments Core Zone is one of the longest-odds permits in the country: roughly 2% of applications win. Other zones (Colchuck, Snow, Stuart, Eightmile) run meaningfully better.
How can I improve my Core Zone lottery odds?
Apply for May, June, or October starts. Midsummer Core dates draw the heaviest competition. Sunday start dates have historically had the best odds of the week. Consider Colchuck or Snow zones. You can still day-hike into the Core from either, and odds are several times better. Cancelled permits return to Recreation.gov continuously through the season. Monitoring the zone you want is the main path in after the lottery.
What if I lose the Core Zone lottery?
Cancellations. Lottery winners cancel or miss payment deadlines, and those dates return to the booking system throughout the season. Tracking Core Zone with availability alerts is the standard post-lottery fallback.