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Enchantments Core Zone lottery
Overnight permits for the legendary Core Zone—one of America's most spectacular ...
Enchantments Through-Hike Permit
The Enchantments · Washington
Lottery, then cancellations all season
18-mile point-to-point traverse through the Enchantments, from Snow Lakes to Stuart Lake (or via Aasgard Pass from Colchuck Lake). There is no through-hike permit: you reserve the zone you camp in.
There is no through-hike permit
Recreation.gov sells the Enchantments by zone. Your permit names the zone you camp in and the date you enter, and neither can be changed afterwards — so a traverse is covered by Colchuck, the Core, or Snow, whichever one you spend the night in. Walking it in a day needs no lottery at all, just the free self-issue permit at the trailhead. Pick the zones you would take below and we'll watch each one for openings.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Enchantments Thru were gone within 5 minutes.
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No permit needed to start
The Enchantments traverse is covered by three separate zone permits, not one through-hike permit: Core Zone permit, Colchuck Zone permit, and Snow Zone permit.
Enchantments Thru Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodLottery
Demand LevelExtremely High10/10
SeasonMay 15 - October 31
Cost$6 non-refundable lottery application + $5 per person per day
Lottery OddsUnder 10% (USFS, all zones)
Max Group Size8 people
Enchantments Thru Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Enchantments Thru in The Enchantments, Washington requires a permit issued via lottery.
- Enchantments Thru is one of the most competitive permits in the United States, rating 10/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The Enchantments Thru lottery typically opens February 15 and closes March 1, with results announced March 17 (accept and pay by March 31).
- The permit season for Enchantments Thru runs May 15 through October 31.
- The Enchantments Thru route covers 18 miles with 4,500 feet of elevation gain, rated expert.
- Cancelled Enchantments Thru permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Who issues Enchantments Thru permits
Source: USDA Forest Service, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Alpine Lakes Wilderness). Read the official permit page.
“A valid permit is required for both day and overnight use in the Enchantment Permit Area.” The forest page states the permit requirement. It does not describe a lottery.
Checked against the agency page on August 20, 2026.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery OpensFebruary 15
Lottery ClosesMarch 1
ResultsMarch 17 (accept and pay by March 31)
SeasonMay 15 - October 31
Permit Details
TypeThru-Hike
Booking MethodLottery
Demand Level10/10
LocationAlpine Lakes Wilderness, Central Cascades, WA
Pro Tips
- •April 1 at 7 am PT is the second lottery nobody talks about. Every unclaimed award from the February draw goes back into the advance reservation system that morning.
- •Apply for a Colchuck or Snow Lakes permit as your backup. Those are allocated by group, so a party of four competes for one slot instead of four of the Core's 24 - and a Core day trip from either is entirely normal.
- •Pick your minimum acceptable Core group size carefully on the application. You cannot add people afterwards, at all, and the Forest Service says so twice.
- •Cancellations refund up to 22 days out and nothing inside 21, so that 22-day mark is when permits come back into the system.
- •Your permit must be printed and signed. A permit on a phone is not valid for the advanced lottery and will not be accepted.
- •Sort the car shuttle before you sort the food. A through-hike ends 12 road miles from where it started.
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
18 miles
Elevation Gain
4,500 ft
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
3-4 days for the Core Zone, per the Forest Service
Difficulty
ExpertElevation Range
1,600 - 7,800 ft
Highlights
- •Point-to-point: in at Stuart/Colchuck, out at Snow Lakes, so you need a shuttle or two cars
- •24 people per day in the Core Enchantment Zone - 16 from the February lottery, 8 from the daily lottery
- •Zone-by-zone group quotas: Snow Lakes 5, Stuart Lake 4, Colchuck Lake 3, Eightmile/Caroline 3 per night
- •One permit from each zone is reserved for the daily lottery
- •Maximum group size 8, and one permit per person per zone annually
- •Camp only in your permit zone - unless you hold a Core permit, which allows any zone
- •Lakes from 4,400 to 7,800 feet; the upper basin is fully alpine
- •Maximum stay 14 days
Best Time to Visit
Late July through September. The permit season runs May 15 to October 31, but Recreation.gov specifically calls May, June, September and October shoulder seasons where visitors can expect snow and winter-like conditions. Late September and early October bring the larches, which is why those dates are the most contested in the lottery. Outside the permit season, from November 1 to May 15, no permit is required and you self-register at the trailhead - but that is a snow-travel objective, not a backpacking one.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Aasgard Pass. The Forest Service says it is not advised for hikers not prepared and equipped for steep snow travel, and that in recent years hikers have died after glissading and falling into a creek or hole in the snowpack
- !Steep snow slopes with exposed and hidden creeks and waterfalls beneath them
- !Shoulder-season weather - May, June, September and October regularly bring snow and winter-like conditions
- !Habituated mountain goats. The Forest Service asks you not to approach, feed or pose with them, and not to urinate on vegetation or in campsites because the salt draws them in
- !Primitive, steep and rocky trail throughout; the area is high use but the trails are not built for it
- !Long descent out - the Snow Lakes side drops thousands of feet with a full pack
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (1,600 ft)
⚠️
Backcountry Tips
- Today: Expect 22°F colder at summit. Layer up.
- Today: 100% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
- Tomorrow: Expect 22°F colder at summit. Layer up.
Today
❄️
33°
29°
100%
Mon
🌫️
40°
28°
Tue
🌧️
40°
30°
30%
Wed
☀️
53°
30°
Thu
☀️
66°
37°
Fri
☀️
63°
38°
Sat
⛅
62°
40°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Verify your email and add payment info ahead of time.
2
Apply during the lottery window
Submit your application between February 15 and March 1. Apply for multiple dates to increase your odds.
3
Wait for lottery results
Results are typically announced March 17 (accept and pay by March 31). Check your email and your Recreation.gov account.
4
If unsuccessful, monitor cancellations
Permits get cancelled daily. Peak cancellation times are 24-48 hours before the trip date.
5
Set up PermitSnag alerts
Get notified when cancellations happen. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
When to Go
Peak: Late July through SeptemberShoulder: May-June and October
Conditions
Permit season opens May 15, but Recreation.gov calls May and June shoulder seasons with snow and winter-like conditions.
Crowd Level
LowAdvantages
- +Far less lottery competition for May and June entry dates
- +Waterfalls at full flow
- +Larch basin still empty
Challenges
- !Aasgard Pass under steep snow - the Forest Service's explicit warning
- !Toilets under snow, so WAG bags are needed
- !Route finding across snow-covered granite
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand5/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill3/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk4/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation3/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment4/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
The Forest Service's own answer: experienced hikers prepared for arduous travel and all weather conditions. Aasgard Pass with an overnight pack is the crux, and the trails throughout are primitive, steep and rocky.
Recommended Experience
Comfort on loose, steep, off-camber ground with a loaded pack, and honest snow-travel judgment. The Forest Service names glissading accidents on Aasgard specifically.
Not Recommended For
Anyone without steep snow experience attempting it in the shoulder seasons, and anyone bringing a dog - pets are prohibited outright.
About This Permit
The Enchantments through-hike crosses the Enchantment Permit Area in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, from the Stuart/Colchuck trailhead over Aasgard Pass and out through the Snow Lakes drainage. Nobody issues a permit for the traverse itself. Recreation.gov sells this permit area by ZONE, and the permit names the zone you camp in and the date you enter: "Once a permit reservation is made, no changes may be made to the permit zone or entry date." So a traverse is covered by Colchuck, the Core, or Snow - whichever one you spend the night in.
Walk it in a day and there is no lottery at all. The Forest Service asks only that "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. Everyone entering overnight between May 15 and October 31 needs a zone permit; from November 1 to May 15 they are not required and visitors self-register at the trailhead.
Permits come by lottery, and there are two. The advanced lottery runs February 15 to March 1, with results on March 17 and payment due by March 31 at 11:59 pm PT; anything unclaimed goes back into the advance reservation system on April 1 at around 7 am PT. The daily lottery runs seven days a week through the season, one day ahead, and you have to be inside the geofence area on a mobile device to apply.
The Core Enchantment Zone is capped at 24 people per day - 16 through the advanced lottery, 8 through the daily lottery. The other zones are allocated by group: Snow Lakes five per night, Stuart Lake four, Colchuck Lake three, Eightmile/Caroline three, with one permit from each zone held back for the daily lottery. Maximum group size is eight everywhere, including stock.
A Core Zone permit is the only one that lets you camp in any zone. Everyone else camps only in the zone printed on the permit, though day use across zones is fine. The Forest Service recommends the Core for experienced hikers prepared for arduous travel and all weather conditions, and says visitors typically plan at least three or four days.
The Experience
Why It Matters
The Enchantments permit is allocated by people, not by groups - the Forest Service is explicit that Core Zone entry is by people, not group. That is why it is the hardest overnight permit in Washington: a party of four does not take one of 24 slots, it takes four of them. The Forest Service's own framing is that demand for overnight permits far exceeds the number available.
The Route
The classic through-hike goes in at the Stuart/Colchuck Lake trailhead, climbs past Colchuck Lake to Aasgard Pass, crosses the Core Enchantment Zone, and descends the Snow Lakes drainage to the Snow Lakes trailhead outside Leavenworth. Recreation.gov describes the area as rugged glaciated peaks and a series of lakes ranging from 4,400 to 7,800 feet, with lower trails forested and the upper lakes fully alpine.
As a permit, it is five zones: Core Enchantment, Snow Lake, Colchuck Lake, Stuart Lake and Eightmile/Caroline. Your permit names one zone and you camp only in that zone - unless you hold a Core permit, in which case you may camp in any of the five. Day use is allowed across zones regardless.
The Forest Service recommends the Core Zone for experienced hikers who are prepared for arduous travel and all weather, and says visitors typically plan at least three or four days for the trip. The alternative is a permit for Colchuck or Snow Lakes with a day trip up into the Core - which is a genuinely easier permit to get.
The Feeling
Above Colchuck Lake the trail stops being a trail and becomes a boulder field tipped on end - that is Aasgard Pass, and it is the reason people who day-hike this end up walking the last hours in the dark. Over the top, the ground opens into a chain of alpine lakes with larches and mountain goats and nowhere to hide from weather. Then you drop 6,000 feet through the Snow Lakes side to get out.
Trailhead Information
Core Enchantment Zone — Stuart Lake Trailhead
3,400 ft elevationThe zone the classic traverse camps in, reached over Aasgard Pass from Colchuck Lake. Recreation.gov caps it at 24 people a day, 16 through the February advanced lottery and 8 through the daily lottery.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
Overnight Visitor Parking Pass comes free with the permit and must be displayed on the dashboard. Parking is prohibited along the left side of FS Road 7601 and violators are ticketed and towed at their own expense.
Nearest Services
Leavenworth. The Wenatchee River Ranger Station is at 600 Sherbourne, with limited hours.
Notes
A Core Zone permit is the only one that lets you camp in any zone, which is what makes it the permit a traverse is usually built around.
Colchuck Zone — Stuart Lake Trailhead
3,400 ft elevationCamp at Colchuck Lake below Aasgard Pass and cross the Core the next day. A separate zone permit from the Core, drawn separately, off the same trailhead.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
Overnight Visitor Parking Pass comes free with the permit and must be displayed on the dashboard. Parking is prohibited along the left side of FS Road 7601 and violators are ticketed and towed at their own expense.
Nearest Services
Leavenworth. The Wenatchee River Ranger Station is at 600 Sherbourne, with limited hours.
Notes
Camping immediately below Aasgard Pass is not allowed on a Colchuck permit.
Snow Zone — Snow Lakes Trailhead
1,500 ft elevationThe low end of the traverse and the usual exit. Snow Zone permit holders may day hike throughout the Core but must camp at or below Upper Snow Lake.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
Same Overnight Visitor Parking Pass rules - display it or expect a citation.
Notes
Because the traverse ends here and starts at the Stuart Lake trailhead, you need two cars or a shuttle.
Rules & Regulations
- •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
Gear Checklist
Required
- A stove, because fires are prohibited above 5,000 feet and within half a mile of any lake
- Water treatment - the Forest Service calls this a high-use area and says to boil, treat or filter everything
- Traction and the skills for steep snow if you go in May, June, September or October; Aasgard Pass is where people have died glissading into creeks and holes in the snowpack
- Your signed paper permit and photo ID
- The free Overnight Visitor Parking Pass, displayed on your dashboard
Recommended
- WAG bags for the shoulder seasons, when the toilets are under snow. Pack them out - do not put them in the toilets
- Trekking poles for Aasgard and the 6,000-foot descent out through Snow Lakes
- Warm layers even in August; the upper lakes sit near 7,800 feet
- A trowel for cat holes six to eight inches deep, at least 200 feet from water and campsites
- A shuttle plan, or a second car at the Snow Lakes trailhead
Plan Your Trip
Lottery concierge
Your next shot at Enchantments Thru
Next season’s application dates aren’t published yet.
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Better odds with a crew
Enchantments Thru is a lottery — solo odds run about 10%. Every friend who applies adds another entry. Five of you, each applying: about 41%.
One of you runs the pool (Pro or a $19 alert). Everyone else joins free.
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Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Enchantments Thru
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
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Key Landmarks
↑
4,500ft
Gain↓
2,466ft
Loss⛰️
7,800ft
High📏
13.0mi
Distance📐
6.6%
Avg GradeClick on a marker to view details•9 landmarks
Landmarks (9)
Lottery Statistics
Under 10% (USFS, all zones)
estimated success rate
Get detailed lottery statistics and tips. Sign up to track this permit.
Boost Your Chances
Apply with a crew to multiply your combined odds, and let auto win-detection tell you the moment you win — you never have to check Recreation.gov. Win-detection reads the result email you forward us, so it takes a one-time setup in your inbox (about two minutes, and we walk you through it). Pool and auto win-detection are on Pro or a $19 permit alert.
Apply these for the best odds
- Consider Colchuck or Snow zones. The Core Zone is capped at 24 people a day, while the other zones are allocated by group — Colchuck three groups per day, Stuart four, Snow five, Eightmile/Caroline three — and you can still day hike into the Core from either.
- Enter the daily lottery too. One permit from each zone is reserved for it, and the Core Zone holds back eight of its 24 daily spaces.
Opens the official lottery — you submit your entry. We never automate or store your Recreation.gov login.
Full lottery odds & strategy →Enchantments Thru FAQ
Is there an Enchantments through-hike permit?
No. Recreation.gov sells the Enchantment Permit Area by zone, and the permit you hold names the zone you camp in plus the date you enter: "Once a permit reservation is made, no changes may be made to the permit zone or entry date." A traverse is covered by whichever zone you spend the night in - Colchuck, the Core, or Snow. There is no separate product for the traverse, which is why this page watches all three zones rather than one permit that does not exist.
Do you need a permit to hike the Enchantments in one day?
Not a lottery permit. The Forest Service asks only for a permit you fill in yourself at the trailhead: "Day users need only fill out a free day-use permit, available at any of the three trailheads accessing the Enchantment Permit Area." A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park. The overnight lottery that runs May 15 to October 31 is what a single-day traverse skips entirely - though the day itself is 18 miles with about 4,500 feet of gain, so most people skip it by accident rather than by plan.
How do I get an Enchantments through-hike permit?
Two lotteries on Recreation.gov. The advanced lottery runs February 15 to March 1, with results on March 17; successful applicants must accept, set an exit date and pay by March 31 at 11:59 pm PT. The daily lottery runs seven days a week during the season, one day before your start date, and you must be inside the geofence area to apply from a mobile device.
What is the Enchantments Core Zone daily quota?
24 people per day. The Forest Service splits it 16 places through the advanced lottery and 8 through the daily lottery, and states that Core Zone entry is by people, not group. The other zones are allocated by group: Snow Lakes five per night, Stuart Lake four, Colchuck Lake three, Eightmile/Caroline three.
What are the odds of getting an Enchantments permit?
The Forest Service does not publish a current success rate for the Enchantments lottery. What it does publish is the supply: 24 people a day in the Core across both lotteries, and three to five groups a night in each of the other four zones, with the note that demand for overnight permits far exceeds the number available.
How much does an Enchantments permit cost?
$6 for the lottery application, non-refundable even if you are unsuccessful, plus $5 per person per day for the permit itself between May 15 and October 31. Trailhead parking passes for the duration of your overnight trip are included.
Can I camp in any zone with an Enchantments permit?
Only with a Core Enchantment Zone permit - Core holders may camp in any of the five zones. Every other permit is valid for camping only in the zone printed on it, though day use across zones is allowed for everyone.
What is the group size limit for an Enchantments permit?
Eight people, including stock, and two or more groups on separate permits may not travel or camp together if the combined total is over eight. On a Core permit the group size cannot be increased after the lottery at all, and individuals cannot be added later.
Are dogs allowed in the Enchantments?
No. Dogs and all pets are prohibited, with the sole exception of service dogs as defined by Department of Justice regulations. Dogs whose purpose is therapy, comfort, emotional support or crime deterrence do not qualify.
Can I have a campfire in the Enchantments?
Not above 5,000 feet or within half a mile of any lake, which the Forest Service says covers the majority of the permit area. Wood-burning stoves, including BioLite-type stoves, are not allowed either. Bring a gas stove.
When do unclaimed Enchantments lottery permits become available?
April 1, at around 7 am PT. Winners have until March 31 at 11:59 pm PT to accept and pay, and everything unclaimed goes back into the advance reservation system the next morning. That release, plus in-season cancellations, is how most people who lost the February lottery still get in.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Photography Guide
Golden Hour
Late September and early October, when the larches turn. Evening light in the Core lasts a long time because the granite holds it.
Best Light
First light from a Core Zone camp before the day-hikers come over Aasgard, which is the single argument for the overnight permit over the day hike.
Beat the Crowds
Camping in the Core is the crowd avoidance. Day traffic over Aasgard peaks late morning to mid-afternoon; if you are already up there you have the basin at both ends of the day.
Classic Shots
- 📍Colchuck Lake with Dragontail Peak behind it, from the outlet
- 📍Looking back down Aasgard Pass to Colchuck
- 📍Larches turning around the upper Enchantment lakes in late September
- 📍Mountain goats on the granite - from a distance, which the Forest Service asks for
- 📍Prusik Peak from the Core basin
Can't Get a Enchantments Thru Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Enchantments Core Zone
Similar ExperienceThe same 24-person-a-day Core permit, treated as a base-camp trip rather than a one-way traverse.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Identical lottery, but you can go in and out the same way and skip the shuttle. A Core permit also lets you camp in any of the five zones.
Colchuck Zone
Easier AlternativeThree groups a night at Colchuck Lake, with a day trip up Aasgard into the Core.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Allocated by group rather than by person, so a party of four competes for one of three slots instead of four of 24. You day-hike the Core rather than sleeping in it.
Snow Zone
Easier AlternativeFive groups a night in the Snow Lakes Zone - the largest quota in the permit area.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
The best odds of any Enchantments zone, and it puts you on the traverse route. Longer approach to the Core than from Colchuck.
Wonderland Trail
Similar ExperienceWashington's other lottery-gated classic - a 93-mile loop around Mount Rainier, booked camp by camp.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Two weeks instead of three days, and an early access lottery that awards booking windows rather than permits. Named camps rather than zones.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Enchantments Thru trip
Trip planning
Articles that plan a trip around this permit.
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