Scoring A Permit To Hike Washington's Most Enchanting Trails Requires Planning And Lots Of Luck

Washington State is a cornucopia of natural wonders, with lush, otherwordly rainforests, active volcanoes, high desert, and unspoiled coastline that is one of the West Coast's best camping destinations. The Evergreen State delivers deeply when it comes to outdoor bliss, and nowhere is this more concentrated than in the Enchantments, a region in the Cascade Range of rocky pinnacles, alpine lakes, and mountain goats galore. The allure of the Enchantments is so great that its hiking trails have become some of the most popular in the country, making the magical mountain area a victim of its own success.

In order to protect the fragile ecosystem that the Enchantments inhabits — and guarantee the sense of solitude that helps make the area so special — the National Forest Service strictly regulates the number of people allowed to access the region for overnight trips each year. This means that any hiker hoping to camp there must score a permit, which is no easy task.

Permits to the Enchantments are issued via a lottery system, and the competition is nothing short of fierce. The permits to the most sought-after zone are only awarded to just over 2% of applicants, making the likelihood of experiencing your dream trip in the Enchantments slim. There are ways to increase your chances, but they require both proper planning and knowledge of the system.

Situated in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness near this charming town that offers a taste-of-Bavaria, the Enchantments is 394,000 acres of unadulterated alpine bliss. The region is divided into five zones, each of which requires its own permit. The most popular is the Core Zone, which is home to the string of gorgeous alpine lakes that make up the Enchantment Basin. The other zones include the Snow Zone, Colchuck Lake Zone, and the less popular (but easier to snag a permit for) Stuart Zone and Eightmile/Caroline Zone.

Permits are required for any camping in the Enchantments from May 15 through October 31. To score one, aspiring hikers must pay a non-refundable fee and enter a lottery in February via recreation.gov which determines most of the access to the Enchantments for the season. Winners are announced in March and have until March 31 to claim their permits before they're released back to the public. 

A permit to the Core Zone is the most sought-after, as not only does it guarantee overnight access to the most alluring part of the Enchantments: it also allows camping in all the other zones. It should come as no surprise that it's the hardest to get, with only around 2% of applicants awarded this golden pass. While it may be slightly easier to snag a permit for the other zones, the odds are still not great. For example, in 2024, the chances of getting any kind of permit clocked in at just 7%. 

Despite the gloomy picture painted by the numbers, there are other ways to get your hands on a permit to the Enchantments. After the initial lottery, not all the permits are claimed. There are almost always some slots open, so you can log into recreation.gov on or after April 1 and try to snatch up an unclaimed spot. You can also get notified about canceled passes by using the Outdoor Status Alert app.

There is also a daily lottery, which releases a limited number of passes for the following day. In order to apply, you must be within one mile of the Leavenworth Ranger Station and put in for a permit via smartphone on recreation.gov. In addition, you can up your chances  in both the regular and daily lottery by applying for slots during less-popular times, such as weekdays, and the months of May, June, or October. That said, you will likely be dealing with significant amounts of snow early in the season, and wet cold weather later.

The good news is that it's possible to visit the Enchantments any time as a day hiker. All you need to do is fill out a free day-use permit at the trailhead and head into paradise. Just make sure to pack plenty of water and also allow yourself enough daylight to hike out. If you're feeling extra-adventurous, it's possible to thru-hike the entire Enchantments in one day, though it's a grueling, 20-mile trek that should only be undertaken by people in very good physical condition. For more hiking in Washington's Cascades, check out this thrilling yet strenuous mountain trail.