All group members are required to start on the same day and camp together. PRO TRAVEL TIP: The road to the Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead is compacted dirt and loose gravel road. Leavenworth, WA 98826
It is mandatory to get a permit to overnight camp in the Enchantments between May 15 and October 31. Mice, squirrels, marmots, and marten are also present and are known to chew through food bags, packs, and tents when people are careless. For full details, click here. The lottery is run the following month issuing permits for the summer season to those lucky few who win. There are two points of entry into the Enchantments: the Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead and the Snow Lakes Trailhead.
What About the Goats? Only one permit per zone for the Core Enchantment, Colchuck, Stuart, Snow Lakes and Eightmile/Caroline zones will be issued in the walk up lottery. Persons with advance reservations entering on those days should plan to print their permit online. United States government. But I wouldn't know, since I haven't seen the statistics! If you win a permit in the lottery, then you need to confirm and pay for it between March 6 and March 31. It is managed according to the Wilderness Management Plan and the 1964 Wilderness Act, to provide protection of fragile resources and preservation of wilderness character for generations to come. However, to camp in the Enchantments, you must have a permit. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. We recorded our Enchantments hike using one of the best hiking apps on the market, . About the length of time. On this routeyour overall elevation gain is less than going in via Snow Lake. Our lottery process is based on a fair and randomized distribution system to manage . There is a $6 non-refundable fee to enter the lottery. This hike is HARD and you need to make sure you can hike 20 miles through tough terrain. The Core Zone, in which the famous Enchantment Basin is located, is the most popular and the most difficult to get a permit for. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Trailhead passes for parking are included in the permit cost only for the duration of your overnight trip., Day use visitors are required to obtain a free self-issue day use permit and purchase and display a Northwest Forest Pass (PDF), available online, at the ranger station, or at the trailhead., Parking is prohibited along the lefthand side FS Road 7601. View lottery results: Login to your Recreation.gov account to view lottery results on/after March 17, 2023. Because of their popularity, there is a strict permit process in place to limit impact and keep the area pristine for many years to come.. Let's try it. MOUNT RAINIERNATIONAL PARK:Check out our Mount Rainier National Park Travel Guidefor important travel planning tips, sample itineraries, advice on when to go, where to stay, and more. The high temperature reached 101 degrees in Leavenworth so it was a very hot day. Permits must be obtained in person at a wilderness information center or visitor center. Required fields are marked *. So, in order to do this, you will need to have spare time before and after your hike to pick up and drop off the rental car. To minimize how much weight you carry, consider bringing a water filter and filtering water directly from the creeks along the trail, of which there are many. Also, the hike up and over the Aasgard Pass comes much earlier in the hike, when your legs are still fresh and temperatures are still cool. Your email address will not be published. As with all wildlife, help keep them wild and never feed them. The most challenging day hike we have done (so far) is the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim. A small number of daily walk-in permits are available on an unreserved basis Monday - Saturday. If your alternate permit holder accepts being an alternate during the season as a lottery award, they will not be able to hold another permit during the season for any zone. . Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate NWHikers.net earns from qualifying purchases when you use our. Share sensitive information only
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Alternate group leader must have a recreation.gov account and accept online. I don't really think anyone wins- we all forfeit our 7-odd dollars to play in a game where the odds of winning are extremely low. And temperatures can soar during the summer months. The Enchantments Lottery is just around the corner and I was wondering if anyone had ever seen any statistics for it? During the advanced lottery, the applicant must select an, Through the walk-up lottery held Monday-Saturdayat the Wenatchee River Ranger Station office in Leavenworth. By Eli Francovich elif@spokesman.com (509) 459-5508. This will give you the maximum amount of daylight and let you hike a nice chunk of the trail before it heats up (very important in the summer). Your chance to spend the night in Washington's picturesque Enchantments within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is drawing to a close. All users must display required day or overnight parking pass and park in designated areas within designated trailheads. Distance: 19.25 miles (31 km) Difficulty: Extremely strenuous Total Elevation Gain: 5,500 feet (1.675 meters) Total Elevation Loss: 7,000 feet (2,133 meters) Starting Elevation (Stuart Lake TH): 3,225 feet (980 meters) Ending Elevation (Snow Lakes TH): 1,400 feet (425 meters) Highest Elevation (Aasgard Pass):7,841 feet (2,390 meters) Length of time: 8 to 15 hours. The Enchantments is a slice of hiking paradise. In recent years, they have become habituated to people, in some cases acting aggressively. You can enter the lottery from February 15th to March 1st on the recreation.gov website. View complete list of applications, by zone and including preferred date and zone choices. These are available daily (except Sundays) at the Wenatchee River Ranger District Office in Leavenworth at 7:45 a.m. And make sure you know how to change a flat tire, just in case. Sunday to Wednesday are much less popular than Thursday, Friday or Saturday. While exercising, it is hard for your body to process a full stomach of food. Regardless of where you hope to camp, youll improve your odds by applying for dates outside of the peak months (July and August). Start at sunrise or earlier. After the pre-season lottery permits are awarded, you can search for and reserve any of the few dates that were not filled at on the enchantments permit area page. Data also available as Excel spreadsheets: 2021 Data --- 2020 Data
The $6 application fee is nonrefundable. As a white water paddler, I enter a number of different permit lotteries almost every year: Rogue, Grand Canyon, MF Salmon, Main Salmon, Hell's Canyon of the Snake, Selway, etc. "The mountains are calling and I must go." United States. Or you could use previous years' results to pick dates that give you better odds of winning in the future. Walk-up quota will be released back into the recreation.gov reservation system on Sundays, one week at a time. However, the shuttle was not running the day of our hike, leaving us to rent a car. The trails to Snow Lake, Colchuck Lake, and Windy Pass involve more difficult hiking, and traveling to the Core Enchantments involves scrambling over loose rock, bedrock slabs, and some snow even into late summer. Pueblo, CO 81008
Click here for more information. Bear in mind that the most popular time to go is August, and the most popular days to start a trip are Fridays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I do think publishing the statistics is in their best interest, however, as it puts it all in perspective. In this wayeveryone has an equal chance at getting a permit regardless of what day they submitted their application. Even with repellent, I ended the hike with lots of bites (mostly on my arms and shouldersthey will bite you through your clothing).
[Georeferenced PDF -- This map can be uploaded to your phone in an app like Avenza Maps and you will be able to locate yourself when in the map area, even without a cell signal], Recreation.gov Enchantment Permit Reservation Site, Enchantment Permit Area Rules and Regulations, Enchantment Permit Area Changes and Cancellations Policy. Permits need to be obtained for all overnight camping trips from May 15th to October 31th.Permit applications are not necessary for day hikes and . Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Being prepared and knowing your skill level and ability and the skill level and abilities of all of your group members is imperative. Visitors typically plan at least three or four days for this trip. For vehicles parking on road or in parking area -- a NW Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass or the Overnight Visitor Parking Pass that comes with Enchantments overnight permitmustbe on display on your vehicles dashboard. If you scroll around looking for specific dates or number of people available, you will lose out. 509-548-2550, Pike-San Isabel National Forests &
This is another shuttle service that will drop you off at the start of your hike, so you only need to leave a car at your exit point. Failure to comply with regulations may result in citations for all group members, termination of trip and denial of future permits. Official websites use .gov A .gov
This is an overview of the permit zones but it shows the hiking trail, the location of the Core Enchantments, as well as Colchuck Lake and the Snow Lakes. If you did this I think it increased the odds of getting a permit substantially. It's been estimated that 9 out of 10 goats are actually people in costumes dodging the permit system. Maximum group size is eight people. Getting a permit takes extremely good luck, which is why most people will visit the Enchantments on a day hike. Again, only published statistics could tell you what's really going on. Its very important that you start this hike fully hydrated. A special "glint" animation appears on items that are enchanted. No. Not all dates and zones for the season are taken during the lottery. Every group member must carry a copy of permit. Permit holders will be able to print their permit online within 14 days prior to their trip startdate. A May or June visit to the Core Enchantments will often result in seeing and travelling ona lot of snow, but not really seeing the lakes. The day pass, which is essentially a parking pass, costs $5 per vehicle. The red line is the hiking trail. Its better to eat small, frequent snacks than a big meal every few hours. These lotteries are run by different governmental agencies (BLM, NPS, Forest Service) and they have many differences: most are held online (the Rogue is not), most allow you to pick multiple dates (the Rogue does not) and only one is weighted (Grand Canyon). Most people find this route to be easier on the knees and the back, but it is longer. For example each day up to 16 people are allowed entry in the advanced lottery and up to 8 people are allowed in the walk-up lottery. Get the full list in our article Best Things to do in North Cascades National Park. Be sure to select the correct date and zone as these cannot be changed later. Note: applying early during this period does not give you preference for a permit. If you drop a car at each trailhead you will need two of these passes. In other words on your application you could for example request any date from August 1st to September 30th. We did it at the end of the summer, after hiking in RMNP, other parts of Colorado, Mount Rainier NP, and Olympic, so we were in very good shape for the hike. You signed in with another tab or window. Getting a permit to camp in The Enchantments is very competitive. The lower trails and lakes are forested, while the upper lakes are within a largely alpine environment. Enchantments Lottery Starts Saturday. Wenatchee River Ranger District
Toll Free 1-888-448-1474. In my experience, the more people you try to include, the less likely you are to get a permit. In years I've played the lottery, I never win. The best time to hike the Enchantments is from July through October. [ The following is for future information when the walk-up lottery at Ranger Station resumes. this option is expected to become available at a.m. pst on april 1, 2022 or soon thereafter. Quote from forest service webpage: "The walk-up lottery at the Leavenworth Ranger Station is suspended for the 2023 season until further notice.Walk-up quota will be released back into the recreation.gov reservation system on Sundays, one week at a time. In the mid to late summer, the snow has melted. 2. The permit holder must sign and carry their permit, along with avalid photo identification, for the duration of their trip. This town sits just outside of the Enchantments and from here it is less than a 10-minute drive to the Snow Lakes Trailhead. Know your own limits and be willing to turn around if conditions are too difficult or extreme. The Permit Zones are: Snow Lake: Snow Creek Trailhead to the Upper Snow Lake Dam. 8 to 15 hours is a huge range, but we asked a number of people about their experience, and did a lot of research online, and thats how we came up with these numbers. Wilderness Manager
This can be any combination as long as the total number does not exceed 24 people in one day entering the CORE ZONE. Display your pass in your vehicle (do not take it with you on the hike). The distance you travel, the massive amount of elevation gain and loss, combined with the rocky, uneven terrain of the trails, makes this a very challenging day hike. KOHO's Marcus Bellissimo explains. A second car. Those at the longer end tend to linger at the lakes. In this article, we share with you everything you need to know to thru-hike the Enchantments in one day, from what to expect, how to arrange your transportation, what to pack, where to stay, and more. The lakes and the views are incredibly beautiful, and it is the main reason why you are on this trail, so take your time through the core Enchantments. BEST OF THE NORTH CASCADES: Dont miss the beautiful Maple Pass Loop and hiking to Sahale Arm for stunning views across the park. Permit holder MUST carry photo ID with permit and show it to a Ranger upon request. Good luck! Plus, you can visit Der Sportsman, the sporting goods store, for any gear that you might need before your hike. Forest Supervisor Office. ]. So if I can't win $30 in 50 tries playing Lotto, it's no surprise that I can't win a Selway permit in a handful of attempts! Colchuck Lake: Stuart Lake Trailhead to first view of the lake, Stuart Lake:Stuart Lake Trailhead to first view of the lake, Eightmile Lake: Eightmile Trailhead to the lake outlet, Lake Caroline: Eightmile Trailhead to the lake. The core Enchantments is the region of lakes, mountain peaks, and meadows, from Colchuck Lake to the Snow Lake. How to Hike the Enchantments in One Day: A Step-By-Step Trail Guide, Washington Road Trip Itinerary: 7 to 14 Days in the National Parks, Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm Hike: North Cascades National Park. No refunds will be given for weather conditions. But only 1000 people applied. You'll need to find the avatar icon, which looks like an anvil with a red gem above it, and interact with them by pressing the 'Enter' key. from Colchuck Lake to the top of Aasgard Pass: from the inlet of Upper Snow Lake to Lake Viviane: The Whole Core Enchantment Loop, Stuart Lake Trailhead to Snow Lake Trailhead: approximately 19 miles / 6000 foot gain and 7800 foot loss, How Can I Improve My Chances of Getting A Permit? It really depends on your own comfort level, skill, experience, and fitness. (B) Search for available dates. In 2018 (still waiting on 2019 numbers), 17,586 people applied for 708 Core permitsgiving them a 4% chance to snag one. Apply during the annual permit lottery.2. https://public.tableau.com/views/enchantmentslotterystats2021/Dashboard1?:language=en-US&:display_count=n&:origin=viz_share_link. Not all dates and zones for the season are taken during the lottery. We purchased our passes from Der Sportsman in Leavenworth the day before our hike. 10 years ago the Enchantments lottery allowed unlimited applications per person and received 2,300 total applications. Data also available as Excel spreadsheets:
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The lower trails and lakes are forested, while the upper Snow Lake Dam Loop and hiking Sahale! Of their trip enchantments lottery statistics plus, you can visit Der Sportsman, the lakes!