The Enchantment Permit Area lies within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. ATTENTION: Eightmile and Caroline Permits have been reduced. Toll Free 1-888-448-1474. Plus, you can visit Der Sportsman, the sporting goods store, for any gear that you might need before your hike. ]. Data also available as Excel spreadsheets: 2021 Data --- 2020 Data Snow Lakes Trail meanders through forested groves and ends at the main Snow Lake reservoir, passing Nada Lake and Snow Creek Wall. (D) Print and sign permit. Der Sportsman is also a great place to visit the day before your hike if you need any gear, such as a water filter. A small number of daily walk-in permits are available on an unreserved basis Monday - Saturday. Distance: 20.5 miles, point-to-point Elevation gain: 4,954 feet Difficulty: Challenging Timing: Full day hike; or broken into 2 days Pets: no dogs allowed in the Enchantments Permits: between May and October, you'll need a permit for overnight camping View the trail notes; One of Washington's best hikes, the Enchantments absolutely lives up to the hype . Here are the results broken down by zone: Applicants must choose a desired date of entry on their application. Through the remainder of the year, permits are not required. Those wishing to camp in the area with stock must travel toward Windy Pass or use the designated stock campsite near Caroline Lake. You will probably be fine with your running fitness, but in the weeks leading up to the Enchantments hike, if you can do some hikes with lots of elevation gain, at an elevation between 5,000 and 10,000 feet, youll feel a lot better on the hike. Obtain a daily "walk-in" permit during the lottery season. In October, the larches turn yellow, adding to beauty of this area, making this a great time to hike the Enchantments. Alternates MUST be listed and confirmed in the application process and cannot be added or changed later. Lottery Information. For those who did not submit an application in the lottery or who were not successful through the lottery process, you may still log in to Recreation.gov and look for available dates on or after April 1, 2023. For additional trip planning or lottery information see the Enchantment Area Wilderness Permit or call the Wenatchee River Ranger Station at (509) 548 . The Enchantments is a roughly 18 mile through stretch that is touted as one of the top hikes (only for the strong willed, mentally and physically, if you are not backpacking it!) Or we could just cold email the USDA Forest Service webmaster and he can add a CSV to the site Use Git or checkout with SVN using the web URL. Which Route To The Core Enchantments Is Easier? Due to the overwhelming popularity of this unique area, all visitors must obtain a permit if visiting from May 15 through October 31. Every group member must carry a copy of the permit. At an elevation of 4,500 feet (1,372 m), it is home to over 700 alpine lakes and ponds surrounded by the vast peaks of Cashmere Crags, which rate among the best rock-climbing sites in the western United States. All group members are required to start on the same day and camp together. It is mandatory to get a permit to overnight camp in the Enchantments between May 15 and October 31. 1. In other words on your application you could for example request any date from August 1st to September 30th. Obviously, not everyones work schedule can accomodate this, but if yours can, its an excellent way to increase your lottery chances. No. sign in It's common to spot fish jumping, goats climbing, and eagles soaring no matter where you go in the five zones. Do I Need To Bring An Ice Axe, Crampons, or Snowshoes? Lottery results are available to view online around 9 PM PT on March 13. It is not reasonable to camp in the Eightmile/Caroline Zone and day hike into the Core Enchantments. Sure, there are some who would rather go when there's still a lot of snow on the trail, especially if the other option is not going at all, but that number is a lot smaller than you might think. Permit holder must be 18 years or older. Apply during the annual permit lottery.2. You also need to have hiking experience. Enchantments Hiking Stats. The 2020 overnight Enchantments permit lottery is conducted online and opens on February 15, 2019 at 12:01 am PT. (B) Search for available dates. and reservations. Forest Supervisor Office. View complete list of applications, by zone and including preferred date and zone choices. Youll have to choose which zone to request when you enter the permit lottery, and youll only be permitted to camp in that zone. Dogs, and all pets, are prohibited, except for Service Dogs as defined by Department of Justice regulations 28 C.F.R. It is unlikely there will be quota available. When you apply for a CORE permit through the lottery, make sure you indicate the minimum number of people you would be willing to accept, knowing you cannot add more later. 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. website belongs to an official government organization in the (719) 553-1400 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. 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. Cimarronand Comanche National Grasslands This is what we did (we did this hike in July 2020 during COVID-19 and the shuttles were not running on the day of our hike). Some borderline masochistic types will choose to hike or trail run the 19-mile one-way route in a single day. Once an hour we would take a quick break to eat some salty foodpretzels, beef jerky, and salty potato chips. Permits are not valid without IDand signature. What About the Goats? Not all dates and zones for the season are taken during the lottery and any open dates available can be reserved after the lottery ends. 2020 and 2019 Enchantment Permit Lottery Statistics Summary [2 pages, PDF] View the numbers of permits available, applications submitted, permits awarded and most popular dates by zone in 2020. Once over the Aasgard Pass, we topped off our water, using a water filter, from one of the creeks that we passed. A permit is required year-round for all overnight stays in the backcountry. These statistics are for the thru-hike from Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead to the Snow Lakes Trailhead. This commit does not belong to any branch on this repository, and may belong to a fork outside of the repository. 16 visitor spaces are available through the advanced lottery, while the remaining eight spaces are available through the walk-in lottery. Those who did not apply for the lottery, or those who applied for the lottery but did not get awarded a permit, will be able to search for available dates and claim any unreserved dates. Backpacking permits for The Enchantments are exceptionally hard to come by. In 2020, the most popular months were July and August. Good luck! The lottery is run the following month issuing permits for the summer season to those lucky few who win. In recent years, hikers have died after glissading and falling into a creek or hole in the snowpack., There are no refunds for unfavorable weather conditions., Lottery Application: $6.00 non-refundable fee (Note: reservation fee is non-refundable even if you are unsuccessful in the lottery. in the US. From here, you have about less than 30 seconds to claim your permits/date by entering the checkout menu. February 12, 2020 | 0. Once you interact with the avatar, you'll need to answer a trivia question or solve a puzzle. Mice, squirrels, marmots, and marten are also present and are known to chew through food bags, packs, and tents when people are careless. The Core Zone, in which the famous Enchantment Basin is located, is the most popular and the most difficult to get a permit for. Its a long hike with a massive amount of elevation gain and descent. Stock should be kept 200 feet from lakes, except while traveling. Again, only published statistics could tell you what's really going on. This section of the hike is jaw-dropping and one of the prettiest areas that we have ever seen on a hike. A permit is required to camp anywhere in the Enchantments from May 15 to October 31. Hiking the Enchantments in one day is a beast of a hike and it is not to be underestimated. It can snow on any day of the year in the upper Enchantments, although snowfall in August is rare. But it is absolutely worth it. For any day hikes into the Enchantments, you will need a, If you dropped a car at your exit point, stock it with snacks and water, Just in case you missed it, get a detailed overview of the Enchantments trail and see lots of photos in our article, More Information for Your Trip to Washington. We ate a snack roughly every hour while hiking. These are available daily (except Sundays) at the Wenatchee River Ranger District Office in Leavenworth at 7:45 a.m. TTY: (719) 553-1404 In the mid to late summer, the snow has melted. 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. 6.5 miles / 3800 foot elevation gain (and another 1.5 miles to the far end of the lake). Through the advance reservation system beginning April 1, 2023around7am PT (around 10am ET). For granite basins with lakes, there is Tuck/Robin Lakes, Spade Lake, and many others. We provide tools and tips to discover We rented a car from Enterprise (located at 1153 S Wenatchee Avenue) and had a great experience. From the Snow Lakes Trailhead, you will steadily hike up almost 7,000 feet to reach the Aasgard Pass and then it is a very steep trail down the other side, which can be very hard on your legs. They are also very attracted to human urine; please use the toilets where provided, or urinate into gaps between boulders or other places that will prevent them from pawing up plants and soils to get at the salts in your urine. For visitors to the Core Enchantments, stretches of steep snow are simply added fun for some visitors, while others find them terrifying. On this page you will be able to view all rules and regulations, select your preferred zone andentry dates, and submit your application for the lottery. 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. For a full breakdown of the trail, with maps, photos, and hiking tips, read part 1: How to Hike the Enchantments in One Day. The Enchantments is a region within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area of Washington state's Cascade Mountain Range. 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. Luck Around Business Oil : Increases business and draws in new customers to your business. However, this is a hard trail to hike at a fast pace. We used the MSR Trailshot filter, which worked fine for us. That was before Instagram, tech worker transplants, magazine covers, etc. The Aasgard Pass is the highest point of the hike. ), Recreation Fee: Overnight Enchantment permits are $5.00 per person, per day, May 15th-October 31st., *The recreation fee finances on-the-ground administration and management of the Enchantment Permit Area. , The Enchantment Permit Area is a remote alpine environment with potential hazards and risks. The Sawyer One Gallon Gravity Filter and the Katadyn Be Free filters also get good reviews. 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). Hi, Julie! The median length of time is 10 to 12 hours. We got the last parking space at the Snow Lakes Trailhead at 5 am. The Enchantments Permit Lottery is February 15 through March 1, 2023. The Enchantments is an extremely popular destination. Whether wanting to day-hike or some more long-term camping with pack animals, if your destination involves the Enchantments, get ready for the lottery. The first 7 miles are on a fairly good trail, but the next 2 miles from Snow Lake to Leprechaun Lake, travels steep, eroded trail sections. Pack out your toilet paper., Do not urinate on vegetation or soils. You can cancel or change your reservation online.. For the best experience, you will have to do a little advance planning and maybe even a little training, depending on your level of fitness. For any day hikes into the Enchantments, you will need a National Forest Recreation Pass. A second car. The Enchantments Lottery is just around the corner and I was wondering if anyone had ever seen any statistics for it? The permits are given out by lottery and there is a less than 2% chance that you will score a permit. This area is nestled in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Cascade mountain range. If campsites at Eightmile Lake are full, please move on to the Caroline Lakes. Stock use is allowed on the Stuart Lake Trail only in the fall, after Labor Day. Find detailed information and instructions on how to obtain a permit. In most years mixed snow and rain starts falling in mid-September. Visitors typically plan at least three or four days for this trip. Permits must be obtained in person at a wilderness information center or visitor center. Drop your car at the end of the hike and take the shuttle to your starting point. There are three methods of obtaining an overnight permit:. I really don't think the FS is trying to hide anything. No, they are moving the goats from the Olympic Mountains to the Cascades. Overview. This can be done at any time, and your account will also allow you to use recreation.govto reserve other permits or campsites that are part of the National Recreation Reservation Service system. The best time to hike the Enchantments is from July through October. 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. The day pass, which is essentially a parking pass, costs $5 per vehicle. Alternate group leader must have a recreation.gov account and accept online. The limited entry overnight fee permit season for the Enchantment Permit Area is to help manage increased visitor use and resulting resource damage at this popular destination. The Enchantments Lottery is just around the corner and I was wondering if anyone had ever seen any statistics for it? Lotto. We also have an article listing 20 amazing day hikes from around the world. It involves more total elevation gain than the Colchuck/Aasgard Pass Route. Enchantment performing It's You That I Need. There will be rangers who check anyone with a backpacking backpack. During the permit season, camping is restricted to the zone for which a permit is issued. In addition to drinking lots of water, you will also need to take in a lot of calories over the course of the day. Day use is very popular and opportunities for solitude are limited and not likely during the summer. The route can also be snow covered through early summer, and often the early snows in September and October can make it dangerous. This is a great place to relax, before and after your hike. https://public.tableau.com/views/enchantmentslotterystats2021/Dashboard1?:language=en-US&:display_count=n&:origin=viz_share_link. If you wish to see Enchantment Basin, youll have much better odds of winning the lottery if you apply for a permit in either the Colchuck or Snow Zones and plan on day-hiking up to the basin (rather than applying to camp there). After the pre-season lottery permits are awarded, any dates thatare notfilled will be available at recreation.govon the Enchantments Permit Area Page. Successful applicants must confirm their acceptance by 11:59 PM PT on March 31, 2019. All group members are required to start on the same day and camp together. In September, the temperatures begin to cool, although you also have shorter days. Yes. Despite its hazards, the Enchantments remains a beloved destination. Ive traveled to almost 15 national parks and your website is SO helpful in planning. 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. Located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of Washington state, this is a wonderland of alpine lakes, jagged mountains, and waterfalls. I do think publishing the statistics is in their best interest, however, as it puts it all in perspective. Competition for permits in late June will never be as high as peak season or larch season. We recorded our Enchantments hike using one of the best hiking apps on the market, . KOHO's Marcus Bellissimo explains. 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. There are many incredible sites, events and activities available through Recreation.gov, and, given the high volume of interest, some opportunities require a lottery process to limit traffic, enhance your experience and reduce our footprint. This route is steeper, but a little shorter than going in via Snow Lake, and the Stuart Lake Trailhead is higher than the Snow Lake trailhead. Do not improve sites by moving rocks, building walls or disturbing soils., If you're not near a toilet, dig a cat hole 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water sources or campsites. For full details, click here. Read all of our articles about the USA in our United States Travel Guide. The Enchantment Permit Area is typified by rugged glaciated peaks and a series of lakes ranging from 4400 feet to 7800 feet in elevation. My boyfriend and I both run half marathons (13.1 miles). Pleasefamiliarize yourself with the change and cancellation policy if you choose to apply for permits during the early spring or fall. Hikers use two trails to approach the Enchantments Basin. Not all dates and zones for the season are taken during the lottery. 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/Colchuck TH): 3,225 feet (980 meters) . Do this by searching for Enchantment Permit Area in the website's search box, and going to the Enchantments page. Its a 1.5 mile climb with roughly 2,000 feet of elevation gain. May, June, September and October are considered "shoulder seasons" and visitors can expect to encounter snow and winter-like conditions. Day users need only fill out a free day-use permit, available at any of the three trailheads accessing the Enchantment Permit Area. 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