The Most Competitive Hiking Permits in the US: The Enchantments, Washington

See the full list of the most competitive hiking permits in the United States

The hike into the Core Enchantments Zone in Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness is a grueling but rewarding distance hike through pristine alpine landscapes, past crystal-clear lakes, along jagged granite peaks, and under vibrant larch trees (in the fall). Permits are highly sought after, and with an extremely small number of people allowed each day, the odds of scoring a coveted pass are pretty low. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.

Core Enchantments quick facts:

• Distance: 18 miles point-to-point
• Elevation gain/loss: 4,800 feet
• Number of applications in 2023: 27,872
• Success rate: 1.9 percent
• Application window: Feb 15-March 1, 2025
• Apply here

The Enchantments Core Zone in Washington state’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness is one of the most sought-after backcountry destinations in the United States. Permits are required for overnight camping between May 15 and October 15, which is about the only time you can backpack in the region due to snow and winter weather. In recent years, demand has skyrocketed, with the permit lottery becoming increasingly competitive. There are five zones in the Enchantments, which had a combined success rate of about 10 percent in 2023. But the Core Zone is the most competitive, with a success rate of around 2 percent.

Permits are distributed primarily through an advanced lottery system on Recreation.gov. Only 24 people per day are allowed into the core zone, 16 of which are designated in the advanced lottery. Your group can include up to eight people with one leader and one alternate leader; these are the only two people allowed to claim the permit. So pick someone who will definitely be able to go if you win. If someone is an alternate on an application, they cannot submit a separate application that season.

Any unclaimed permits or permits for dates that weren’t taken in the lottery are released on a first-come, first-served basis, starting April 1, 2025 on Recreation.gov at 7 AM PT. (But that availability is usually extremely limited, or potentially non-existent for the Core Zone).

The third method for getting a permit is a new mobile-based system. Like with The Wave, you can apply only from a mobile device, and will need to be within a one-mile radius of the Leavenworth Ranger Station. You’ll need to apply between 7 AM and 10 AM the day before you want to hike. Winners are announced by 11 AM, and you’ll have until 4 PM that same day to pick up your permit from the ranger station. Note that the ranger station is closed on weekends, which means you can’t pick up permits on Saturdays or Sundays. Therefore, all permits for hikes starting on Sundays and Mondays are issued via the advanced lottery system only.

If you don’t get a backpacking permit, you can day-hike the Enchantments without a permit. (Well, you do need a permit, but it’s self-issued at the trailhead). However, the shortest day hike into the Core Zone is at least 16 miles round-trip from the Colchuck Lake/Stuart Lake Trailhead, and it’s a challenging hike with steep sections that often go through snow. So while it’s doable for extremely experienced hikers in excellent shape, it’s probably out of range for your average casual hiking enthusiast.

Alternative to the Core Enchantments

If you don’t feel like dealing with the difficulty of getting a Core Enchantments permit (or don’t want to backpack), consider instead the roughly 8.5-mile round-trip hike to Colchuck Lake. It doesn’t have quite the same physical demands as reaching the Core Zone, skipping the challenging Aasgard Pass section.

Colchuck Lake has crystal-clear, turquoise water surrounded by rugged peaks, including Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak. It’s one of the most picturesque alpine lakes in the Pacific Northwest, and while it’s a tough hike, it’s doable for most hikers as long as you start early and move slowly. Note that on busy days, you may have to park on the side of the road (FS Road 7601), which can add some extra distance to the hike to reach the starting point.

Where to stay near the Enchantments

The closest town to the Enchantments is Leavenworth, Washington, a town very reminiscent of a Bavarian village and a tourist destination in its own right. Because of that, it’s loaded with plenty of roomy Airbnbs, from cute cottages to modern, luxury homes.