Enchantment Area Wilderness Permits
NEW
2010 Enchantments Area
Permit Information and Application
[4-page PDF: 1 mb]
MAP of Permit Zone areas
(also in application brochure)
IMPORTANT NOTE:
For the summer of 2010, Enchantment Area Permit applications will be accepted between February 1st and February 8th. This change moves the entire application process to a month earlier than in past years.
Wenatchee River
Ranger District
Leavenworth office
(509) 548-2550
2010 Permit Availability Update available in March
for Enchantment Lakes, Stuart, Colchuck, Snow, Eightmile Lakes areas
Overnight Wilderness permits are required in the Enchantments, Stuart, Colchuck, Snow, Eightmile and Caroline Lakes area from June 15 to October 15.
No applications will be accepted postmarked prior to February 1, 2010.
NEW APPLICATION DEADLINE OF FEBRUARY 1
For the summer of 2010, Enchantment Area Permit applications will be accepted between February 1st and February 8th. This change moves the entire application process to a month earlier than in past years.
In recent years, the number of applications received for the Enchantment Permit Area has nearly doubled; because of this, we have been unable to process applications as promptly as we had in the past. In order to provide more timely service to our applicants, we are moving the application submission period to: FEBRUARY 1st through FEBRUARY 8th.
Please be sure to use the current year’s application form (2010) and to mail your application during this new period.
As in the past, applications mailed too early (postmarked before February 1st) will be rejected. Applications received after February 8th will not be processed until after all on-time applications have been considered.
No other major changes in the way permits are processed are expected for the coming year.
To obtain a permit application, call the Wenatchee River Ranger District’s Leavenworth office at (509) 548-2550 or download a copy here:
2010 Enchantments Area
Permit Information and Application
[4-page PDF: 1 mb]
2010 Permit Availability Update available in March
Important Details to Help You Understand How the Permit Reservation Application Process Works
We understand that obtaining a permit for the Core Enchantments or one of the other nearby permit zones -- or failing to obtain one -- can be a frustrating and confusing experience for many people. This page is meant to help applicants better understand how the permit reservation system works, providing information in more detail than our permit application brochure, which is also available through this web site at:
www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/passes/enchantments/enchantments-app-2010.pdf
The Enchantment Permit Reservation System has been in place for over twenty years now. The permit system was instituted at a time when crowding in the Enchantments had reached unsustainable levels. This beautiful place was becoming a mess, and something needed to change. In response, the Forest Service set limits on the number of people who could camp in the Enchantment area lakes at any given time; and because the system limits use, not everyone gets to go exactly when and where they want to. However, we have done our best to make the permit system fair to everyone. If you keep a few simple things in mind, your chances of getting a permit will be as good as anyone else’s.
First Important Detail
Application Deadlines
The deadline to have your permit application processed with the first batch is February 8th. All applications received by us between February 1st and February 8th will be processed first, through a random drawing. Applications postmarked or received early will be rejected. Applications received after February 8th will only be processed after all on-time applications have been considered.
It is a good idea to mail promptly, but mailing your application on February 1st is no better than mailing it a few days later, as long as the postmark is readable and it is received by the February 8th deadline. People who miss the deadline do still have a fair chance of getting a permit for camping in the Colchuck, Snow Lake , Stuart Lake, or Eightmile/Caroline zones, but only very early and late dates (June and October) will likely be available for the Core Enchantment Zone at that point in the process.
Second Important Detail
Not Everyone Gets a Permit
Beginning after February 8th, all on-time applications are put into a random drawing. Whether or not you get a permit is truly a matter of chance; if your application is the first one drawn, you will definitely get your first choice of dates and places to camp. If your application is the 800th one to be drawn, the odds are against you. However, even if your application is drawn late in the process, you may still get a permit, depending upon how flexible you can be in your trip planning. This part of the process is very confusing for people, but the following should help you to understand what will help to increase your chances of a permit—and what will not help, even though it might seem like it could.
It bears emphasizing that there are simply far more people wanting permits than there are permits. Not everyone gets one. To have a good chance of getting what you want, your application MUST be received by February 8th. But even if you do submit your application promptly, it will take some luck to get your first choice of dates and place. In 2009 there were over 1,200 applications received by the deadline. Just about one third of these applicants were issued a reservation for a Core Enchantment Zone permit, while nearly a third of the applicants ended up having to settle for a third or fourth choice (mostly Colchuck Lake or Snow Lake Zones) permit instead. And, nearly one third of these on-time applicants simply did not get a permit at all.
Most people are applying for a Core Enchantment Zone permit as their first choice, but certainly not everyone. Many people have learned that camping at Snow Lake or Colchuck Lake, and day hiking from there to the Core Enchantments, is less physically demanding than carrying a heavy pack all the way to the upper lakes. Others are simply looking for a nice day of fishing at Eightmile Lake, with no desire to see the Core Enchantments. In any case, while Core Enchantment dates fill fastest, weekends and mid-summer weeks quickly fill for the other zones as well. No matter which zone you pick, your application will need to be drawn fairly early in the process if what you really want is a Friday-through-Sunday trip in August.
The bottom line here is that if you have only a few dates when you are willing to take your trip, and if you are only interested in camping in the Core Enchantments, your odds of getting a permit are about one-in-three. However, there are certain things to consider as you fill out your application that can help increase your odds of getting a permit (see below.)
Please bear in mind that while we begin processing applications on February 8th, it takes us about 6 weeks to process the first big batch of on-time submissions. Please don’t call just to ask about the status of your application before April. The answer will probably be “we don’t know,” and time spent answering and returning phone calls has in the past slowed down application processing significantly. As soon as an application is processed, either a confirmation or rejection letter will be mailed within a few days.
Third Important Detail
What We Mail Out is a Reservation Confirmation, NOT a Permit
While you will receive a confirmation letter in the mail for your reservation, this is NOT your permit. The actual permit must be picked up in person at the Ranger Station in Leavenworth. Permits are available either the evening before your trip starts, or on the morning of your trip. Permits can be obtained after 4:30 PM from a self-service box at the Ranger Station’s front door on the evening before your trip, or from our receptionists between 8:00 and 9:00 AM on the day of your trip. If permits are not picked up by 9:00 AM on the day of departure, they will be considered “no-shows,” the reservations will be forfeited, and those permits will be made available to others and reissued. If you are unable to meet these timelines, you must call ahead to make other arrangements or you will lose your permit. In any case, you must obtain your permit in person at the ranger station and you must begin your trip on the entry date listed on your permit. In any case, once a reservation has been made, you will be charged the appropriate fee, which is not refundable.
Fourth Important Detail
Play Fair and Follow the Rules
We are trying to make this as fair as possible for everyone. The permit system makes it possible for a large number of people to visit a beautiful place without destroying the place itself, or having too great an impact on fellow visitors.
We accept only one application per person/group/ family, per zone, per year. For example, you may send in an application for the Core Enchantment Zone and another one for the Stuart Lake Zone, but you may not send in two applications for the Core Enchantment Zone. Please don’t cheat other people, and jeopardize your own chances for a trip, by sending multiple applications. People who send in multiple applications slow the whole reservation process, deprive honest people of a trip, and sometimes end up paying double or triple fees while permit slots that could have been used by others go unfilled.
The group size limit is 8; larger groups tend to have far greater impacts on campsites and on other people than groups of this size or less. Two groups traveling or camping together that add up to more than 8 will be treated as one group. To be “separate,” you must be at least 1 mile apart at all times. Violators will be cited and required to leave the permit area.
You must have a valid permit for the zone in which you are camping. A Core Enchantment Zone permit allows you to camp in any other zone, but a Colchuck or Snow Lake Zone permit is not valid for camping in the Enchantment Zone. We do strictly enforce the permit system; if you do not have a valid permit, you will be cited and you will be required to leave.
Regulations pertaining to the Enchantment Permit Area include: no dogs, no campfires, no digging, no constructing rock walls, no cutting vegetation, no feeding animals, no littering. There should be no need to explain these rules. A violation of the terms of your permit can invalidate the permit and end your trip.
Have your permit with you. We do regularly patrol the Enchantments all summer, and we do check permits. You must have your permit with you. Please keep it handy, don’t leave it tied to your tent, or back at your car.
Fifth Important Detail
Making Changes to Your Permit
Changes to reservations can only be made after April 15 th. A fee of $10 will be charged for any changes to your permit, once a reservation has been made. You may extend your trip by paying the $10 service charge, plus adding the appropriate $5 per person per day fee. This option is basically always available to you. You may also add people (up to the maximum group size of 8) but only IF the daily entry quota is not yet filled, (seldom an option for the Core Enchantments) at the same $10 plus $5/person/day cost. Entry dates may likewise be changed only IF the new date’s daily quota is not filled. Again, please bear in mind that we cannot issue refunds.
Maximizing Your Chances of Getting an Enchantment Permit
and Clearing Up Miscellaneous Misconceptions
updated 11/2009
First of all, because we do a random drawing, there’s a part of this that really is just luck. About the first 150 or so applications drawn will get their first choice of date and place. Usually the first 300 applications or so will get first or second choice dates, but by this point a few people who have listed only one or two sets of dates and only want a Core Enchantment Zone permit are unable to get a permit. By the time we’re half-way through processing applications, we will be issuing a fair number of rejection letters instead of reservations. All of the quotas for August are probably filled by the half-way point in the drawing. However, even when we’re nearly done with a thousand applications, a few flexible folks will still get permits for the Core Enchantment Zone. That’s probably because they were willing to take a permit starting on a Tuesday in October, or in June.
Key Things To Consider When Choosing Dates
August is by far the most popular month.
If the only dates you list are in August, your odds of getting a permit are considerably lowered. Mid-July through the end of September fill next. Dates in June and October fill last, but yes, that’s because in June you can expect to see lots of last year’s snow, and by October it is likely that more snow will be falling.
In addition to this, Friday departure dates fill up fastest, followed by Thursdays and Saturdays, and then followed by Mondays. This really makes a difference. If you are asking for reservation dates that start your trip only on a Friday or Saturday in August, you will probably get this reservation only if your application is one of the first 200 applications drawn. Your overall chances of getting a permit drop from about one-in-three to less than one-in-six. If you are willing (at least as your third choice) to start on a Tuesday in mid-July, or mid-September, you greatly increase your chances of getting a permit!
To maximize your odds of getting a permit, you should provide as many alternate dates as you possibly can. We realize that some of you are locked into one set of dates, and if that is true for you, it is still worth trying for a permit. However, your chances of getting that permit become much, much smaller than one-in-three. We give you room on the application for three choices; if you can, list three sets of dates. We do consider these in order, and we absolutely will try to give you your first choice first, then your second choice, and so forth.
There is also a place on the application that is for "additional instructions." This can be the most important part of your application; if you can accept any day in August, say so. It makes your chances of a permit far, far better than just listing three distinct dates for choices. If you were to write something like: "I'll take any 4 days in July, August, September," then you will again have a much greater likelihood of getting a reservation. We will still consider your first choice first, but as explained above, it all depends on when your application gets drawn, and applications drawn after the first 200-300 are unlikely to get a weekend, or even a trip, in August. You should also be willing to consider June or October dates if you really want to maximize your odds for a Core Enchantment Zone permit.
Also in regards to the “additional instructions” box, remember that all we have to go on is exactly what you’ve written. We have no choice but to take your application VERY literally. For example, if you write that you will take "any 3 days in August", but August ends on a Saturday, we would assume that you DON'T want a trip that would take you into the first Sunday in September. It is clearest to think in terms of your starting date: say, for example, that you will take " 3 days with any start date from July 30 to September 1" (or whatever dates suit you) rather than “any days in August.” In sum, take a moment to be sure that you say exactly what you mean.
More Details About the Reservation Drawing
What Matters Is Your Entry Date And The Permit Zone You Wish to Camp In
Perhaps the most important thing to understand is that the quotas for permits are based on the ENTRY DATE of your trip for camping in a certain PERMIT ZONE. The length of your trip doesn’t matter. The size of your group doesn’t matter. The trailhead you use to start or end your trip doesn’t matter. It is all based on where you wish to camp and when you start your trip.
For example, we pull up your application, and you have indicated that you want a trip starting on July 4th for 3 people in the Core Enchantment Zone. We check the database, and if the quota is not completely filled for that date and that zone, you will get a reservation. You would get this reservation whether it is a 3-day trip or a 10-day trip, whether you are a group of 1 or part of a group of 8. Many applicants hope to improve their chances by altering trailhead of entry, or decreasing the number in their party, or taking less days, or indicating they will camp at Snow or Colchuck for a night on their way in or out. None of this improves your odds of getting a permit. When we pull up your application and check a date you would like, that ENTRY DATE for camping in that PERMIT ZONE is either available or not. Period.
How We Process Applications
People seem to have misperceptions about how we run the reservation drawing. The truth is that we are low-budget and primitive. We take all of the on-time applications and put them in a very big box, and after the February 8th deadline we will begin to randomly draw applications out one at a time by hand. They are then processed one at a time by a single human being. We pull out an envelope and open it, look the application over to see if it is filled out correctly, and then we look at your choices. We enter the Zone name and date of entry for your first choice into a simple database, and determine whether or not the quota is already filled for that permit zone and that entry date you have listed as your first choices. If there is room, you get a permit, regardless of your group’s size. If not, we try your second choice date. And so on. If you indicated that the Core Enchantments was your primary choice, we check each date you listed for the Core Enchantment Zone first. If none of your dates are available for that zone, we then look to see if you checked one or both of the boxes at the bottom of the form, saying you’d be interested in a Snow or Colchuck permit as a back-up option. We then repeat the process in your order of preferred dates for that zone. Be assured, if your first choice is for the Core Enchantments, we will check all of your dates for that zone first. We also take into consideration any of those “additional instructions” you wrote down. If nothing still available meets your needs, you get a “rejection” form letter saying we were unable to issue you a reservation. If any combination of your choices of Zone and dates worked, you get a confirmation letter in the mail detailing your reservation information.
Daily Drawing for “Walk-in” Permits
Almost everything you’ve been reading here applies to the permit reservation system, with the February 8th deadline. However, this does not encompass all of the permits we issue for these areas. We also issue a smaller number of permits on a “walk-in” basis, which cannot be reserved.
The limited entry permit season is from June 15 to October 15. Each day (except Sundays, and Columbus Day, when we will be CLOSED) at exactly 7:45 a.m. we issue this smaller number of permits: for the Enchantment Zone, this additional daily quota is 5 people. As with the reservation permits, in reality we draw for "4 people plus 1 more party". In other words, we don't split up a group. We also issue additional permits for the Snow Lake, Colchuck Lake , Stuart Lake, and Eightmile/Caroline Lakes Zones at this time. If there are more permit seekers than permits available, a random drawing is held.
We also sometimes have a few additional permits to offer, those resulting from “no-shows” who fail to pick up their permits by 9:00AM. When a permit is not picked up on time, the unused portion of that day’s entry quota becomes available. So, even if you don’t get a permit at the 7:45 drawing, there’s still a chance that you could get a permit later in the day. As stated above, permits need to be picked up by 9:00 AM on the day of departure—if there are unclaimed permits at that point, those unclaimed permits become available to others. First priority goes to those who were present at the 7:45 drawing but did not get a permit, and if necessary there will be second drawing form that pool of applicants. Generally, these re-issued permits are all given out at 9:00 AM, but sometimes no-show permits are still be available to others later in the day. It’s worth asking.
To participate in this walk-in permit process, please arrive at the Leavenworth Ranger Station by 7:35 a.m., the available permits will be issued at 7:45. If there are more people wanting permits than there are permits available, we’ll do a drawing, so arriving much earlier to be first in line is not necessary. If, at 9:00, there have been no-shows or cancellations, those who were present at 7:35 but did not get a permit will again be able to participate in a second drawing for any other available permits.
If you try for a “walk-in” permit, have a good "Plan B" in mind, in case there is a crowd and you do not draw a permit. This might be to camp in a different permit zone instead, or simply to go backpacking someplace else. The Enchantments are our most famous destination, but there are lots of alternatives, some offering more solitude, some offering less snow, or less mosquitoes, than the Enchantments. Our receptionists are happy to help you with alternative suggestions. The Ranger Station is located on Highway 2 in downtown Leavenworth, across the street from McDonalds-- just look for Smokey Bear out front.
We Are Closed on Sundays!
Funding for our front office staff was cut by 50% in 2007. This means that the front office will be closed on Sundays and Columbus Day. Because of this, we allocate the entire Enchantment daily quota for Sundays through the reservation system (20 people rather than 15).
How We Set the Daily Quotas
The Alpine Lakes Wilderness Plan (1981) established a carrying capacity of "60 Persons at One Time" (PAOT) for the Core Enchantment Zone. This is meant to protect the fragile subalpine environment and prevent a “wilderness experience” from feeling like a “suburban experience.” To achieve this goal, we studied use patterns in the area and determined that, with the average group spending 3 days in the Enchantments, 60 people camped at one time equates to a daily entry quota of 20 people per day. (Only 15 of these are by reservation, with 5 additional slots filled as daily walk-in permits during the summer, Monday-Saturday, see below.)
No matter how many people there is remaining space for within the quota, we always issue one more permit. In other words, when we conduct the reservation drawing, instead of allowing for 15 people, we allow for 14 people plus one group. Sometime this works out to exactly 15 people. Other times it can go as high as 14 + 8 = 22. The bottom line is, you don't have to worry about your group size –as long as it is eight or less.
Permits for zones other than the Core Enchantment Zone (Colchuck Lake , Snow Lake, Stuart Lake , Eightmile/Caroline Lakes) are handled slightly differently, in terms of a number of groups instead of a number of people. We did not have the mandate of setting a “PAOT” limit, and were able to keep things simpler. For each entry date, we issue permits for 3 groups for the Colchuck Lake Zone, 4 groups for Snow Lake Zone, 4 groups for Stuart Lake Zone and 5 groups for the Eightmile/Carolines Zone. Again, group size does not affect your chances of getting a permit, so long as the group is of 8 people or less.
Accepting Snow or Colchuck as an Alternative to the Enchantments
The permit reservation application form allows you to indicate your first choice of permit zones, as well as two alternates. As we process applications, we will check for availability of all of the dates you’ve listed for your first choice permit zone before considering your alternate zones. If you have your heart set on one particular zone, there is no reason to list an alternate, but bear in mind that a Colchuck or Snow Lake permit is a good backup that can still allow you to see the Core Enchantments on a day trip from those lower camps. However, it is important to understand that only a permit for the Core Enchantment Zone allows you to camp there-- if you have a Snow or Colchuck zone permit, you cannot camp in the Core Enchantments. But you can hike there for the day, and while this is a disappointing option to many people, it does allow you to do the most difficult parts of the hike with a light day pack. This works better for those on shorter trips and for climbers than it does for backpackers wanting a long trip, but it really is a good alternative. Although most people are pretty set about wanting to camp in the Enchantments, when you’re breezing up Aasgard Pass or the cliffs below Lake Viviane with a small daypack, you might pass backpackers struggling up hill who think you’ve got the better itinerary.
Miscellaneous Stuff
Why Didn’t You get a Permit for Your First or Second Choice?
For those of you disappointed by not getting your first or second choices in the application process, you can tell what order your application was processed in by the permit number on your confirmation letter. If you have permit number 882, then 881 applications were processed before yours, and the most popular dates were likely already taken. If you have permit number 2, you were very lucky, and had your pick of date and place. Remember, only about one third of all applicants get what they really wanted, and some of those were people who simply stated that they would take “any available days, June-October.” Were you considering only dates in August, or only entry on a Friday or a Thursday? Re-read the section above regarding which days fill first.
Duplicate Applications
We have designed a system where we accept only one application per group/household/family for any zone for a given year. This is mainly a matter of fairness: each applicant has an equal chance at a permit. Please, respect your fellow applicants and play by the rules: one application per group per year per zone. Also, it’s simply a fact that if everyone hedged their bets by submitting multiple applications, we’d have a much larger job processing applications, and the whole system would break down! If we find duplicate applications, we will reject them before we even get started processing permits.
NO PERSONAL CHECKS
We have not been able to accept personal checks for the reservation system since 2006. Due to government fiscal policy, we cannot accept checks unless they are cashed and deposited very promptly, and a check mailed to us in February and processed a few weeks later is not prompt enough. Sorry, but this is out of our control. If using a credit card doesn’t work for you, we do still have the ability to accept money orders and bank checks—they must be made out for the correct amount and made payable to “USDA Forest Service.”
We Don't Do Refunds
There are three reasons: The first is that the government has to go through hugely expensive and time consuming gyrations to issue a refund-- it's not impossible but it is nearly impossible, and it takes months and costs taxpayers more to issue a refund than the refund is worth. Second, not giving refunds is the main way that we can discourage duplicate applications (see above). Third, we want people to be serious about their commitment to using their reservation— otherwise, every no-show in effect takes a reservation opportunity away from someone else. However, if you really can't use your permit we do appreciate it if you nonetheless call to cancel. We can then add that use back into the system, and another group will have an opportunity to go to the Enchantments through the “walk-in” portion of the permit quota system.
Transferring Your Permit
Since we don't do refunds, you are welcome to give your reservation to someone else. However, for the permit to be valid, it must be re-issued in the name of the new trip leader. As the reservation holder, you need to contact us to let us know you authorize the transfer, and furnish us with the name, address, and phone number of the new reservation holder. A processing fee of $10 is charged for any changes to a permit.
What is the Weather Like in June, July, August, September, October?
This can vary tremendously from year to year, but for most years, early July in the Enchantment area is still pretty snowy, and June is best for backcountry skiers, not hikers. By late July, in most years, most campsites are snow free. Much of the travel corridor is also snow free by then, but there are a couple places where snow stays all year, except in years of severe snow-drought. Mosquitoes can be bad through late July, and are present in lesser degrees until it freezes in September. Flowers are at their peak in late July and early August. Larches start showing hints of gold by mid September and are at their prime the last week of September or the first week of October. It can snow any day of the year in the Enchantments, although snowfall in August is rare. Late September and October can be the nicest time for an Enchantment trip, with brilliant fall foliage and no bugs—but freezing nights are common and in most years snow starts falling in mid-September. The sun is relentless at any time-- be sure to bring sunglasses, a good sunscreen lotion, and consider a hat with a brim, and long sleeves.
Do I Need an Ice Axe? Crampons? A Bear-Proof canister? Is it Safe?
These kinds of questions are difficult for us to answer because they involve your personal judgment and skill level. For a truly beginning backpacker, just getting into the Enchantments in good weather can be overwhelming. For others, the whole circuit from Snow Lake to Colchuck Lake is an easy day hike, with time for rock climbing and side trips along the way. Likewise, for some visitors steep snow on Aasgard Pass will render it impassable, while others will think it adds some fun to the trip.
An ice axe or ski poles are almost always useful on the steep slopes, but in reality most visitors don't have or use an ice axe once the route up Aasgard Pass becomes relatively snow free (usually mid-late July). Also, there is not much point in having an ice axe if you haven't been trained to use one: they are sharp tools and can be dangerous in inexperienced hands. Ski poles are a better choice for most people; they help on steep slopes or while crossing snow, without having a sharp blade attached next to your hand.
Likewise, conditions when crampons would be useful are rare, although small instep crampons might be useful in autumn if freezing rain coats the rocks, and at times full crampons might help with side trips, such as the scramble route up Dragontail Peak. There are a few spots on the main Enchantment travel corridor that almost always hold steep snow. One spot in particular, at Inspiration Lake, could result in sliding a long way down into icy waters if you lost your footing! (Sadly, we did have a fatality in 2005 when a hiker slid into a lake.) The snow tends to be hard and icy in the morning and soft (easier walking) by afternoon. The best advice that we can give is to know your own limits and watch where you’re going; just because another person walked there doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea for you.
As for animals, in general the mice and the goats are more pesky than anything else. At many of the lakes, mice will eat through the side of your tent at night if you’ve kept food there, and the goats can be aggressive when it comes to getting at and chewing up sweaty clothes or soil that has been urinated on. While you probably won’t see a bear, bears do wander as far as the upper Enchantments during the summer, and marmots and weasels can do as much damage to a pack or tent as a bear might if food is inside. Good bear-country camping habits, which include hanging your food, are strongly recommended.
Expanding the Permit Area
We are also proposing to expand the permit area to include the Ingalls Lake , Headlight Basin, and Mt. Stuart areas. The soonest this could be implemented would be 2011. These areas sustain high use levels, in excess of what the fragile subalpine plant communities can support. A NEPA (legal) decision was made in 1993 to limit entry to these areas, but we have stalled implementing this decision for a variety of reasons. If implemented, the Cle Elum Ranger Station would likely assist us with issuing daily permits and serving as a venue for hikers to pick up their permits.
Wilderness Manager
US Forest Service
Wenatchee River Ranger District
600 Sherbourne
Leavenworth, WA 98826
509-548-2550
