The Enchantments Lottery is Now Open for the 2024 Season
If you’re hoping to snag and Enchantments lottery ticket for the 2024 hiking season, it’s your time to shine! The lottery has now opened.
To spend the night in the Enchantments permit area between May 15th and October 31st, you will be required to hold a permit.
I’ve been through the permit process quite a few times, and am going to tell you exactly what to expect, so that you’re prepared for snagging your own ticket this year!
Enchantments Lottery 2024 Timeline
Let’s face it, the Enchaments is the most popular hikes in Washington state and is one of the most sought after places. There’s a reason it’s only open on a permit-basis for overnight stays.
Here are the key dates that you need to know to ensure that you can get your own lottery permit.
Enchantments Lottery Opens
February 15th, 2024 7 am PT
Enchantments Lottery Closes
February 29th, 2024 11:59 pm PT
Permits Randomly Drawn
March 7th, 2024 1:55 am PT
Lottery Winners Announced
March 14th, 2024
Permits Confirmed By
March 31st, 2024
Unclaimed Permits Available
April 1st, 2024 7:00 am PT
Permits will be required for everyone camping in all zones of the Enchantments from May 15th through October 31st.
Please note that you are allowed to day hike the Enchantments during this time, but you may not spend the night without a permit.
These rules are set in place to protect the fragile environment that is in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of the Cascade Mountains.
How to Get an Enchantments Lottery Ticket in 2024
It may be kind of confusing on how you can actually get yourself a permit, so let’s break it down.
You may apply for a permit between February 15th and February 29th on Recreation.gov. This is the ONLY place that permits are available. At the time of your application, you’ll be required to pay a $6 fee.
You’ll also need to provide the date that you would like to enter the Enchantments, your group size, and which permit zone you’d like to stay in. Here are the permit zones:
- Core Enchantments Zone (24 people per day)
- Colchuck Lake Zone (3 groups per day)
- Stuart Lake Zone (4 groups per day)
- Snow Lakes Zone (5 groups per day)
- Eightmile/Caroline Zone (3 groups per day)
On March 14th, you’ll need to go back into your Recreation.gov account and check whether or not you won.
If you were lucky enough to win (the chances are very slim and in 2023 there was only a 6% chance!), you’ll need to confirm your selection, provide a date you’ll be leaving, and pay the permit fee of $5 per person, per day.
Any permits that are unclaimed will be released back into the system on April 1st and you’ll then have another chance to snag a permit.
Tips For Getting an Enchantments Permit
There are good reasons why everyone wants to visit the Enchantments. It’s seriously out of a dream, and the first time I saw it, I was just blown away. Which is why it’s so hard to win the lottery.
There really is no skill in getting a permit, and it’s all just about luck. But if you want better chances, here are a few tips that I have.
- Apply for earlier or later dates, rather than in the peak season. This means going for dates in either May or October! Less people are trying for permits during this time.
- Apply for a permit in any zone except the Core Zone. Of course, everyone wants to stay in the Core, which is why tickets are so hard to get in there!
- Have your entrance day be between Sunday and Thursday. Most people want to enter on the weekends, which makes it harder to get these tickets.
- If you don’t get a permit, continue checking Recreation.gov for permits thrown back in or try getting a walk-up at the Ranger Station in Leavenworth.
Wrap-Up: 2024 Lottery for Enchantments Hike
Now that the Enchantments lottery is opened up for the 2024 season, there will be people scouring the internet to snag themself a permit!
After all, it’s really one of the best places in Washington and one of my personal favorite places on earth. So if you’re lucky enough to win the Enchantments lottery 2024, enjoy yourself! It’s a once in a lifetime experience!
