Hikers can access a new mobile app process for Enchantment permit daily lottery beginning May 14

information released

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest will implement a new mobile application process for hikers seeking to obtain an Enchantment Permit Area Daily Lottery permit. Beginning May 14, 2024, the Forest Service will transition the previous in-person daily lottery to a new mobile-based geofence lottery system through the Recreation.gov mobile app or mobile browser. The intent of this administrative change is to improve customer convenience and efficiencies for staff by reducing the impacts of the former cumbersome manual lottery and permit processes.

The Enchantment Permit Area Daily Lottery offers an opportunity for hikers to obtain an overnight permit for one of the five Enchantment Zones. The new mobile application is designed to mimic the customer experience of the former “walk-up” daily permit lottery process by requiring interested applicants to be physically located near the Wenatchee River Ranger Station in Leavenworth, WA, which in this case is the center of the new 1-mile geofence perimeter. The application process available through the Recreation.gov mobile app or mobile browser requires that applicants use their mobile phone with “location services” enabled to confirm they are within the geofence perimeter. Previously applicants had to arrive early and wait in person at the ranger station for staff to hold the lottery and to process permits.

“The Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest is pleased to be working with Recreation.gov to pilot this new technology this summer,” said Wenatchee River District Ranger Erica Taecker. “The Enchantment permit programs help the Forest Service manage visitor use to this high demand area while balancing opportunities for spontaneous recreation within Wilderness. Streamlining the daily permit system will also increase convenience for visitors while helping us better utilize limited staff resources to better serve the public,” said Taecker.

“With the updated Enchantment Permit Area Daily Lottery, applicants won’t have to wait at the ranger station, nor will they need to remain within the geofence perimeter following the lottery application process,” said Wilderness Manager Carly Reed. “Instead, participants are free to enjoy the local area, grab a bite or hike in other locations. Applicants are only required to be physically within the perimeter briefly to use the mobile application to apply and check on the status of their application. Successful applicants will also need to be within a cellular or Wi-Fi service area to accept and pay for their permit, and to come to the ranger station to pick up their permit before 4 p.m. to be ready for their trip departure the next day.”

Reed noted that there are several key points that are important for hikers to be aware of with the new daily lottery process:

It is important for visitors to install the Recreation.gov mobile app  in an area where they have service coverage, so they can then be ready to apply for the lottery when it is available. Most Enchantment Area trailheads are located outside of the cellular and Wi-Fi service areas.

  • Beginning May 14, 2024, hikers can apply for the daily lottery between 7:00 a.m. PT and 10 a.m. PT for an overnight hiking trip departure the following day. Lottery notifications will be distributed by 11 a.m. PT to the email associated with the applicant’s Recreation.gov account.
  • If successful, applicants must be in cell service to accept and pay for their permit. There is a $6 non-refundable application fee to participate in the Enchantment Permit Area Daily Lottery application process. Keep in mind, those who are successful in obtaining one of the daily lottery permits will also have a $5 per-person hiking permit fee, per day.
  • Successful applicants will also need to pick up their permit in-person at the Wenatchee River Ranger Station located at 600 Sherbourne in Leavenworth, WA by 4:00 p.m. on the same day they applied to the lottery, in preparation for their trip departure the following day.
  • The Forest Service will only offer the daily lottery application process on weekdays, Monday through Friday (for hiking trips that start Tuesday through Saturday) during the permit season from May 15 to October 31.
  •  In addition to smart phones, other location-enabled mobile devices, such as a tablet, could also be used to the mobile application where W-Fi or cellar service is available.
  • Hikers are reminded that successful applicants are eligible for only one Enchantment permit for the entire season.

While most Enchantment overnight permits are distributed through the Advanced Lottery process (which is offered annually in February); a smaller number of permits are reserved for the daily lottery distribution. No changes are proposed for the Advance Lottery process.

Visit Recreation.gov for more information about the Recreation.gov mobile application, including information on how to install the application.

Photo: (Above) Wenatchee River Ranger District Wilderness Ranger checks a hiking group’s overnight camping permit within the Enchantment Permit Area, Summer 2023.

Photo: a map graphic showing the geo-fence perimeter for the new Recreation.gov mobile application. (Credit USDA Forest Service, April 2024).