PSA: Getting a permit for the Enchantments lottery took me 4 years of trying

I finally got drawn for a Core Zone permit this season after entering the lottery every single year since 2020. I know it's a popular area, but I didn't expect it to be that much of a long shot (I was starting to think I'd never get it). Each year I'd plan alternate routes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, just in case. Has anyone else had a specific permit or reservation take way longer than you thought it would? I'm curious about other tough-to-get spots.

3 comments

3 Comments

jason_lewis324d ago

Actually, the lottery odds are posted and they're worse than most people guess.

spencer_park2624d ago

Ngl I feel like people overhype the difficulty. Got mine second try, just gotta be flexible with dates. @murphy.mason that's wild though, seven years is crazy luck.

murphy.mason24d ago

Wow, four years is actually pretty good for the Core Zone. I know people who've been trying for six or seven without a win. That lottery is brutal.