Enchantments

• A valid permit is required for both day and overnight use in the Enchantment Permit Area.
• Day users can obtain a free, self-issue, wilderness permit at one of the three trailheads that enter the Enchantments.
• Overnight use permits are required from May 15 through October 31 and must be obtained in advanced through recreation.gov.

• Eight (8) is the maximum group size within the Enchantment Permit Area.
• You may not exceed the group size limit at any time while camping or travelling.
• Two (or more) groups on separate permits may not travel and/or camp together if the total number exceeds eight.
• Groups with pack or saddle stock may not exceed a total group size of eight. For example, a group could consist of four people and four stock for a total group size of eight.  

Vehicles parking along the road or in a parking area must display a valid Northwest Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass, or the Overnight Visitor Parking Pass that comes with Enchantments overnight permit. Day Passes can be purchased online or at the trailhead, and pass must be displayed on dashboard of vehicle, even if parking on the road.

• This is a high visitation area and parking is limited!
• Consider carpooling, riding a bike or have someone shuttle you to the trailheads to further reduce impacts and overcrowding.
• Designated overnight parking is for permit holders only. Violators may be fined and/or towed.
• Parking along FS Road 7601 is allowed, but visitors are asked to park only on right side of road (going up).
• Day users are encouraged to park along the side of the road or in the island of parking area.
• When parking along the road or outside of established parking areas, please take care not to park on fragile vegetation.
• Do not block or restrict access for emergency vehicles!

• Dogs, and all pets, are prohibited within the Enchantments Permit Area, except for service animals as defined by Department of Justice regulations 28 C.F.R. Part 35.136. Animals whose sole purpose is to provide therapy, comfort, emotional support or crime deterrent do not qualify as service animals.

• Use toilets where provided.
• Do not put trash into toilets; use them for their intended purpose only.
• If you're not near a toilet, dig a cat hole 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water sources or campsites. When finished, fill hole and cover with soil. Pack out your toilet paper to reduce your impact further.
• Do not urinate on vegetation or soils. Use gaps between boulders, crevices in rocks, large flat rocks, sandy bare areas, or the toilets provided. Urine attracts goats and leads to pawing and chewing of plants and soil and may lead to abnormal aggressive animal behavior.
• Bathe and wash dishes at least 150-200 feet from lakes and streams. Remember that ALL soaps, including biodegradable soaps, pollute water.
• Treat all water by boiling, using purification tablets, or filtering.

• Do not urinate on vegetation or soils or within campsite areas. This encourages goats to become habituated to human contact and may lead to abnormal and aggressive behaviors.
• Discourage wild animals from becoming tame - enjoy them from a distance that is safe for both you and them.
• Never feed the wildlife. 

• Certified weed-free feed is required on ALL National Forest Lands.
• Groups with pack or saddle stock may not exceed a total of eight persons plus head of stock. (4 people + 4 mules = 8).
• Stock is prohibited on the Snow Lake and Colchuck Lake Trails and are only allowed on the Stuart Lake Trail in the fall from the first Saturday after Labor Day until the end of that calendar year.
• Stock may not be grazed, tied, hitched, hobbled, or held within 200' of any lake or pond.
• Camping with stock in the Enchantment Permit Area is allowed only at suitable sites more than 200' from water, including the designated stock site at Upper Caroline Lake.
• No camping with stock is allowed within 1/2 mile of the Eightmile Lakes.
• Stock may be tied directly to trees only for short periods of time, not to exceed 4 hours, and not to trees of less than 6 inches diameter.

• Hang food, toiletries, and other attractive items when in camp, and keep food and camp waste where bears, mice, and other animals cannot reach.
• Do not feed wildlife or leave food waste for them to find.
• Dispose of fish remains well away from campsites, trails, and shorelines.

• It is illegal to leave camp gear or any other supplies or materials unattended for more than 48 hours.
• Geocaching is prohibited in all designated wilderness areas. Please practice this sport elsewhere.
• All litter, trash, equipment, and personal property must be carried out with you at the end of each trip.

• Drones are not allowed within Wilderness areas, including all of the Enchantments Area of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

• State fish and game laws apply.
• Discharging a firearm is prohibited within 150 yards of a campsite, or occupied area, or in any manner or location that places people or property at risk of injury.
• Fireworks of any kind are illegal.

Aasgard Pass is often snow covered for most of the year. Although it typically melts out by late-June, many years snow remains on the pass much later into the season and there are typically patches of snow year-round. This route is especially hazardous when there is snow due to hiden rocks, creeks and waterfalls. 

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Aasgard Pass is not advised for hikers who are not prepared and equipped for steep snow travel.

The Eightmile Road opens each year by May 15 for the start of the Enchantments overnight permit season. Non-motorized use is permitted during the closure.