Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest

Permit Information

Under the 2026 USFS EXPLORE Act rule: no permit needed for groups of 5 or fewer on general forest land, free de minimis authorization for 6 to 8, Special Use Permit for 9+. SEPARATELY: the Enchantments Core Zone has a strict group size cap of 8 and requires a highly competitive lottery permit from May through October. Outside the Enchantments (Icicle Creek, Leavenworth corridor, other forest land) the Special Use Permit path supports larger groups up to 25.

Planning Your Day at Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest

One-Spot Day

Okanogan Wenatchee is not a one spot day. The Enchantments Core Zone and the Icicle Creek corridor sit in the same forest district but require completely different trip plans. The Core Zone is an overnight backpack or a 13 mile dawn to dusk day hike behind the February lottery. Icicle Creek is a drive up canyon with easy access from Leavenworth lodging. Pick one before you price the elopement, because the logistics, group size, and photographer stamina do not overlap.

Ceremony + Portraits Split

Under the 2026 USFS EXPLORE Act rule, groups of 5 or fewer need no permit anywhere on general forest land, 6 to 8 get free de minimis authorization with a phone call to the district office, and 9 or more need a Special Use Permit filed at least 90 days out. The Enchantments Core Zone is a separate universe with a competitive February lottery that caps overnight permits at roughly 60 per night across eight zones. Day use in the Core Zone does not require a permit but the approach is still 7 to 9 miles one way with 4,000 feet of gain.

A Note on Light

Larch golden season peaks late September through the first week of October in the Enchantments and is worth planning the entire elopement around. Summer ceremonies in the Core Zone run into afternoon thunderstorm risk from July through mid August. Icicle Creek holds shoulder season usefully from May through October with peak fall color mid to late October. Bend your timeline to sunrise year round at altitude because alpine afternoon light goes flat and the wind picks up by 11am.

Ceremony Spots at Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest

• The Enchantments Core Zone — Turquoise alpine lakes set among granite spires and larch trees that turn gold in fall, a rare alpine landscape in the Lower 48
• Icicle Creek Canyon (Leavenworth Area) — Accessible mountain river canyon with old growth forest, swimming holes, and Cascade peaks, near the Bavarian village of Leavenworth