Closer to Thee, Hundreds of Other Campers

This spring, the Forest Service will be increasing the permit range for camping in the ridiculously overcrowded highly popular Alpine Lakes Wilderness area. They were also contemplating a fee hike from $3 to $5, but the increase didn't move forward.

Speaking of hikes, that is the point of this whole camping/day use pass business, right? We all just want to get outdoors and gawk at some wildlife and escape. Born free and all that.

So to Seattlest, the fact that the Enchantments region requires a lottery for camping spot passes is outright ridiculous. We're not saying the permit restrictions aren't sadly necessary to keep an incredibly beautiful area from turning into a Grateful Dead concert parking lot, we're just suggesting that you, wise Seattlest reader, skip the frenzy and find your own paradise. Maybe a select few latte-sipping Seattleites want the thrill of being one of the elite 600 who receive overnight use passes for the Enchantment area, but why get into a shoving match when there's literally hundreds of other camping and hiking areas within an hour of the Alpine Lakes region?

The Wenatchee National Forest, host to said Alpine Lakes Wilderness, has 124 other camping areas you could enjoy in more relative solitude. In particular, the Cle Elum District south of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area quietly shelters a number of more remote campgrounds, some of which are designated for tent camping only. From there, run wild on over a hundred trails from half-hour strolls to all-day thigh burners. You could also launch a day-hike assault to the Alpine Lakes area for some sneaky high alpine views. For more gory trail details, try this book by Ira Spring (who is also knowledgeable about the Alpine Lakes area), which covers less traveled regions outside the North Cascades.