It is one of our favorite Washington memories and we cannot wait to experience it again someday! We hope to inform, inspire, and empower you to get outside and see this world, while doing your part to respect and protect the lands beneath your feet. Day 1: Hike to Colchuck Lake and set up campDay 2: Hike up Aasgard Pass and find a good camping spot in the Core. Over the years, the hike has become increasingly popular, making winning a permit in the lottery almost like winning the actual lottery. Although it may look too formidable to even attempt, the beautiful craggy peak behind Colchuck Lake is where the Enchantments hike continues. See some of our recommended stops below! This is the recommended starting trailhead to hike through the Enchantments, as you will climb up the steep Aasgard Pass instead of scrambling down the steep trail. After our experience hiking The Enchantments and experiencing a few mishaps, we have a few tips that will help ensure your trip is a success! When you apply, you select your entry date and location and pay a $10 non-refundable application fee. I know prime time for the Enchantments is late September, when the larches are out and the lakes are all melted, but there's something sort of magic about the place under snow, too. The Enchantments live up to the hype and dazzle hikers willing to overcome the elevation gain needed to visit this high alpine paradise. It should actually called "Asskick Pass". A rainy day at Rune Lake (Perfection Lake) in September. Hikers use two trails to approach the Enchantments Basin. Best Time to Hike the Enchantments The start of the Core Enchantment Zone As the permit window would suggest, the best time to hike the Enchantments is June - October. Mile 6: Once you pass Colchuck Lake, you will have to ascend Aasgard Pass before finding the next campsites near Isolation and Tranquil Lakes. More than a dozen high alpine lakes carved in granite. The 18-mile trail through the Enchantment Lakes, up to the high alpine at almost 8,000 feet above sea level, is perhaps the state's most infamous and beloved route. I've been trying to prep by putting some weights in my backpack and hiking up and down the hills by my house. This is where we parked our van because we thought we would exit the trail this way. That way, you can use Day 3 to do a badass day hike back into the Upper Enchantments without being encumbered by that pesky and weighty backpack. 15 Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park, 11 Best Waterfalls in Washington State + Hikes to Find Them, How to Get From Seattle to Bainbridge Island (By Ferry or Road Trip! Directions To Stuart Lake Trailhead: Drive the US2 west out of Leavenworth. Bring rain entertainmentOne of the best things we did was download Netflix and books in case it rained. Permits: Permits are required for day and overnight use in this area. Here are some of these hiking courtesies that help improve everyones trip. They also make some amazing meat and veggie bars. Ensure you know the correct routes and have the gear to keep you safe. Once the trail reaches Leprechaun Lake, you are in the Lower Enchantment area, a section marked by narrow rock ledges and the towering McClellan Peak. The map below shows the area that make up the Enchantments. We recommend this RAVPower Charger, which has two charging ports! To enter the permit lottery, you will first need to apply during the annual permit lottery (exact dates vary by year). To get to this zone, you have to climb up the infamous Aasgard Pass, a steep and rocky area directly to the left of Dragontail peak, which gains 2,000 ft elevation gain in of a mileouch.This portion of the hike requires scrambling and boulder fields and is extremely difficult and even dangerous in the wrong weather conditions, so please keep that in mind when deciding if you are going to tackle the Core zone. Arrive by 7:30 AM to enter the walk-up lottery. Day 1: Hike to Snow Lake and set up campDay 2: Explore the Core area all day and then head back your campsite at Snow LakeDay 3: Hike out through Snow Lake. Regardless of the time of year of your hike, this is a mountainous alpine hike, and it is important to pack a range of layers for clothing, including enough warm layers in case the weather turns bad. In either direction, the trail is stunning, offering views across the Cascades and passing by numerous bright-blue glacial lakes and chiseled mountain peaks. While our experience hiking the Enchantments wasnt the traditional experiencewe didnt have a Core permit and we skipped Aasgard pass due to weather concernswe had such a fun, rainy and memorable three days. Continue reading. Although the Enchantments hike can be done in two days, this hike is best done in at least three days, spending two nights camping within the permit zone. It would be reasonable to plan up to 12 hours plus drive time if you want to take. The views are dramatic, but they come at a price, as the trail is a near-constant climb through rocks and forest. These campsites provide excellent views of Little Annapurna, one of the tallest peaks along the trail, and an opportunity for a scrambling side-trip if you are feeling adventurous. Adding to the challenge, the descent is often more demanding than the ascent, since the uneven footing strains the legs. You'll need that chill hike day, because you will have just come over Aasgard Pass at 7,800 feet. Those on the shorter end trail run a portion of the trail. There are so many spots youll want to sit and relish the view! The mountain goats in particular are habituated to visitors. THE ENCHANTMENTS TRAIL BREAKDOWN. This can be a good place to plan for a night of rest if downhill hiking presents difficulty. We had to go about 3 mph in the van (not joking lol! But similar to Eightmile/Caroline, this permit is much easier to get! Two shuttle companies, Loop Connector and Leavenworth Shuttles, will drive you from the Snow Lakes Trailhead, where you can drop off your car, to the beginning of the trail at Stuart/Colchuck Lake. On a four day backpacking trip you can take day trips from camp to explore over a dozen crystal clear lakes, summit surrounding peaks, and camp at an alpine lake of your choice! In fact, this stunning mountain landscape has been termed the "Crown Jewel of Washington Hiking" by the Washington Trails Association, the leading expert on hiking in Washington.And after doing the full thru-hike of the Enchantments ourselves, we couldn't agree more: it is absolutely incredible. There are usually more people present than permits, so they have to draw names, which occurs at 7:45 AM. And she got permits! Go Wander Wild are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Insider tip: Since these campsites are outside the Core Enchantment zone, theyre easier to obtain and open to groups, rather than just individuals. . This is a steep, bumpy, potholed dirt road (I take my RV down many dirt roads but I wouldn't drive it on this). A hard-to-acquire permit is required to camp in any of the area's five zones, with the Enchantment Core permit being the most desirable. Water filterWhile we have a pretty large Camelbak bladder to store water, it wasnt enough water for a three day hike. Website built with love byDreamworthy Design. September 8, 2016. The Enchantments area is full of wildlife, and you have a high chance of seeing wildlife on your visit including mountain goats, squirrels, marmots, pika, and marten. I think it was definitely one of the best spots out in the Snow Lakes area! - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! These sites are perfect if you have two nights on the trail or if you get a late start the first day. Note: this guide contains affiliate links, which means that if you use the links provided and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. While some people spend up to five days on the trail, we think 2-3 days in the Enchantments is the sweet spot a long weekend escape thats easy to plan and pack for. Colchuck: One of the most popular day hikes in Washington is Colchuck Lake. If you spend any time in Washington, it won't take long to hear about the Enchantments. Since the Enchantments hike is a point to point trail, its necessary to consider transportation logistics. Once you finish hiking, you can use the vehicle at the end to go back and retrieve the other one. In the summer, these will look like any other green coniferous tree unless you look for the distinctive bundles of needles coming off the branches. Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. Day Hike: As we mentioned above, if you do not get a permit to backpack, you can dayhike it! Always maintain a very safe distance from wildlife, and take care of your business well away from the trail and campsites! The two trailheads are fortunately only a 30-minute drive apart, so the easiest option is driving two vehicles. Drive 8.4 miles and turn left onto Forest Service Road 7601. Colchuck Lake: Stuart Lake Trailhead to first view of the lake4.2 miles (one way)2,200 ft elevation gain. We managed to score a 5 day permit in the snow zone for Aug 30-Sept 3. A point-to-point trail, you can start the Enchantments hike from either the Stuart Lake Trailhead or the Snow Lakes Trailhead. Mile 13.5: If you prefer to travel a litter further on your final day, a few campsites are located near Nada Lake. YouTube, Travel Guides, Gear, & FAQs. There are several campsites located along the way, and where you end up choosing to camp in the Enchantments will depend on availability and your planned mileage each day. While most of the trail isn't very technically challenging, it's brutal in that it's very long and steep. Both trailheads get really busy, so arrive early! Didnt get a permit? When is the best season to go? This informative video shows you how! End: Snow Lakes Trailhead. Top 10 Hiking 100 Classic Hikes: Washington, 3rd Ed. Stuart Lake is at the end of this valley, but youre actually going to detour and gain a bit more elevation in order to reach stunning Colchuck Lake. They are pit toilets, but its good for a last minute bathroom break before hitting the trail! Wildlife in the area is accustomed to visitors, making it easy to get good pictures of any you spot during your trip. The summer temperatures drop (it occasionally reaches a scorching 100 degrees in July and August!) Once we reached the top of the pass, however, it was all worthwhile! The Enchantments is a region in Washington, just 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, a super cute Bavarian village town. So I'm also going to try to do the Enchantments this year. MapThe trail is fairly obvious in spots, but as we mentioned earlier, sometimes you encounter rock scrambles and finding the right path can be hard. Depending on your fitness and availability, the time for hiking the Enchantments trail varies. On the AllTrails map, I believe it was around the 14.9 mile mark (close to the restroom) https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/washington/the-enchantments-trail?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map&ref=sidebar-view-full-map. Positive Elev. I did the hike September 9th-11th, for reference. The next mile is by far the toughest of the entire trail. Snow: This is the zone we camped in during our time in the Enchantments. Stuart: The Stuart zone is named after Lake Stuart, which is a 9 mile round trip hike. Here you will also encounter larches, the iconic coniferous tree with deciduous needles that turn bright yellow before they drop for the winter. Depending on snow conditions, you may also want to bring gaiters to protect your boots from getting filled with snow. Additionally, an overnight or multi-day journey into the Enchantments allows you to experience swimming and relaxing on alpine lakeshores, the chance to explore side trails, and waking up in some truly stunning camping spots. I booked this time as I wanted the beautiful golden larches. If you are not comfortable rock scrambling, this hike may not be the best fit for you. The best time to go hiking in the Enchantments is mid-July through early October. If you choose to climb up Aasgard Pass, as recommended in this guide, you will be carrying a full overnight pack with the food up 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than a mile. There are over 6,000 cenotes on the Yucatn Penin, One of our favorite ways to experience a new place, Where to go after hiking the Enchantments, https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/washington/the-enchantments-trail?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map&ref=sidebar-view-full-map, On Mondays-Saturdays, there is a walk-up lottery at the Wenatchee River Ranger Station office in Leavenworth. GOOD TO KNOW: most people who thru-hike the entire Enchantments will start at the Stuart Lake Trailhead and end at the Snow Lake . The best chances of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the season and avoid major holidays. We have a leisurely morning, then set out on a meandering dayhike up through the snow into the Upper Core. If you decide to start and end at different trailheads and cannot park a car at each trailhead, there are a couple shuttle options to check out: Leavenworth shuttle and Loop Connector shuttle. 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