There are numerous epic campsites along the trail; however, where you can camp overnight depends strictly on the permit you receive. However, weve seen young children complete it, so it could make a great family excursion! In the Lee of Winter Storms: The Enchantment Basin. Here is a sample packing list for your trip, More Hiking: 21 Bucket List Hikes in Washington State, More North Cascades: 15 Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park, Waterfall Hikes: 11 Best Waterfalls in Washington State + Hikes to Find Them, Hiking Near Seattle: 11 Best Day Hikes Near Seattle. This campsite location puts you in a great position to finish the hike the next day and return home. This means that you will start at one trailhead and end your hike at another, without retracing your steps. When: Do it between late July and early September. Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) The trail down here is long, but if you can remember to enjoy the continued beauty, it will make the rest of the trip less painful. Maybe you'll get lucky and have good weather. Hiking the Enchantments takes you through a variety of diverse terrain, which can be roughly broken down into three sections. Mile 7: The next campsites are located just below the Upper Enchantment Lakes just before the trail descends down the ridge. One thing we want to make very clear is that you should never climb Aasgard Pass in poor conditions, especially during the winter or when there is still a lot of snow. Wander around the Core a bitDay 3: Spend all day exploring the Core. Drive 4 miles past the Snow Lakes parking lot until you reach FS Road 7601. Soon, the forest reappears and its a foot-battering descent down to the Snow Lake trailhead. Hiking The Enchantments in Washington . 1. We couldnt get enough of this section, and highly recommend it as the best for camping! What awaits visitors: -Nearby Bavarian-styled village -High alpine lakes carved in granite -Curious mountain goats and their kids -Dramatic peaks -Golden larches come fall At the end of your trip, you will use the car at the Snow Lakes trailhead to return to the car you left at the Stuart Lakes trailhead. Required fields are marked *. I've read trip reports at nwhiker.net and portlandhikers.org for the off season that inspired my warning : ) Also just the cascades in general in June. Looking up from Leprechaun Lake. Here are some of these hiking courtesies that help improve everyones trip. To enter the permit lottery, you will first need to apply during the annual permit lottery (exact dates vary by year). We got passed by a lot of people haha. Mile 13.5: If you prefer to travel a litter further on your final day, a few campsites are located near Nada Lake. This trail winds through a beautiful wilderness area that many other hikes enjoy. But dont worry, if you dont get one, a day hike is still super worth it! The Alpine Lakes Wilderness named "The Enchantments" draws explorers from all over the world. Although many are also strenuous, they still make fantastic hikes into this stunning part of the Cascades! Not sure where to start? Yay, congrats! Warning: this will be a long and exhausting day! Its a good idea to pack bear spray just to be safe. Located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of Washington state, this is a wonderland of alpine lakes, jagged mountains, and waterfalls. Widely regarded as the crown jewel of hiking in Washington, this trail exceeds even the wildest of superlatives. You will want to make sure you have cars at both trailheads (see The Trailheads section below). Regardless of the weather you will need to be prepared for fluctuating temperatures and potential storms. We highly recommend getting the Alltrails app so you can see the map (even without cell service) and make sure youre going the right way. Whether hiking the Enchantments is on your bucket list or you just learned about the hike, keep reading to get a detailed rundown of the hike, getting permits, route options, and tons of tips for the trail. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. To do the car shuttle, you will need to first drop a car off at the Snow Lakes trailhead, then gather at the Stuart Lakes Trailhead to begin your hike. Spread out over a few days, its incredibly rewarding, with once-in-a-lifetime views and experience to match your efforts. Some particularly adventurous skiers and snowshoers attempt the trail during the winter, but thats only advised for very experienced winter sports enthusiasts. Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the Enchantments is full of alpine lakes, rocky peaks, larches, mountain goats, and incredible views. Your email address will not be published. Despite not having the best permit, battling the rain, and having to change our route during our trip, we still had an amazing time exploring this beautiful region of the state of Washington. Weve gathered our 21 favorite Washington State hikes here, including hikes of all levels, to get you prepped for tackling the Enchantments hike! We have a leisurely morning, then set out on a meandering dayhike up through the snow into the Upper Core. We highly recommend driving into Leavenworth after your hike and grabbing a bratwurst or sausage from Munchen Haus! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello there! All Rights Reserved. Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! To day hike in the Enchantments, only a NW Forest Pass is needed. 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. Insider tip: Since these campsites are outside the Core Enchantment zone, theyre easier to obtain and open to groups, rather than just individuals. Ensure you know the correct routes and have the gear to keep you safe. Drive 8.4 miles and turn left onto Forest Service Road 7601. Most backpackers choose to visit during this window. 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. These permits can be difficult to secure, as most of them are drawn on a lottery. But we couldnt miss the opportunity to go, so we committed to the permits and figured we would make it all work. Pre- Enchantments: A lot went into this 4 day/3 night backpacking trip. The Enchantments are an absolutely amazing alpine wonderland located in central Washington state. Toilet paper must be disposed of properly! For the broadest swim experience, do the Enchantment Traverse, a 21-mile hike starting at the Colchuck Lake Trailhead (Mountaineer Creek) and ending at the Snow Creek Trailhead. Required fields are marked *. Colchuck: One of the most popular day hikes in Washington is Colchuck Lake. Second, waste management in the Enchantments is difficult since the area receives a high amount of use. We hope you snag a permit! At one end, the hike begins at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. As you approach Leavenworth from the west on Highway 2, you will turn onto Icicle Creek Road on the edge of town. I'd say starting at the Snow Lakes trailhead, hiking down and out Aasgard Pass to the Colchuck trailhead, is easier than the other way around. https://linktr.ee/kraig00:00 Hiking Aasgard Pass in the Enchantments4:29 Leavenworth Bavarian Village5:46 Hiking Guide and Behind the Scenes I think it was definitely one of the best spots out in the Snow Lakes area! To overnight between May and October, however, a lottery permit is required. We were so thankful we brought layers as we froze during the hike. So I'm also going to try to do the Enchantments this year. Arrive by 7:30 AM to enter the walk-up lottery. So on September 14, with fully loaded packs, we headed into the Enchantments! Dates: September 2nd- 5th 2016 Location: Leavenworth, Washington. I started out building the ability to walk 5-7 miles without flagging, then practiced climbing up steep hills. The last hiking practice Ill mention here is to be courteous of other peoples trips. As we mentioned, we did not end up going to Aasgard Pass, so we cannot speak to that experience, but we can attest that the lakes at the top are magical! Near the Bavarian town of Leavenworth (but hidden from sight), The Enchantments loom. However, its worth the effort! This beautiful glacial gem is the perfect spot for a snack, swim, and at least a few minutes of relaxation from here, things are going to get much harder. See our topo map of the route. First, there is an accepted right-of way when hiking on a trail. Colchuck Lake: Stuart Lake Trailhead to first view of the lake4.2 miles (one way)2,200 ft elevation gain. 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. and permits are also a little easier to come by. However, you obviously cant rely on or plan around hitch-hiking and not everyone is comfortable with it. Was the road to Stuart Lake Trailhead scary or just extremely bumpy? Mar 18, 2012 at 6:00 pm #1855705. If you begin at the Stuart Lake Trailhead and go up by way of Colchuck Lake and Aasgard Pass, you'll have 6,000 vertical feet of elevation gain and 7,800 vertical feet of elevation loss. - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! They are pit toilets, but its good for a last minute bathroom break before hitting the trail! We bought a new water filter for the trip and the water filtered super fastit was amazing! The level of difficulty and sheer distance of the trail mean the best way to experience this area is via a multi-day hike. If you have two nights, spend some extra time exploring the side trails and lakes in this area. 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. 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. Mid-July through early October is the best season for hiking the Enchantments. Once applications are drawn, there is a few-week period where successful applicants must accept their permit. Over the years, the hike has become increasingly popular, making winning a permit in the lottery almost like winning the actual lottery. The increasingly jaw-dropping views are the only distraction from the heart-pumping exertion. The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) For a challenging side adventure, there is a trail that branches off near Perfection Lake and heads up Prusik Pass. This is the last Enchantments campsite location on the way out to the end of the trail. They also make some amazing meat and veggie bars. The busy September peak golden larches day we hiked the trail, around 95% of people hiking The Enchantments began at Stuart / Colchuck Lake trailhead and ended at Snow Lake trailhead. Posted by CoolTrails September 17, 2022 September 25, 2022 Posted in Enchantment Basin Thru Hike When is the best time of year to day hike through the Enchantments? With over 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than a single mile in distance, the climb challenges both stamina and determination. and permits are also a little easier to come by. The main reason to day-hike the Enchantments is that doing so means you dont need a hard-to-get camping permit. The setting is absolutely beautiful, but camping here leaves the bulk of the hike, including Aasgard Pass, for the next day. Enjoy this walking video tour of the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail in Redwood National Park in California. July and August are the most popular months, but we loved seeing the larches change colors at the end of September (even though the weather was riskier!). The climb up the pass is grueling, but once you make it, you will be blessed with the view of the Core Enchantment Zone the granite rock and bright blue alpine lakes that make this place special. 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. We learned a lot throughout this experience, both about the hike itself, how to be better prepared, and what we would do differently in the future. If you only want to see the Core, this would be a good option for you! Since the Enchantments trail is at a higher elevation, the temperature will generally be cooler than in town. The lakes clear, blue (and freeeezing cold!) Youre all packed and now its time to start the hike! 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. The Enchantments hike is most commonly completed as a one-way thru-hike since the hike is long and the terrain can be difficult. Sign up for our newsletter and well send you insider information and helpful tips about hiking, camping, and all things outdoor adventures! Section, and waterfalls and highly recommend driving into Leavenworth after your hike and grabbing a or! Central Washington state lot of people haha flagging, then set out on a that... Have the gear to keep you safe is a trail as you approach Leavenworth from west! 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