There are so many spots youll want to sit and relish the view! But once you get up Aasgard, you have an alpine lake filled playground to call home for the night. Hiking the Enchantments means your jaw will drop at every turn. The trail continues to be rocky and steep and several sections require scrambling using both hands and feet. It is never acceptable to clean pots by submerging them in a natural body of water. Are you planning on carrying them the entire way? 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. You can either start and end at the same trailhead or start and end at different trailheads depending on the route youre going to take. A lot of people were doing this and it is allowed. This is what we planned to do, but Mother Nature had other ideas. Before setting out on this trip, make sure you are physically ready for a strenuous hike through the wilderness! They can be overly friendly, to the point of dangerous, and often follow visitors in an attempt to lick up salt from human urine (delightful, huh?)! The trail is steep and rocky, resembling your climb up Aasgard Pass. If youre not very familiar with the Enchantments Wilderness Area, you may be surprised to know that it requires a bit more planning and preparation than simply lacing up your hiking boots and hitting the trail. Core Enchantments:From Colchuck Lake to the top of Aasgard Pass:2.5 miles (one way)2,500 ft elevation gain, From the inlet of Upper Snow Lake to Lake Viviane:1.5 miles (one way)1,400 ft elevation gain. While taking pictures and enjoying the company, you will need to keep your distance to keep yourself and the animals safe. 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. Although its rare for them to be aggressive, weve heard of instances where mother goats have attacked hikers trying to protect their kids. Enchantments Hike Specs: Length: 23.6 mi Elevation gain: 5,003 ft Route type: Point to point Some route-finding is also necessary, as the hike becomes more of a boulder scramble with hands and feet required for balance. You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (were a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature. Plus, Stuart Lake is a couple thousand feet higher than Snow Lakes, so your total elevation gain is lower! The increasingly jaw-dropping views are the only distraction from the heart-pumping exertion. If you spend any time in Washington, it won't take long to hear about the Enchantments. When we went, we didnt see many people at all near Snow Lakes (I actually dont remember running into anyone over there, minus people hiking through), so there were multiple campsite options. There was a catch though: we got Snow Lake permits, not Core permits (If all of this sounds like a foreign language, dont worry, we will explain it all down below!) Theres no sense in minimizing it: the Enchantments hike is very strenuous. The Enchantment Lakes are an alpine wonderland of pristine lakes set among polished granite, soaring peaks, blazing larches, and ambling mountain goats. This 18-mile point-to-point traverse climbs up and over the heart of the mountain range, affording you the opportunity to soak in the grandeur of the Enchantments. And she got permits! In fact, people have died doing so from falling into crevasses or waterfall holes. Whenever you decide to continue on, be prepared for continuation of the rocky trail. 14 days ago. Having said that, dont let the challenge dissuade you! Snow: This is the zone we camped in during our time in the Enchantments. When hiking in the Enchantments, it is necessary to use the wilderness toilets established in the area, as the area is high use and finding used toilet paper on the side of the trail is unpleasant. This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Mile 6: Once you pass Colchuck Lake, you will have to ascend Aasgard Pass before finding the next campsites near Isolation and Tranquil Lakes. Christie is Yvonnes friend, who I had met before, and happened to enter the lottery the day before it closed. Required fields are marked *. In February I put in the permit application for the enchantments as I heard everyone talking about it. Prusik Peak over Lake Viviane. Drive 4 miles past the Snow Lakes parking lot until you reach FS Road 7601. Clothing itemsLayers are a great idea any time of the year while hiking the Enchantments. With a daypack, the scrambling isnt too bad (I hate rock scrambling and didnt cry! The route is described below beginning at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! Matthew H. BPL Member. . Its a good idea to pack bear spray just to be safe. Theres some moderate elevation gain through gorgeous old-growth forest and a flat section in a beautiful meadow, before finishing at a stunning lake backed by even more stunning mountains! While most of the trail isn't very technically challenging, it's brutal in that it's very long and steep. Widely regarded as the crown jewel of hiking in Washington, this trail exceeds even the wildest of superlatives. To preserve the experience of other hikers and the wilderness character of the trail, it is important to follow common hiking etiquettes. However, to go backpacking in the Enchantments between May 15 and October 31, you will need to secure a permit from the US Forest Service. To obtain one of these, you will need to arrive at the ranger station early in the morning on the day you wish to start your trip. The main path stays to the left of the waterfall but is not immediately next to the left rock cliffs. In late spring to early summer, the Enchantments core basin is still snow-covered. When you apply, you select your entry date and location and pay a $10 non-refundable application fee. Even if you dont see other hikers, there are probably other people who can hear your music. 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. Its a unique, labor-intensive process that has an extremely low success rate (the odds of winning a permit are about 2% at best), but well worth it. In this video, we provide a complete day hiking guide so you can complete the. The Enchantments are an absolutely amazing alpine wonderland located in central Washington state. and permits are also a little easier to come by. 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. So I'm also going to try to do the Enchantments this year. Dates: September 2nd- 5th 2016 Location: Leavenworth, Washington. 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. Since the Enchantments hike is a point to point trail, its necessary to consider transportation logistics. Camping here is best on two-night backpacking trips. The trail through the Enchantments is also very rocky and uneven, further increasing the difficulty of the hike. The best strategy is to keep your distance as much as possible. Just have a few questions. The next set of campsites is along the lakeshores of the five lakes situated in what is known as the Enchantments Core: Isolation Lake, Inspiration Lake, Perfection Lake, Leprechaun Lake and Lake Vivianne. Plan your hike for mid-July to mid-September, and check both trip reports and weather forecasts before getting started. September 8, 2016. Unfortunately, weve missed out on all our other attempts at the lottery (some locals joke that the lottery is their annual donation). This ethereal landscape of lakes, basins, and rugged peaks is a delightful place to hike through. 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. 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. But the wait, stress, and uncertainty of getting to access this area is worth it!Note: Dogs are not allowed in the Enchantments. In early September, Mrs. The main reason to day-hike the Enchantments is that doing so means you dont need a hard-to-get camping permit. Permits are required for day and overnight use 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. Hiking the Enchantments is one of the most memorable PNW experiences. We were so thankful we brought layers as we froze during the hike. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Policy, 2021 Adventures of A+K. Continue reading. 19K views 1 year ago THE ENCHANTMENTS The Enchantments Hike is the most beautiful hike in all of Washington. Looking up from Leprechaun Lake. There are two trailheads for the Enchantments: Stuart/Colchuck Lake and Snow Lake. These sites are perfect if you have two nights on the trail or if you get a late start the first day. Were talking beautiful wilderness full of clear alpine lakes, granite rocks, and vistas of sharp peaks. Colchuck Lake: Stuart Lake Trailhead to first view of the lake4.2 miles (one way)2,200 ft elevation gain. Although many are also strenuous, they still make fantastic hikes into this stunning part of the Cascades! The trail through the Enchantments is 18 miles, one-way, with additional side trails to explore the surrounding lakes. To apply, you will need to choose an entry date, group size, permit zone, assign an alternate group leader, and pay the application fee. For most hikers, this is the hardest day hike they've ever done. 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. The Enchantments don't come easy. These campsites are located along the shoreline and provide excellent views of the brilliantly blue lake. The challenging 20-mile trail requires advanced planning, so weve broken it down in a comprehensive hiking guide. Ive done this as a thru hike, ending at snow lake TH, taking about 14hrs total. I read a review that said it was really steep. 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! What this means is that you have to obtain a permit in the lottery (or in the other methods we cover below) to stay overnight during those dates. Join. The elevation gain and loss are large, meaning that you will be working hard at most points during your hike. Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the Enchantments is full of alpine lakes, rocky peaks, larches, mountain goats, and incredible views. The Enchantments as a whole is gorgeous, but there are a few spots that you should especially check out and spend some time at. Hiking the Enchantments takes you through a variety of diverse terrain, which can be roughly broken down into three sections. At one end, the hike begins at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. and permits are also a little easier to come by. 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. To enter the permit lottery, you will first need to apply during the annual permit lottery (exact dates vary by year). The road to Colchuck lake does close in the winter, but it typically is open for a bit after October 31, giving you a little bit of a window to do the hike depending on the weather. Your email address will not be published. Just outside of the Bavarian town of Leavenworth, the Enchantments are part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness filled with pristine glacial lakes surrounded by towering granite peaks. Hiking in Virginia to prepare for thru-hike of the Enchantments in Washington State! The Enchantments is a collection of alpine lakes nestled amongst tall granite peaks and spires in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington. However, obtaining wilderness permits has become increasingly competitive in recent years, which throws in another logistical obstacle. Talisman Lake Once applications are drawn, there is a few-week period where successful applicants must accept their permit. 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. There are usually more people present than permits, so they have to draw names, which occurs at 7:45 AM. 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 Colchuck. Drive 8.4 miles and turn left onto Forest Service Road 7601. Those on the shorter end trail run a portion of the trail. Sign up to get travel updates, guides, vlogs, and other resources delivered straight to your inbox once a month! 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. ), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. $18.00 Tags: Day Hiking Share this Page: (Sa. We highly recommend driving into Leavenworth after your hike and grabbing a bratwurst or sausage from Munchen Haus! The mountain goats in particular are habituated to visitors. Once we reached the top of the pass, however, it was all worthwhile! Backpacking the Enchantments is a very strenuous trip that (with the proper training!) A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. Overview of the Enchantments Hike These statistics are for the thru-hike from Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead to the Snow Lakes Trailhead. After you finish your hike, its time to celebrate! To be on the safe side, plan your hike for mid-July to late-September. Elev. Comment below if you have questions about hiking the Enchantments in Washington state and well do our best to get back to you! They have two parking lots in this area (the first one is for Eightmile and next one is for Stuart/Colchuck), as well as an overnight only parking area for those with overnight permits. No clue if this is beneficial but it does feel like it's getting easier. Early Summer While hiking in June still requires a permit, you run the risk of the trail being heavily covered in snow. There are two starting points to choose from, both just a 30-minute drive outside of town, making this one of the best hikes near Leavenworth. May, June, September and October are considered "shoulder seasons" and visitors can expect to encounter snow and winter-like conditions. Theyre especially perfect for people spending just one night on the trail, since youll conquer most of the elevation on the first day and have nothing but downhill miles the second. Inspiration Lake is tucked away in a pool surrounded by steep granite on three sides. Most backpackers choose to visit during this window. This is a steep, bumpy, potholed dirt road (I take my RV down many dirt roads but I wouldn't drive it on this). It should either be thoroughly buried in a cat hole or placed in plastic bags and packed out. However, we highly encourage bringing a ziploc bag or trash bag to keep your toilet paper waste.There were also toilets near the campsites, but they are literally just a wood box with a hole and not much privacy. 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. Starting your hike at the Stuart Lake trailhead as I recommend, you will need to find a ride back to this trailhead from the Snow Lakes trailhead. September 30, 2022. Here you will also encounter larches, the iconic coniferous tree with deciduous needles that turn bright yellow before they drop for the winter. Additionally, this is where you'll get to do some off-trail excursions. The elevation gain and loss are large, meaning that you will be working hard at most points during your hike. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They only give out one permit per zone per day, with up to 8 people per permit. Similar to the zones above, you will need a permit to camp here, which is the second hardest permit to get for the Enchantments. Its not scary, but you will need to go slow. ELEVATION GAIN: around 5,000 feet of elevation gain across the entire 20-mile length of the trail; this includes climbing 1,900 feet in less than a mile up and over Aasgard Pass. Will travel for tacos, BBQ, & ice cream Camping spots are limited, but when possible, put your tent up away from other tents to give other campers privacy. My dad. We hope this blog post helped give you some more information to help plan your trip to the Enchantments! The Yucatn Peninsula is the heart of the ancient, The cenotes tour we booked through @airbnbexperien. After entering the permit lottery in 2018 and failing to get permits, we didnt feel too confident going into the 2019 lottery. For a challenging side adventure, there is a trail that branches off near Perfection Lake and heads up Prusik Pass. Mile 11: The shores of the Snow Lakes are the last large group of campsites. Nearly devoid of vegetation, the landscape has been molded by ancient glacial activity, with countless sparkling blue lakes dotting the dramatic rock formations. 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 challenging trail is brimming with dramatic stunning scenery, as glacial activity has left the mountains here jagged and steep, and deposited several picturesque alpine lakes. The summer temperatures drop (it occasionally reaches a scorching 100 degrees in July and August!) places in Washington and in this guide were sharing all of our tips for hiking the Enchantments, including how to get permits, what to pack, different route options, and things to know before you go!This past September we got to knock off an item from our bucket list: hiking the Enchantments in Washington! This is another hike that is a doable day trip, but if youd like to stay overnight, youll need to enter the Enchantments lottery for a permit. . If you arent up to completing the entire thru-hike, there are multiple shorter trails in the Enchantments. The environment here has turned from granite rocks to alpine marsh and meadow, full of grass and heather. The permits for the Enchantments area are divided into zones. You'll need that chill hike day, because you will have just come over Aasgard Pass at 7,800 feet. Adam, Kathryn, & Kona Now the hard part: getting a permit. The first frost usually comes in mid-October. 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. Drop one off at the hikes endpoint, then drive everyone to the starting point. This is the most recent attempt to mitigate the parking shortage at the trailheads. :) Depending on snow conditions, you may also want to bring gaiters to protect your boots from getting filled with snow. Pre- Enchantments: A lot went into this 4 day/3 night backpacking trip. The infamous Aasgard Pass is the toughest part of the trail, with a heart-pumping, lung-straining 2,000-foot climb in just of a mile. Required fields are marked *. 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. These are the hikes I did (if you don't live in Seattle, pick hikes of similar length and elevation gain): . The sights are spectacular, with views of surrounding peaks and Colchuck Lake dwarfed into a gleaming blue jewel far below. ), only experienced and fit hikers who are very confident in their abilities should attempt it. The best season to hike to the lakes is summer and early fall, namely late July/August to September/early October. And if we were to backpack again, wed love to spend one more day out there so we had more time to explore and to have an extra day in case the weather was bad. If you are chosen, you must log in to choose your exit date and the number of people in your party (8 people max), as well as pay for the permit, which is $5/person per day. Day Hike: As we mentioned above, if you do not get a permit to backpack, you can dayhike it! Mid-July through early October is the best season for hiking the Enchantments. 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. Hikers use two trails to approach the Enchantments Basin. With over 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than a single mile in distance, the climb challenges both stamina and determination. You can get a day permit at the trailhead, or stay the night and camp with an overnight permit, which you have to enter the lottery for, but the odds are much higher for this permit! We arrived at Stuart/Colchuck at 7 AM and got the last overnight permit spot and there were lots of day hikers that were struggling to park. Note: Winners are drawn at random, so it makes absolutely no difference when you apply, as long as its within the application period. Yay, congrats! CRAZY! Many consider it one of the most beautiful areas of the state. Mile 7: The next campsites are located just below the Upper Enchantment Lakes just before the trail descends down the ridge. 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. 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. ), but we made it down the road in one piece. And do it on a hot daya record-breaking hot day is even better. See some of our recommended stops below! Good mealsAfter a long day of hiking, there is nothing better than a hot meal. To overnight between May and October, however, a lottery permit is required. 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. But where do you start? Each campsite listed has a wilderness toilet for your use and to preserve the natural beauty of the area. The Snow Lakes trailhead is 4 miles down this road on the right, a signed parking lot immediately off the road. The Snow Lake trailhead is near a large parking lot next to the creek. Everything you bring in needs to be taken out this includes trash, fruit peels, etc. 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 two trailheads are fortunately only a 30-minute drive apart, so the easiest option is driving two vehicles. Wander around the Core a bitDay 3: Spend all day exploring the Core. The Enchantments are not named as such for naught - they have some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in the country. This makes travel more difficult and the views an endless sea of white (which is beautiful, just more difficult to hike). For this blog post, we will specifically be covering the Colchuck, Core, and Snow zones, which is what makeup the super popular portion of the Enchantments. And the quote about toilet paper is directly from the LNT website, but we agree that you should pack everything out and we carry ziplocs and trash bags to do so. Not sure where to start? This campsite location puts you in a great position to finish the hike the next day and return home. I'm a decent hiker but some of the bouldering is more . There are five unique areas amongst the Enchantments zone which covers about 75 square miles. October 11, 2021. You can apply for permits during the second half of February through Recreation.gov, and winners are drawn, lottery-style, in early March. Redwood National Park California. Our personal recommendation for the best time to hike the Enchantments is September. While youll have no cell phone service, being able to charge your phone to take photos, look at a map, etc is crucial. 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! A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. 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? Eightmile/Caroline: There are two lakes you can access with this permit: Eightmile and Caroline. 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