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. Day and overnight visitors need to check the weather and be prepared for all weather types throughout the season. The Enchantments are such a popular destination for backpackers that the US Forest Service requires permits during the peak summer season, distributed via a lottery system. It is easy to lose the main path up Aasgard Pass, but you will want to take the extra time to stay on it, since it is more solid and easier, especially if you are carrying a heavy overnight pack. Then, youd likely get a long rambling list of epic places weve been or those were itching to visit. The smaller creatures in the Enchantments marmots, pikas, marten, squirrels are used to finding human food around backpacks and tents. Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) 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. Looking up from Leprechaun Lake. And do it on a hot daya record-breaking hot day is even better. They also make some amazing meat and veggie bars. A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. The Enchantments are not named as such for naught - they have some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in the country. Take a left at this intersection, then follow the dirt road for 4 miles until reaching the Stuart Lake trailhead. Hiking with music can be fun but it is good practice to use headphones so that other hikers dont have to listen to it. If youre hiking the Enchantments with another person but only have one vehicle, another option is to rent an additional car to drop off at the endpoint. 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. Many consider it one of the most beautiful areas of the state. 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. The next mile is by far the toughest of the entire trail. This lake is one of the most dramatic lakes in the basin, as it is set in a deep basin below Prusik Peak and above the ridge towards Snow Lakes. 4.73 out of 5. ), but we made it down the road in one piece. Please dont bury TP; pack it in, pack it out. Here are two ways you can geta permit after the lottery closes: Our tip: even though this didnt work for us, apply with friends to increase your chances. Stuart: The Stuart zone is named after Lake Stuart, which is a 9 mile round trip hike. Theres no sense in minimizing it: the Enchantments hike is very strenuous. The trail is steep and rocky, resembling your climb up Aasgard Pass. 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. A rainy day at Rune Lake (Perfection Lake) in September. The summer temperatures drop (it occasionally reaches a scorching 100 degrees in July and August!) 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. THE ENCHANTMENTS TRAIL BREAKDOWN. 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. 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. This area is called Aasgard Pass, and it's a lung-straining 2,000-ft climb in just under a mile. Join. This is a steep, bumpy, potholed dirt road (I take my RV down many dirt roads but I wouldn't drive it on this). My favorite waterfall's still in its winter coat. Drop one off at the hikes endpoint, then drive everyone to the starting point. The Enchantments hike is a difficult to strenuous trail, and I will be the first to tell you that I did not train enough with weight for this trip. Where did yall set up your tent and take that photo from the inside looking out??? As you approach Leavenworth from the west on Highway 2, you will turn onto Icicle Creek Road on the edge of town. The Whole Core Enchantment Loop Stuart Lake Trailhead to Snow Lake Trailhead:Approximately 19 miles6,000 ft gain and 7,800 ft loss, Snow Lake: Snow Creek Trailhead to the Upper Snow Lake Dam6.5 miles (one way + another 1.5 miles to the far end of the lake)3,800 ft elevation gain. Early Summer While hiking in June still requires a permit, you run the risk of the trail being heavily covered in snow. However, since these are averages it is best to be prepared for a wide range of temperatures during your trip. Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! More than a dozen high alpine lakes carved in granite. It'll vary depending on how many breaks are taken for how long and if you can trail-run parts of it. Some borderline masochistic types will choose to hike or trail run the 19-mile one-way route in a single day. After you finish your hike, its time to celebrate! The weather can change quickly during your multi-day trip from the original forecast. 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. See some of our recommended stops below! Regardless, we decided to go for it considering the luck of the permits - so here is the recap of The Enchantments hike that we completed September 26-27, 2020. : 1312 ft. the enchantments hiking washington day hike Toughest thing I have done. 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. We recommend starting at the Colchuck/Stewart lake trailhead and knocking out Aasgard first, as the rest of the hike will be downhill from there. While Aasgard Pass terrifies us, we want to experience it once in our lifetime and wed rather do it without the heavy packs. In the winter, the Enchantments is buried in deep snowpack and is inaccessible to anyone without serious mountaineering experience. At risk of sounding entirely cliche, this place is absolutely enchanting. At this time, applicants must choose an exit date and provide payment for the permits. Since the Enchantments hike is a point to point trail, its necessary to consider transportation logistics. The sights are spectacular, with views of surrounding peaks and Colchuck Lake dwarfed into a gleaming blue jewel far below. One of Washingtons best hikes, the Enchantments absolutely lives up to the hype (and its name!). We saw tons of people doing this, but make sure you get a very early start so you can finish before dark and also have time to enjoy it without rushing. Soon, the forest reappears and its a foot-battering descent down to the Snow Lake trailhead. Day 1: Hike to Colchuck Lake and set up campDay 2: Hike up Aasgard Pass and find a good camping spot in the Core. They are now prohibiting parking along FS Road 7601 and they have a ranger with a sign telling you if parking is full before you get too far down the road. Now the hard part: getting a permit. $18.00 Tags: Day Hiking Share this Page: After doing the hike, seeing what others have done, and researching the options, here are four of the best options (in our opinion) if you receive a Core or Snow permit. Having said that, dont let the challenge dissuade you! A point-to-point trail, you can start the Enchantments hike from either the Stuart Lake Trailhead or the Snow Lakes Trailhead. $18.95 Alpine Lakes East Stuart Range, WA No. As you head down from Isolation and Tranquil Lakes, the terrain changes from the smooth granite rocks to alpine meadows. The map below shows the area that make up the Enchantments. Prusik Peak over Lake Viviane. Before July (and sometimes even into July! The Enchantments live up to the hype and dazzle hikers willing to overcome the elevation gain needed to visit this high alpine paradise. To avoid these food thieves when camping or hiking through, youll want to keep your food in an animal-proof container. Ambitious day hikers will be richly rewarded for tackling all 20 miles in a day. Where is the Enchantments hike? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Local groups often provide introductory courses on backpacking and camping, which would be good practice before embarking on an Enchantments trip. 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. If you have two nights, spend some extra time exploring the side trails and lakes in this area. The setting is picture-perfect; however, hiking here in just one day from Stuart Lake is challenging. Near the Bavarian town of Leavenworth (but hidden from sight), The Enchantments loom. Arrive by 7:30 AM to enter the walk-up lottery. The trail crosses over a wooden bridge at this point, marking the end of the Enchantment Lakes basin. These sites are perfect if you have two nights on the trail or if you get a late start the first day. When to go: The Enchantments overnighting permit season extends from May 15 to October 31st, but the trail is frequently covered by snow both early and late in the season. Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. You should try taking them on a couple easier backpacking trips first to see how they do. After you get notified that you won the Enchantments lottery, youll want to figure out your route and how many days you want. To overnight between May and October, however, a lottery permit is required. Enjoy this walking video tour of the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail in Redwood National Park in California. The best chances of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the season and avoid major holidays. The hope for most is that dry sunny weather will coincide with whatever dates the luck of the draw has bestowed on them. Your email address will not be published. Just beyond Aasgard Pass, the area known as the Core Enchantments Zone offers otherworldly views completely different from the forest below. To apply, you will need to choose an entry date, group size, permit zone, assign an alternate group leader, and pay the application fee. However, weve seen young children complete it, so it could make a great family excursion! There are five permit zones: Core Enchantment, Snow Lake, Colchuck Lake, Stuart Lake, and the Eightmile/Caroline zone. And it's tough getting there. Welcome to Go Wander Wild. 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. 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. 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. We have a 22 B+ van. Dont be fooled that you are reaching the end here, even though you are leaving the lake basin! For this multi-night backpacking adventure, make sure you are prepared with the right gear. Instead of backpacking, wed love to try day hiking it next time. Hi Kym! With your permit you will receive special parking permits for each of the trailhead, allowing you to park in designated spots for permitees. Colchuck Lake: Stuart Lake Trailhead to first view of the lake4.2 miles (one way)2,200 ft elevation gain. Through-hiking the Enchantments in one day will challenge and reward you, but it's not for everyone. 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. I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete it. Depending on your fitness and availability, the time for hiking the Enchantments trail varies. External chargerThis is a must for a multi-day backpacking trip! Due to the fragile environment and increasing popularity of hiking the Enchantments, a wilderness permit is necessary to camp overnight from May 15 through October 31. On average, 10 active hours for typical hiking speed of 1000 ft/hr. No matter what route you take, how many days you have, or if you get a sunny day or a cloudy day, the Enchantments truly are a magical place and 100% worth the permit headaches to visit in whatever capacity you can. Obtaining the permit to backpack the Enchantments is a much more difficult process, so we opted instead to camp out at Lake Wenatchee for the weekend and day-hike . 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. 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. However, obtaining wilderness permits has become increasingly competitive in recent years, which throws in another logistical obstacle. Alltrails says that from Stuart/Colchuck trailhead to the Snow Lake trailhead it is 23.6 miles, but we confirmed with a ranger during our hike that it is 19. Dont worry, not all hope is lost. For a challenging side adventure, there is a trail that branches off near Perfection Lake and heads up Prusik Pass. The level of difficulty and sheer distance of the trail mean the best way to experience this area is via a multi-day hike. 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. "I can see why it's called the Enchantments. Required fields are marked *. After entering the permit lottery in 2018 and failing to get permits, we didnt feel too confident going into the 2019 lottery. On a journey to Alaska in @brisketthevan We day hiked to Eightmile Lake a couple years ago and it was beautiful, although not as scenic as some of the other Enchantment lakes (like Colchuck). In either direction, the trail is stunning, offering views across the Cascades and passing by numerous bright-blue glacial lakes and chiseled mountain peaks. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello there! Were glad this helps! Another option is tapping into local hiking groups. With a daypack, the scrambling isnt too bad (I hate rock scrambling and didnt cry! Drive 4 miles past the Snow Lakes parking lot until you reach FS Road 7601. We got there late afternoon on a Saturday and snagged that spot, which fit 6 of us with plenty of other space and was an easy walk down to the lake to get water. The ideal time to hike the Enchantments trail for warm and dry weather is late July and August. Hiking through the Enchantments core is beautiful and memorable. Camping spots are limited, but when possible, put your tent up away from other tents to give other campers privacy. We would love to do this hike again in the future, however, we think we would do it a bit differently. Permits and permit information is available on the Recreation.gov Portal. With the added weight of a pack, some training or backpacking experience is highly recommended before attempting to hike the Enchantments. 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! Black bear sightings are very uncommon here, but do occasionally happen. The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) There are five total regions: Eightmile/Caroline, Stuart, Colchuck, Core, and Snow. The peaks look like a child drew them; all fairy tale jags and triangles." How long does it take to hike the Enchantments trail? 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. As an Amazon Associate, Small Town Washington earns from qualifying purchases. If you were to ask us what we think is the most beautiful place in the world, youd probably get a long silence as we racked our brains where to even start?! Whenever you decide to continue on, be prepared for continuation of the rocky trail. Once applications are drawn, there is a few-week period where successful applicants must accept their permit. Here you will also encounter larches, the iconic coniferous tree with deciduous needles that turn bright yellow before they drop for the winter. and permits are also a little easier to come by. The trail up Aasgard Pass looks a little unlike a trail at times, with the steep terrain and loose footing requiring hands-and-feet scrambling to reach the top. Thanks for the ideas! Insider tip: Since these campsites are outside the Core Enchantment zone, theyre easier to obtain and open to groups, rather than just individuals. Since youll be at a higher elevation, the nights may get cool. Day Hike: As we mentioned above, if you do not get a permit to backpack, you can dayhike it! 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. Don't shower for 3 weeks leading up your hike as a human repellent. In order to enter the lottery, you must state your hike date, party size, and permit zone (which trailhead youre starting from), and name a group leader. Positive Elev. 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. All rights reserved. (Sa. Our friends had some and we were a taddddd jealous when their legs were nice and dry!If its warm out, bring a swimsuit so you can swim in one of the lakes! Hiking the Enchantments means your jaw will drop at every turn. Even if you do, you cannot take a 2 year old up Asgard Pass. 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. 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. Thanks! Hike Summary Distance: 20 miles one way Total Elevation Gain: 5,800 ft Total Elevation Loss: 7,400 ft Starting Elevation: 3,400 ft Highest Point: 7,800 ft Hike Time: 16 - 17 hrs Difficulty: Extremely Difficult Seasons: July - September Dogs: Not Allowed Pass Required (Day Hike): Northwest Forest Pass 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. Drive 8.4 miles and turn left onto Forest Service Road 7601. . They are pit toilets, but its good for a last minute bathroom break before hitting the trail! Obviously, for this, you will need two drivers in your party and two cars! 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. 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