The weather in the mountains can change quickly, so always bring a rainjacket just in case! 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. This informative video shows you how! Not sure where to start? To help plan your trip, here are the approximate locations of some of the most common campsites along the trail. 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. We had to go about 3 mph in the van (not joking lol! Prior experience will help prepare you for the Enchantments hike and make it more fun! Ambitious day hikers will be richly rewarded for tackling all 20 miles in a day. Although its only 4.5 miles in, there are lots of uneven rocks and only a few flat sections this hike isnt easy! The summer temperatures drop (it occasionally reaches a scorching 100 degrees in July and August!) The Enchantments is a slice of hiking paradise. I think it was definitely one of the best spots out in the Snow Lakes area! Here, just east of Leavenworth in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and reachable only on foot, are the Enchantments. Snow: This is the zone we camped in during our time in the Enchantments. 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. 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! We have a 22 B+ van. The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) 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. Wander around the Core a bitDay 3: Spend all day exploring the Core. February 1, 2022. living on the road in our. Here's her trip in photos. Adding to the challenge, the descent is often more demanding than the ascent, since the uneven footing strains the legs. First, there is an accepted right-of way when hiking on a trail. The trail down to Inspiration Lake is steep the first taste of the downhill you will encounter on the remaining trail. These make for the best overnight spots in the Enchantments overall. A permit for the Core Enchantment zone allows overnight stays within any of the zones, making it the best choice for a hike through the Enchantments. 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. To be on the safe side, plan your hike for mid-July to late-September. Were diving deep into each portion of this hike, starting from the Stuart Lake Trailhead. Its also important to note theres a lot to consider before hiking the Enchantments. Hikers use two trails to approach the Enchantments Basin. Since the Enchantments trail is at a higher elevation, the temperature will generally be cooler than in town. Unfortunately, weve missed out on all our other attempts at the lottery (some locals joke that the lottery is their annual donation). I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete it. The Enchantments hike is most commonly completed as a one-way thru-hike since the hike is long and the terrain can be difficult. This website contains affiliate links from websites such as Amazon.com, Booking.com, and Rentalcars.com. We bought a new water filter for the trip and the water filtered super fastit was amazing! $18.95 Alpine Lakes East Stuart Range, WA No. Bring rain entertainmentOne of the best things we did was download Netflix and books in case it rained. 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. The setting is picture-perfect; however, hiking here in just one day from Stuart Lake is challenging. There is little if any cell service available on this trail, and emergency help is far away. The Stuart/Colchuck Lake trailhead is down a VERY rough forested road. McClellan Peak, Little Annapurna, Dragontail Peak, and Pusik Pass are all accessible from the Core. Your email address will not be published. Looking up from Leprechaun Lake: My dad: The Enchantments would be a very rough introduction to backpacking for a 2 year old. The Snow Lake trailhead is near a large parking lot next to the creek. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 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! Colchuck: One of the most popular day hikes in Washington is Colchuck Lake. 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. Our friends all brought Mountain House meals and loved theirs too! In addition to the lottery permits, a very limited number of permits are reserved for walk-ins available at the Leavenworth Ranger Station. 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). The Enchantments Thru-Hike point-to-point Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Hiked on 10/9/2021 Start: Stuart Lake Trailhead Destination: Snow Lakes Trailhead View Hike Track View Gallery Distance: 18.12 mi. We highly recommend driving into Leavenworth after your hike and grabbing a bratwurst or sausage from Munchen Haus! Permits: 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 Hiking up Aasgard Pass means that the remaining 13 miles of trail are generally downhill. 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. To mitigate the heat, it is suggested that you start hiking early in the day and aim to arrive at your evening campsite before midday. As you descend, you will reach Snow Lakes and Nada Lake, both with a variety of campgrounds for the weary hiker. Youll share the first part of the trail into the Enchantments with many fellow hikers since its one of the best (and closest!) Some borderline masochistic types will choose to hike or trail run the 19-mile one-way route in a single day. And it's tough getting there. 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! Hi yall! Note: Winners are drawn at random, so it makes absolutely no difference when you apply, as long as its within the application period. The Core Enchantments area is accessible by two different trailheads: Stuart / Colchuk Lake and Snow Lakes Trailheads. As the trail winds through the lakes surrounded by lichen-covered rocks beneath the rugged mountain peaks, you will find more campsites. The Traverse runs through the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and as you might guessit passes by a stunning array of glacial-fed lakes. If you have more time, you wont get bored spending more time in this beautiful area! water is almost as impressive as the backdrop: the jagged and dramatic Dragontail peak. So I'm also going to try to do the Enchantments this year. Another good spot to check out is Yodelin. With FOOD! Snow Lake was beautiful and more scenic than we thought it would be, so while its not the most ideal permit to get, it still makes for a very fun trip! We are big fans of Wild Zora backpacking meals, especially the beef ones, as they are super natural and healthy. 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. Those on the longer end tend to linger longer at the lakes. The trail in this area passes by stunning spots like aptly-named Lake Perfection and Lake Vivianne while continuously dropping in elevation towards Snow Lake. On average, 10 active hours for typical hiking speed of 1000 ft/hr. YouTube, Travel Guides, Gear, & FAQs. This trail gains a modest amount of elevation, at 2300 feet, but this is just the beginning of the hike. This was our base camp from where we would climb the steep Crystal Creek valley and . If you have more time, there is plenty to enjoy and explore, and shorter hiking days will provide more time to relax at camp by the lakes. Permits and permit information is available on the Recreation.gov Portal. The Enchantments live up to the hype and dazzle hikers willing to overcome the elevation gain needed to visit this high alpine paradise. More than a dozen high alpine lakes carved in granite. Prusik Peak over Lake Viviane. Up is easier than down, especially at the beginning of a long hike! Positive Elev. The Enchantments as a whole is gorgeous, but there are a few spots that you should especially check out and spend some time at. A lot of people were doing this and it is allowed. The Enchantments are not named as such for naught - they have some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in the country. Once you finish hiking, you can use the vehicle at the end to go back and retrieve the other one. Something we wish we had brought were waterproof pants. Just beyond Aasgard Pass, the area known as the Core Enchantments Zone offers otherworldly views completely different from the forest below. Youll want to make sure you go to the bathroom 200 feet from a water source and that you dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and 4-6 inches in diameter. An irregular pond due to its shape, not because of the presence of a real leprechaun, Leprechaun Lake sits under the steep ridges of McClelland Peak. And she got permits! To visit the Enchantments, you can either thru-hike the entire distance as one long day hike, or you can backpack and complete the hike over the course of multiple days and nights. 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. Through-hiking the Enchantments in one day will challenge and reward you, but it's not for everyone. However, since these are averages it is best to be prepared for a wide range of temperatures during your trip. Were glad this helps! The trail crosses over a wooden bridge at this point, marking the end of the Enchantment Lakes basin. Bear CanisterWhile we did not see any bears during our trip, we always pack a bear canister when in the wilderness to safely store our food. Try this 20.5-mile point-to-point trail near Leavenworth, Washington. Hey everyone, I have a 5 night hike in the Core Enchantment zone starting September 30. Here is a rundown of the mileage for different portions of the hike, directly from the Forest Service. Read More. We camped probably 1 mile from where you start the hike to the Core from the Snow Lakes area. 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. Arrive by 7:30 AM to enter the walk-up lottery. When is the best season to go? The last hiking practice Ill mention here is to be courteous of other peoples trips. We coordinated with two friends (Yvonne and Jeffrey) on the dates we wanted, zones we wanted to apply for, and other logistics. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello there! Once here, depending on your schedule, you may want to camp overnight. As you head down from Isolation and Tranquil Lakes, the terrain changes from the smooth granite rocks to alpine meadows. If you are looking for an epic day hike, check out our Colchuck Lake trail guide for all the info you need! 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. You may also be able to snag a spot later in the evening when day hikers are leaving. If youre hiking the Enchantments by yourself or dont have two vehicles, there are other options. When you are being approached by faster hikers from behind, it is also courtesy to let them pass. Permits are required for day and overnight use in this area. Even if you do, you cannot take a 2 year old up Asgard Pass. Will travel for tacos, BBQ, & ice cream And after you eat dinner, make sure to go grab some ice cream from Whistlepunk! 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. Since the Enchantments hike is a point to point trail, its necessary to consider transportation logistics. We were so thankful we brought layers as we froze during the hike. See our topo map of the route. Toughest thing I have done. 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. Talisman Lake Top 10 Hiking 100 Classic Hikes: Washington, 3rd Ed. Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) Comment below if you have questions about hiking the Enchantments in Washington state and well do our best to get back to you! 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. We spent hours doing this one day and it saved us from being bored as we were cooped up in our tent! Near the Bavarian town of Leavenworth (but hidden from sight), The Enchantments loom. 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. There are so many spots youll want to sit and relish the view! These permits can be difficult to secure, as most of them are drawn on a lottery. The parking lots have very limited parking even with these designated spots, so it is a good idea to arrive as early as possible. Whenever you decide to continue on, be prepared for continuation of the rocky trail. I read a review that said it was really steep. Day and overnight visitors need to check the weather and be prepared for all weather types throughout the season. 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. The way I prepared for the Enchantments was to hike twice a week for about two months. 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. This 24 mile, 6,200 elevation gain permit only hike leads to the tallest mountain in the contiguous US. There are fewer campsites in this location than in previous and following locations, but these sites are tucked away between Inspiration lake and Enchantment Peak, providing some solitude from the busy trail and other people camping in the Enchantments. 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. and permits are also a little easier to come by. Its not at all uncommon for other hikers to help with shuttling! 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