), only experienced and fit hikers who are very confident in their abilities should attempt it. Some random moments from our two weeks in Mrida! 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. Once applications are drawn, there is a few-week period where successful applicants must accept their permit. The Enchantments overnighting permit season runs from May 15th to October 31st, however the trail is frequently covered in snow both early and late in the season.To be on the safe side, plan your hike for mid-July to late-September. Your email address will not be published. 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. Drop one off at the hikes endpoint, then drive everyone to the starting point. The permits for the Enchantments area are divided into zones. As you descend, you will reach Snow Lakes and Nada Lake, both with a variety of campgrounds for the weary hiker. Second, waste management in the Enchantments is difficult since the area receives a high amount of use. Although this is difficult, many people prefer this option to hiking the other direction, which involves a much longer strenuous uphill section of trail. Mileage: 20ish, 4600 Elevation gain/ 6000 elevation loss. While its entirely possible to hike the trail in a single day (remember, weve done it! From the Stuart Lake Trailhead, the trail heads first towards Colchuck Lake a 4-mile hike from the trailhead. Will travel for tacos, BBQ, & ice cream Clothing itemsLayers are a great idea any time of the year while hiking the Enchantments. And it's tough getting there. living on the road in our. The mountain goats in particular are habituated to visitors. I did this as a thru hike in September, the trail was harder than I anticipated. However, since these are averages it is best to be prepared for a wide range of temperatures during your trip. Through-hiking the Enchantments in one day will challenge and reward you, but it's not for everyone. 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. I started out building the ability to walk 5-7 miles without flagging, then practiced climbing up steep hills. Its a good idea to pack bear spray just to be safe. We day hiked the 8 miles round trip to Colchuck a couple summers ago and despite running out of water (rookie mistake), it is still one of our favorite hikes in all of Washington! Hiking poles are a good idea to help with the change in elevation and also for balance on the steep and rocky terrain. Comment below if you have questions about hiking the Enchantments in Washington state and well do our best to get back to you! You cant go wrong with overnighting at any of the five lakes; theyre all stunning! In this video, we provide a complete day hiking guide so you can complete the. 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. But where do you start? But on March 20, we got the disappointing news that we did not get permits. Christie is Yvonnes friend, who I had met before, and happened to enter the lottery the day before it closed. Continue reading. : 7982 ft. Max Elev. Enchantments Backpacking Trip. 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. : 1312 ft. the enchantments hiking washington day hike When is the best season to go? The map below shows the area that make up the Enchantments. A rainy day at Rune Lake (Perfection Lake) in September. They headed up to Lake Stewart and up to Asgard Pass. 4.73 out of 5. 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. Unfortunately, weve missed out on all our other attempts at the lottery (some locals joke that the lottery is their annual donation). While taking pictures and enjoying the company, you will need to keep your distance to keep yourself and the animals safe. 1. We have a leisurely morning, then set out on a meandering dayhike up through the snow into the Upper Core. 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. You may also be able to snag a spot later in the evening when day hikers are leaving. Wander around the Core a bitDay 3: Spend all day exploring the Core. 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. However, you obviously cant rely on or plan around hitch-hiking and not everyone is comfortable with it. The best time to go hiking in the Enchantments is mid-July through early October. Drive 4 miles past the Snow Lakes parking lot until you reach FS Road 7601. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Policy, 2021 Adventures of A+K. The hike is a mixture of a regular dirt trail and rock scrambling. Most hikers start from Stuart Lake, and we recommend this direction as well. The Stuart/Colchuck Lake trailhead is down a VERY rough forested road. 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. Water filterWhile we have a pretty large Camelbak bladder to store water, it wasnt enough water for a three day hike. Day-to-day, the weather can be unpredictable. Hiking in North Cascades National Park in Washington. Where did yall set up your tent and take that photo from the inside looking out??? 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. Ever since moving to Washington and learning about this beautiful region, we had our sights set on backpacking there. As you proceed down the trail, the next and final lake of the Enchantments is Lake Viviane. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness named "The Enchantments" draws explorers from all over the world. Then, youd likely get a long rambling list of epic places weve been or those were itching to visit. If you do not get a permit during the permit window, or happen to be visiting outside of that window, there is a small chance you can hike in the area during other times of the year, but you will likely encounter a lot of snow. The zone is named after Snow Lake, the final lake before you climb up into the Core zone. 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). 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. 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. We bought a new water filter for the trip and the water filtered super fastit was amazing! Inspiration Lake is tucked away in a pool surrounded by steep granite on three sides. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. ), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. There are five permit zones: Core Enchantment, Snow Lake, Colchuck Lake, Stuart Lake, and the Eightmile/Caroline zone. 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. ), most of the high alpine terrain is still covered in snow and the lakes are frozen. For most hikers, this is the hardest day hike they've ever done. The descent from here is long and tedious, and the large decline in elevation challenges most hikers. YouTube, Travel Guides, Gear, & FAQs. Over the years, the hike has become increasingly popular, making winning a permit in the lottery almost like winning the actual lottery. Weve done multi-day hikes in the area (after obtaining the illustrious Enchantments Wilderness Permit), and weve also thru-hiked this 19-mile trail in one day. The median time is 10 to 12 hours. Were talking beautiful wilderness full of clear alpine lakes, granite rocks, and vistas of sharp peaks. This day-hike only shares a couple of miles of the Enchantments Trail, bypassing most of the crowds for solitude in a stunning valley. 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. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The trail down to Inspiration Lake is steep the first taste of the downhill you will encounter on the remaining trail. Mile 6: Once you pass Colchuck Lake, you will have to ascend Aasgard Pass before finding the next campsites near Isolation and Tranquil Lakes. Since the Enchantments trail is at a higher elevation, the temperature will generally be cooler than in town. Explore the most popular trails in my list Enchantments Hiking with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Hiking the Enchantments is one of the most memorable PNW experiences. Plus, Stuart Lake is a couple thousand feet higher than Snow Lakes, so your total elevation gain is lower! See our topo map of the route. 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. Overview of the Enchantments Hike These statistics are for the thru-hike from Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead to the Snow Lakes Trailhead. 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. The Enchantments is a region in Washington, just 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, a super cute Bavarian village 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. I've been trying to prep by putting some weights in my backpack and hiking up and down the hills by my house. water is almost as impressive as the backdrop: the jagged and dramatic Dragontail peak. They only give out one permit per zone per day, with up to 8 people per permit. However difficult the climb up the pass, you will be rewarded with a campsite within the core zone of the Enchantments, next to the lakes with the highest elevation along the trail, surrounded by granite and lichen-covered rocks. In addition to physical preparation, an understanding of wilderness travel and first aid will greatly improve your trip if anything goes wrong. Located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of Washington state, this is a wonderland of alpine lakes, jagged mountains, and waterfalls. Website built with love byDreamworthy Design. 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. 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. How late can you hike the Enchantments? Elev. Adam, Kathryn, & Kona Having said that, dont let the challenge dissuade you! That is awesome! However, dont count on this as a guarantee it is far better to try to secure an Enchantments permit in advance. Perfection Lake is another clear, shallow alpine lake, perhaps more beautiful than the previous ones (hence its name, perhaps!). This is a helpful article as I plan my permit asks and hopeful my hike. This makes travel more difficult and the views an endless sea of white (which is beautiful, just more difficult to hike). Even if you dont see other hikers, there are probably other people who can hear your music. If you have more time, you wont get bored spending more time in this beautiful area! Everything you bring in needs to be taken out this includes trash, fruit peels, etc. 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. In the winter, the Enchantments is buried in deep snowpack and is inaccessible to anyone without serious mountaineering experience. With your permit you will receive special parking permits for each of the trailhead, allowing you to park in designated spots for permitees. We had to go about 3 mph in the van (not joking lol! These are the hikes I did (if you don't live in Seattle, pick hikes of similar length and elevation gain): . If you get lucky, you have until March 31 to accept your permit, otherwise those do become available to the public. The below table is the monthly average temperatures for Leavenworth. Just beyond Aasgard Pass, the area known as the Core Enchantments Zone offers otherworldly views completely different from the forest below. How long does it take to hike the Enchantments trail? Here's her trip in photos. However, camping and hiking in the Enchantments is well worth all the effort! Once you reach Colchuck Lake, the trail proceeds around the edge of the lake, passing by the campsites until it crosses the boulder field on the other side of the lake and then begins the steep passage up Aasgard Pass. Its also nice to see how far you have to your next stop . 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!). Before setting out on this trip, make sure you are physically ready for a strenuous hike through the wilderness! We camped probably 1 mile from where you start the hike to the Core from the Snow Lakes area. 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! Our first time, we were lucky enough to score camping permits and spend a few amazing days in this slice of paradise. Its not scary, but you will need to go slow. This is what we planned to do, but Mother Nature had other ideas. 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. 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 . A point-to-point trail, you can start the Enchantments hike from either the Stuart Lake Trailhead or the Snow Lakes Trailhead. The Enchantments as a whole is gorgeous, but there are a few spots that you should especially check out and spend some time at. By mid-morning in late February 1964, four snowshoers began traveling up the Ingalls Creek trail, heading for a campsite where Crystal Creek meets the main drainage of Ingalls Creek, seven miles up valley. This 24 mile, 6,200 elevation gain permit only hike leads to the tallest mountain in the contiguous US. 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. 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. It would be reasonable to plan up to 12 hours plus drive time if you want to take. Even if you do, you cannot take a 2 year old up Asgard Pass. 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! No clue if this is beneficial but it does feel like it's getting easier. 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. The hope for most is that dry sunny weather will coincide with whatever dates the luck of the draw has bestowed on them. The best strategy is to keep your distance as much as possible. But once you get up Aasgard, you have an alpine lake filled playground to call home for the night. 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. 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! Here, just east of Leavenworth in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and reachable only on foot, are the Enchantments. 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. My favorite waterfall's still in its winter coat. Although many are also strenuous, they still make fantastic hikes into this stunning part of the Cascades! To enter the permit lottery, you will first need to apply during the annual permit lottery (exact dates vary by year). Sounds like you know what you're doing - it will be an adventure. There are five total regions: Eightmile/Caroline, Stuart, Colchuck, Core, and Snow. Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) Jun 24, 2014 at 7:44 am #1318302. At one end, the hike begins at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. PS: the trailheads all have bathrooms! Can you drive to the enchantments? Overview of the Enchantments Hike Length of Time: 8 to 15 hours. All Rights Reserved. As an Amazon Associate, Small Town Washington earns from qualifying purchases. Mountain goats are the most prevalent wildlife youll encounter. We couldnt get enough of this section, and highly recommend it as the best for camping! . When the landscape is snow-covered, the lakes may be frozen and not distinguishable from the rest of the landscape. 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. Day and overnight visitors need to check the weather and be prepared for all weather types throughout the season. Because of the popularity of the area, backpacking permits to camp in the core Enchantments area are required May 15-October 31st, and they are in high demand -- I've applied three years in a row without any luck. The setting is picture-perfect; however, hiking here in just one day from Stuart Lake is challenging. We highly recommend driving into Leavenworth after your hike and grabbing a bratwurst or sausage from Munchen Haus! 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. Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! Although it may look too formidable to even attempt, the beautiful craggy peak behind Colchuck Lake is where the Enchantments hike continues. Pre- Enchantments: A lot went into this 4 day/3 night backpacking trip. Directions To Stuart Lake Trailhead: Drive the US2 west out of Leavenworth. However, there is no easy way to get there. 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. Once we reached the top of the pass, however, it was all worthwhile! 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. The abundance of granite-carved lakes in the Enchantments makes the area a wonderful spot to explore at a leisurely pace. You can also choose an alternate leader. 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. This can be a good place to plan for a night of rest if downhill hiking presents difficulty. Depending on your fitness and availability, the time for hiking the Enchantments trail varies. Mile 7: The next campsites are located just below the Upper Enchantment Lakes just before the trail descends down the ridge. Best 2-Person Tents for Camping & Backpacking, 17 Best Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, Dispersed Camping: What is It & How to Find Dispersed Campsites, 25 Hiking Lunch Ideas to Keep You Fed on the Trail, Cracker Lake Trail Guide for Glacier National Park, Tips for Eco Camping: A Guide for the Environmentally Conscious Camper, navigation: physical map, phone* with offline maps downloaded (or both), layers (here is a great resource if youre wondering, sun protection: sunscreen, hat, sun glasses, water bottles and bladder for your Camelbak, way to purify your water (we used our Grayl water bottles on this trail and they were fantastic! Five total regions: Eightmile/Caroline, Stuart, Colchuck, Core, and vistas sharp... Overview of the Enchantments hike continues Enchantments area are divided into zones ( Lake... 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