As you proceed down the trail, the next and final lake of the Enchantments is Lake Viviane. The views are dramatic, but they come at a price, as the trail is a near-constant climb through rocks and forest. The hike is a mixture of a regular dirt trail and rock scrambling. However, obtaining wilderness permits has become increasingly competitive in recent years, which throws in another logistical obstacle. While Aasgard Pass terrifies us, we want to experience it once in our lifetime and wed rather do it without the heavy packs. Those on the shorter end trail run a portion of the trail. We bought a new water filter for the trip and the water filtered super fastit was amazing! Not in June. The best season to hike to the lakes is summer and early fall, namely late July/August to September/early October. Most people prefer to backpack in the Enchantments during the summer months, to enjoy the clear blue lakes and granite rocks. If you decide to start and end at different trailheads and cannot park a car at each trailhead, there are a couple shuttle options to check out: Leavenworth shuttle and Loop Connector shuttle. Were talking beautiful wilderness full of clear alpine lakes, granite rocks, and vistas of sharp peaks. Most see this coveted area by day hiking to some of the closer lakes (Colchuck Lake is popular), but to really experience the core of the Enchantments, an elusive overnight permit is required. The maximum group size is 8 people. Note: We did not visit all of these spots due to timing, but we wanted to! And to watch our experience, check out our vlog below! Check out our the enchantments hiking selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Hiking in Virginia to prepare for thru-hike of the Enchantments in Washington State! This is the most ideal route, with a coveted permit for the Core Zone, Day 1: Hike to Colchuck Lake and set up campDay 2: Hike up Aasgard Pass and find a good camping spot in the Core. 15 Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park, 11 Best Waterfalls in Washington State + Hikes to Find Them, How to Get From Seattle to Bainbridge Island (By Ferry or Road Trip! Day 1: Hike to Colchuck Lake and set up campDay 2: Hike up Aasgard Pass and find a good camping spot in the Core. We are big fans of Wild Zora backpacking meals, especially the beef ones, as they are super natural and healthy. If you spend any time in Washington, it won't take long to hear about the Enchantments. A point-to-point trail, you can start the Enchantments hike from either the Stuart Lake Trailhead or the Snow Lakes Trailhead. Second, waste management in the Enchantments is difficult since the area receives a high amount of use. However, camping and hiking in the Enchantments is well worth all the effort! The elevation gain and loss are large, meaning that you will be working hard at most points during your hike. Permits are required for day and overnight use in this area. You may also be able to snag a spot later in the evening when day hikers are leaving. Everything you bring in needs to be taken out this includes trash, fruit peels, etc. Thanks for the ideas! After entering the permit lottery in 2018 and failing to get permits, we didnt feel too confident going into the 2019 lottery. Rating. Then, youd likely get a long rambling list of epic places weve been or those were itching to visit. Pin this blog post to prep for your trip! hiking the Enchantments, WA. Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! 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. 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. Located in Central Washington near the small town of Leavenworth, this piece of the Cascade Mountain range is as spectacular as the name implies. Thankfully Christie applied and was able to bring us along! However, the Forest Service warns that hiking or camping on snow is highly likely during May, June, late September and October, so keep that in mind when planning your trip. The Enchantments is a slice of hiking paradise. Sounds like you know what you're doing - it will be an adventure. I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete it. Elev. 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. 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. And any other tips on some good campsites? Camping spots are limited, but when possible, put your tent up away from other tents to give other campers privacy. 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. External chargerThis is a must for a multi-day backpacking trip! 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. Can you drive to the enchantments? See some of our recommended stops below! 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. If you have more time, you wont get bored spending more time in this beautiful area! The Enchantments are an absolutely amazing alpine wonderland located in central Washington state. 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. The trail continues to be rocky and steep and several sections require scrambling using both hands and feet. : 1312 ft. the enchantments hiking washington day hike 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. I started out building the ability to walk 5-7 miles without flagging, then practiced climbing up steep hills. Almost immediately beyond the lake, the trail becomes littered with large boulders and scree, making a bit of route-finding a sudden necessity. The permits for the Enchantments area are divided into zones. Most backpackers choose to visit during this window. However, since these are averages it is best to be prepared for a wide range of temperatures during your trip. 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. 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. 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. There is little if any cell service available on this trail, and emergency help is far away. The peaks look like a child drew them; all fairy tale jags and triangles." You cant go wrong with overnighting at any of the five lakes; theyre all stunning! While taking pictures and enjoying the company, you will need to keep your distance to keep yourself and the animals safe. We camped probably 1 mile from where you start the hike to the Core from the Snow Lakes area. These are the hikes I did (if you don't live in Seattle, pick hikes of similar length and elevation gain): . Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) For most hikers, this is the hardest day hike they've ever done. Your email address will not be published. Through-hiking the Enchantments in one day will challenge and reward you, but it's not for everyone. Once we reached the top of the pass, however, it was all worthwhile! We hope you snag a permit! To day hike in the Enchantments, only a NW Forest Pass is needed. This is the last Enchantments campsite location on the way out to the end of the trail. February 1, 2022. Sign up to get travel updates, guides, vlogs, and other resources delivered straight to your inbox once a month! To preserve the experience of other hikers and the wilderness character of the trail, it is important to follow common hiking etiquettes. Mile 11: The shores of the Snow Lakes are the last large group of campsites. : 5814 ft. In late spring to early summer, the Enchantments core basin is still snow-covered. Matthew H. BPL Member. 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. Overview of the Enchantments Hike These statistics are for the thru-hike from Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead to the Snow Lakes Trailhead. It should actually called "Asskick Pass". Adam, Kathryn, & Kona 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. With a daypack, the scrambling isnt too bad (I hate rock scrambling and didnt cry! Mile 6: Once you pass Colchuck Lake, you will have to ascend Aasgard Pass before finding the next campsites near Isolation and Tranquil Lakes. The abundance of granite-carved lakes in the Enchantments makes the area a wonderful spot to explore at a leisurely pace. 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. You can also find information on AllTrails (Colchuck Lake, the Enchantments). 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. Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) Jun 24, 2014 at 7:44 am #1318302. We got passed by a lot of people haha. The Enchantments are an absolutely amazing alpine wonderland located in central Washington state. The sights are spectacular, with views of surrounding peaks and Colchuck Lake dwarfed into a gleaming blue jewel far below. However, you obviously cant rely on or plan around hitch-hiking and not everyone is comfortable with it. 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. In addition to the lottery permits, a very limited number of permits are reserved for walk-ins available at the Leavenworth Ranger Station. 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. Now the hard part: getting a permit. With FOOD! Even when youre not tackling the pass, its necessary to pay attention to your footing and maintain consistent stamina through the strenuous ups and downs. This is actually the highest elevation point on the entire trail, so from here, the rest of the hike is mostly downhill. Negative Elev. With your permit you will receive special parking permits for each of the trailhead, allowing you to park in designated spots for permitees. Once applications are drawn, there is a few-week period where successful applicants must accept their permit. Tucked away in a particularly rugged area of Washington, just accessing this beautiful environment takes substantial planning. The best times to hike in the Enchantments are lake summer and early fall. Youll pass through dense forests, blankets of wildflowers, and high-elevation mountain passes to reach an otherworldly tree-less environment filled only with ancient rocks molded by wind and water. The smaller creatures in the Enchantments marmots, pikas, marten, squirrels are used to finding human food around backpacks and tents. September 8, 2016. 1. Widely regarded as the crown jewel of hiking in Washington, this trail exceeds even the wildest of superlatives. How late can you hike the Enchantments? But the best partshe got six permits, which meant that Yvonne, Jeffrey, Adam, and myself could all go with her and her boyfriend Jackson! A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. There are two trailheads for the Enchantments: Stuart/Colchuck Lake and Snow Lake. Some particularly adventurous skiers and snowshoers attempt the trail during the winter, but thats only advised for very experienced winter sports enthusiasts. Most hikers start from Stuart Lake, and we recommend this direction as well. Posted on September 5, 2011 September 6, 2011 by Rick Mc. Hi yall! The miles of steep, rocky terrain are relentless and because youre at high elevation, you often have to combat Mother Nature, too. This area is called Aasgard Pass, and it's a lung-straining 2,000-ft climb in just under a mile. 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. Mileage: 20ish, 4600 Elevation gain/ 6000 elevation loss. ), most of the high alpine terrain is still covered in snow and the lakes are frozen. The trail steadily climbs through dense forest, with increasingly picturesque views of the valley below. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness named "The Enchantments" draws explorers from all over the world. Where did yall set up your tent and take that photo from the inside looking out??? 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? 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. In 2018 (still waiting on 2019 numbers), 17,586 people applied for 708 Core permitsgiving them a 4% chance to snag one. This was our base camp from where we would climb the steep Crystal Creek valley and . The trailheads for both are located off Icicle Creek Road. Don't shower for 3 weeks leading up your hike as a human repellent. Read More. Hikers use two trails to approach the Enchantments Basin. 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