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! Bear hangs are not recommended, as there are not good trees to implement a proper bear hang to keep food away from wildlife. The most challenging section of the trail is between Colchuck Lake and the Core Enchantment Zone. En route, youll spot the craggy peaks of the Enchantments without a thigh-burning climb. 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. 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. Permits and permit information is available on the Recreation.gov Portal. Before setting out on this trip, make sure you are physically ready for a strenuous hike through the wilderness! The main path stays to the left of the waterfall but is not immediately next to the left rock cliffs. Negative Elev. If you are cooking in the alpine, research proper techniques for cleaning pots and pans. Sign up to get travel updates, guides, vlogs, and other resources delivered straight to your inbox once a month! Hiking up Aasgard Pass means that the remaining 13 miles of trail are generally downhill. This makes travel more difficult and the views an endless sea of white (which is beautiful, just more difficult to hike). During warm dry summer days in July and August, you will also need to be prepared for hot afternoons. Adventure joined a group of our friends on a trip up to the Enchantments in Washington. See some of our recommended stops below! Wildlife in the area is accustomed to visitors, making it easy to get good pictures of any you spot during your trip. Drop one off at the hikes endpoint, then drive everyone to the starting point. To apply, you will need to choose an entry date, group size, permit zone, assign an alternate group leader, and pay the application fee. But dont worry, if you dont get one, a day hike is still super worth it! It is a great option if you have been to Colchuck Lake before and hate the idea of Aasgard Pass! Through-hiking the Enchantments in one day will challenge and reward you, but it's not for everyone. There are five unique areas amongst the Enchantments zone which covers about 75 square miles. The total hiking time ranges from 8 hours for ultra-fast trail runners to about 15 for reasonably fit hikers going at a steady pace. We had to go about 3 mph in the van (not joking lol! For most hikers, this is the hardest day hike they've ever done. Almost immediately beyond the lake, the trail becomes littered with large boulders and scree, making a bit of route-finding a sudden necessity. Top 10 Hiking 100 Classic Hikes: Washington, 3rd Ed. After entering the permit lottery in 2018 and failing to get permits, we didnt feel too confident going into the 2019 lottery. Check out our the enchantments hiking selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. The weather can change quickly during your multi-day trip from the original forecast. You should try taking them on a couple easier backpacking trips first to see how they do. One thing thats good to know is that we saw a lot of different mileage reports for this hike. In either direction, the trail is stunning, offering views across the Cascades and passing by numerous bright-blue glacial lakes and chiseled mountain peaks. To day hike in the Enchantments, only a NW Forest Pass is needed. 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. 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. The setting is absolutely beautiful, but camping here leaves the bulk of the hike, including Aasgard Pass, for the next day. The hike is a mixture of a regular dirt trail and rock scrambling. Website built with love byDreamworthy Design. 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. This is actually the highest elevation point on the entire trail, so from here, the rest of the hike is mostly downhill. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello there! 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. Youll share the first part of the trail into the Enchantments with many fellow hikers since its one of the best (and closest!) It should actually called "Asskick Pass". Yay, congrats! If you use the links provided and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. October 11, 2021. Permits: The Enchantments live up to the hype and dazzle hikers willing to overcome the elevation gain needed to visit this high alpine paradise. Your email address will not be published. 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. They also make some amazing meat and veggie bars. We lived in Leavenworth for a while, and have been lucky enough to hike in the Enchantments a few times, and each experience has been pretty different. $21.95 Day Hiking Central Cascades by Craig Romano . In this guide, well share how to best experience hiking the Enchantments, whether on a day trip or as a multi-day camping experience. Although its rare for them to be aggressive, weve heard of instances where mother goats have attacked hikers trying to protect their kids. 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! Enter: Christie, our Enchantments savior. 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. Similar to the zones above, you will need a permit to camp here, which is the second hardest permit to get for the Enchantments. In this video, we provide a complete day hiking guide so you can complete the. 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. Although bears are not commonly sighted, they are present in the area and may also try to get into food. In early September, Mrs. Note: We did not visit all of these spots due to timing, but we wanted to! Hi yall! 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. Day 4: Hike out through Snow Lake. The Snow Lake trailhead is off of Icicle Creek Road and has a decent parking lot. For a challenging side adventure, there is a trail that branches off near Perfection Lake and heads up Prusik Pass. We have a 22 B+ van. Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. Read More. 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. Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! While taking pictures and enjoying the company, you will need to keep your distance to keep yourself and the animals safe. Additionally, this is where you'll get to do some off-trail excursions. Check out our 37 favorite hikes in Washington! Overview of the Enchantments Hike These statistics are for the thru-hike from Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead to the Snow Lakes Trailhead. Near the Bavarian town of Leavenworth (but hidden from sight), The Enchantments loom. Required fields are marked *. We recommend this RAVPower Charger, which has two charging ports! It is mostly just super bumpy, rocky, and steep. Bring rain entertainmentOne of the best things we did was download Netflix and books in case it rained. 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. ), 6 Great Places to Celebrate Christmas in Washington, 21 World-Class Weekend Getaways in Washington State, Microspikes & gaiters, if hiking when there might be snow. Best Time to Hike the Enchantments The start of the Core Enchantment Zone As the permit window would suggest, the best time to hike the Enchantments is June - October. We managed to score a 5 day permit in the snow zone for Aug 30-Sept 3. Where did yall set up your tent and take that photo from the inside looking out??? Day and overnight visitors need to check the weather and be prepared for all weather types throughout the season. 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. Talk about timing! ), most of the high alpine terrain is still covered in snow and the lakes are frozen. Tucked away in a particularly rugged area of Washington, just accessing this beautiful environment takes substantial planning. Hiker from Olympia The trail The Enchantments trail consists of the Stuart Lake Trail, Colchuck Lake Trail and Snow Lakes Trail. 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. Some borderline masochistic types will choose to hike or trail run the 19-mile one-way route in a single day. These sites are perfect if you have two nights on the trail or if you get a late start the first day. 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. Hiking the Enchantments means your jaw will drop at every turn. A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. Arrive by 7:30 AM to enter the walk-up lottery. See some of our recommended stops below! The first campsites are at Lake Colchuck, about four miles into the hike. 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! What awaits visitors: -Nearby Bavarian-styled village -High alpine lakes carved in granite -Curious mountain goats and their kids -Dramatic peaks -Golden larches come fall Redwood National Park California. Although it may look too formidable to even attempt, the beautiful craggy peak behind Colchuck Lake is where the Enchantments hike continues. Please dont bury TP; pack it in, pack it out. 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. Mile 4: There are many campsites at Colchuck Lake around mile 4 from the trailhead. Our friends all brought Mountain House meals and loved theirs too! 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. The weather in the mountains can change quickly, so always bring a rainjacket just in case! ), but we made it down the road in one piece. 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. We were so thankful we brought layers as we froze during the hike. The Core Enchantments area is accessible by two different trailheads: Stuart / Colchuk Lake and Snow Lakes Trailheads. Good mealsAfter a long day of hiking, there is nothing better than a hot meal. 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. Mile 8: Just below Inspiration Lake is another group of campsites. The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) But the best partshe got six permits, which meant that Yvonne, Jeffrey, Adam, and myself could all go with her and her boyfriend Jackson! 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! 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. You can also find information on AllTrails (Colchuck Lake, the Enchantments). This way, youll knock out most of the elevation gain in the first quarter of the hike. Most people prefer to backpack in the Enchantments during the summer months, to enjoy the clear blue lakes and granite rocks. You are likely to encounter snow in the Enchantments area between mid-October through mid-July, and during this time period you will want to pack microspikes for travelling on potentially slippery snow, especially when traveling on the steeper sections of the trail. Note: this guide contains affiliate links, which means that if you use the links provided and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. These campsites are located after the beginning of the steepest descent on the trail, a great Enchantments camping location to rest your knees for the continued descent during the next day. The median time is 10 to 12 hours. 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! 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. living on the road in our. 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. On the AllTrails map, I believe it was around the 14.9 mile mark (close to the restroom) https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/washington/the-enchantments-trail?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map&ref=sidebar-view-full-map. 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?)! You will want to make sure you have cars at both trailheads (see The Trailheads section below). The Enchantments is a classic Washington hike. When the landscape is snow-covered, the lakes may be frozen and not distinguishable from the rest of the landscape. Regardless of the weather you will need to be prepared for fluctuating temperatures and potential storms. 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. The trail steadily climbs through dense forest, with increasingly picturesque views of the valley below. And to watch our experience, check out our vlog below! 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. Many avoid the Permit hassle doing the Enchantments as a long day hike. YouTube, Travel Guides, Gear, & FAQs. We bought a new water filter for the trip and the water filtered super fastit was amazing! Day 1: Hike to Colchuck Lake and set up campDay 2: Hike up Aasgard Pass and find a good camping spot in the Core. 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