), 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. The trail is steep and rocky, resembling your climb up Aasgard Pass. Hi Kym! Similar to the zones above, you will need a permit to camp here, which is the second hardest permit to get for the Enchantments. The sights are spectacular, with views of surrounding peaks and Colchuck Lake dwarfed into a gleaming blue jewel far below. Mileage: 20ish, 4600 Elevation gain/ 6000 elevation loss. Additionally, this is where you'll get to do some off-trail excursions. We only recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! But similar to Eightmile/Caroline, this permit is much easier to get! Near the Bavarian town of Leavenworth (but hidden from sight), The Enchantments loom. You can also find information on AllTrails (Colchuck Lake, the Enchantments). Through-hiking the Enchantments in one day will challenge and reward you, but it's not for everyone. 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. Once we reached the top of the pass, however, it was all worthwhile! 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 Snow Lake trailhead is near a large parking lot next to the creek. If you choose to climb up Aasgard Pass, as recommended in this guide, you will be carrying a full overnight pack with the food up 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than a mile. 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 arrived at Stuart/Colchuck at 7 AM and got the last overnight permit spot and there were lots of day hikers that were struggling to park. Ensure you know the correct routes and have the gear to keep you safe. The main reason to day-hike the Enchantments is that doing so means you dont need a hard-to-get camping permit. Wander around the Core a bitDay 3: Spend all day exploring the Core. This is a steep, bumpy, potholed dirt road (I take my RV down many dirt roads but I wouldn't drive it on this). When: Do it between late July and early September. 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. Last year, I did the hike up to the summit of Mt. Drop one off at the hikes endpoint, then drive everyone to the starting point. En route, youll spot the craggy peaks of the Enchantments without a thigh-burning climb. Plan your hike for mid-July to mid-September, and check both trip reports and weather forecasts before getting started. Soon, the forest reappears and its a foot-battering descent down to the Snow Lake trailhead. Very brutal.. Check out our 37 favorite hikes in Washington! This website contains affiliate links from websites such as Amazon.com, Booking.com, and Rentalcars.com. We have a 22 B+ van. Once you finish hiking, you can use the vehicle at the end to go back and retrieve the other one. Christie is Yvonnes friend, who I had met before, and happened to enter the lottery the day before it closed. This area is called Aasgard Pass, and it's a lung-straining 2,000-ft climb in just under a mile. The summer temperatures drop (it occasionally reaches a scorching 100 degrees in July and August!) With a daypack, the scrambling isnt too bad (I hate rock scrambling and didnt cry! If you do not get a permit through the lottery, there is still hope! But we couldnt miss the opportunity to go, so we committed to the permits and figured we would make it all work. If you use the links provided and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. . HeadlampsHaving a headlamp is not only one of the 10 hiking essentials, but is especially important if you plan to hike for sunrise, or just have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Another good spot to check out is Yodelin. As an Airbnb Associate, we may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. 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. Almost immediately beyond the lake, the trail becomes littered with large boulders and scree, making a bit of route-finding a sudden necessity. Colchuck Lake: Stuart Lake Trailhead to first view of the lake4.2 miles (one way)2,200 ft elevation gain. - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! Some route-finding is also necessary, as the hike becomes more of a boulder scramble with hands and feet required for balance. 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. The permits for the Enchantments area are divided into zones. The summer temperatures drop (it occasionally reaches a scorching 100 degrees in July and August!) This is the route we did. Ive done this as a thru hike, ending at snow lake TH, taking about 14hrs total. However, its worth the effort! Day 4: Hike out through Colchuck. ), most of the high alpine terrain is still covered in snow and the lakes are frozen. This makes travel more difficult and the views an endless sea of white (which is beautiful, just more difficult to hike). Permits. Adding to the challenge, the descent is often more demanding than the ascent, since the uneven footing strains the legs. To be on the safe side, plan your hike for mid-July to late-September. Hiker from Olympia The trail The Enchantments trail consists of the Stuart Lake Trail, Colchuck Lake Trail and Snow Lakes Trail. We hope you snag a permit! While its entirely possible to hike the trail in a single day (remember, weve done it! But dont worry, if you dont get one, a day hike is still super worth it! Located in Central Washington near the small town of Leavenworth, this piece of the Cascade Mountain range is as spectacular as the name implies. While taking pictures and enjoying the company, you will need to keep your distance to keep yourself and the animals safe. But the wait, stress, and uncertainty of getting to access this area is worth it!Note: Dogs are not allowed in the Enchantments. "I can see why it's called the Enchantments. But on March 20, we got the disappointing news that we did not get permits. Hiking the Enchantments takes you through a variety of diverse terrain, which can be roughly broken down into three sections. After entering the permit lottery in 2018 and failing to get permits, we didnt feel too confident going into the 2019 lottery. See some of our recommended stops below! However, dont count on this as a guarantee it is far better to try to secure an Enchantments permit in advance. 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. 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. ), but with backpacking packs on, it can be pretty brutal at times. When you are being approached by faster hikers from behind, it is also courtesy to let them pass. This is where we parked our van because we thought we would exit the trail this way. This is actually the highest elevation point on the entire trail, so from here, the rest of the hike is mostly downhill. The Enchantments as a whole is gorgeous, but there are a few spots that you should especially check out and spend some time at. Were talking beautiful wilderness full of clear alpine lakes, granite rocks, and vistas of sharp peaks. Although its rare for them to be aggressive, weve heard of instances where mother goats have attacked hikers trying to protect their kids. One of the most scenic hikes in the region, this hike passes several waterfalls and glacial lakes before climbing to Snow Lake. 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. With the added weight of a pack, some training or backpacking experience is highly recommended before attempting to hike the Enchantments. Its a bit of a pain to carry, but worth it to avoid any mishaps with wildlife. 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! From the Stuart Lake Trailhead, the trail heads first towards Colchuck Lake a 4-mile hike from the trailhead. 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! 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. Arrive by 7:30 AM to enter the walk-up lottery. Note: in 2019 they reduced the number of permits due to wildfire damage. At this time, applicants must choose an exit date and provide payment for the permits. Second, waste management in the Enchantments is difficult since the area receives a high amount of use. 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. Nearly devoid of vegetation, the landscape has been molded by ancient glacial activity, with countless sparkling blue lakes dotting the dramatic rock formations. Thankfully Christie applied and was able to bring us along! It would be reasonable to plan up to 12 hours plus drive time if you want to take. Prusik Peak over Lake Viviane. The best time to go hiking in the Enchantments is mid-July through early October. Stuart: The Stuart zone is named after Lake Stuart, which is a 9 mile round trip hike. The route is described below beginning at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. These permits can be difficult to secure, as most of them are drawn on a lottery. Hi yall! Hiking with music can be fun but it is good practice to use headphones so that other hikers dont have to listen to it. Regardless of the weather you will need to be prepared for fluctuating temperatures and potential storms. Those on the shorter end trail run a portion of the trail. However, camping and hiking in the Enchantments is well worth all the effort! From Lake Viviane, the trail descends steeply down towards the Snow Lakes. Some random moments from our two weeks in Mrida! 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! Camping spots are limited, but when possible, put your tent up away from other tents to give other campers privacy. It is one of our favorite Washington memories and we cannot wait to experience it again someday! A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. The Enchantments live up to the hype and dazzle hikers willing to overcome the elevation gain needed to visit this high alpine paradise. With over 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than a single mile in distance, the climb challenges both stamina and determination. Your email address will not be published. 14 days ago. After getting b, Our beautiful home in Mrida! 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. 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. Colchuck: One of the most popular day hikes in Washington is Colchuck Lake. Now the hard part: getting a permit. The Enchantments don't come easy. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. As you descend, you will reach Snow Lakes and Nada Lake, both with a variety of campgrounds for the weary hiker. Looking up from Leprechaun Lake. Widely regarded as the crown jewel of hiking in Washington, this trail exceeds even the wildest of superlatives. THE ENCHANTMENTS TRAIL BREAKDOWN. If you are cooking in the alpine, research proper techniques for cleaning pots and pans. places in Washington and in this guide were sharing all of our tips for hiking the Enchantments, including how to get permits, what to pack, different route options, and things to know before you go!This past September we got to knock off an item from our bucket list: hiking the Enchantments in Washington! The trail crosses over a wooden bridge at this point, marking the end of the Enchantment Lakes basin. We couldnt get enough of this section, and highly recommend it as the best for camping! The miles of steep, rocky terrain are relentless and because youre at high elevation, you often have to combat Mother Nature, too. External chargerThis is a must for a multi-day backpacking trip! Hikers use two trails to approach the Enchantments Basin. And our favorite way to celebrate? The odds are even lower if youre applying for a permit in July or August. We would love to do this hike again in the future, however, we think we would do it a bit differently. Heres a quick rundown of each one! 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. To avoid these food thieves when camping or hiking through, youll want to keep your food in an animal-proof container. Spread out over a few days, its incredibly rewarding, with once-in-a-lifetime views and experience to match your efforts. The hope for most is that dry sunny weather will coincide with whatever dates the luck of the draw has bestowed on them. 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. 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. We hope to inform, inspire, and empower you to get outside and see this world, while doing your part to respect and protect the lands beneath your feet. 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. My dad. a little bit of snow on the trail even in early September Unlike grizzlies, black bears are rarely aggressive, but its still best to take precautions. Permits and permit information is available on the Recreation.gov Portal. 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. In October, unpredictable snowstorms start to roll into the higher elevations, making the trail dangerous. The Enchantments are an absolutely amazing alpine wonderland located in central Washington state. 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