October 11, 2021. *If you choose to us your phone for navigation, be sure to bring a reliable battery pack to charge your phone. Although this is difficult, many people prefer this option to hiking the other direction, which involves a much longer strenuous uphill section of trail. We would love to do this hike again in the future, however, we think we would do it a bit differently. Many consider it one of the most beautiful areas of the state. Its not at all uncommon for other hikers to help with shuttling! 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. 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. The environment here has turned from granite rocks to alpine marsh and meadow, full of grass and heather. 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. We learned a lot throughout this experience, both about the hike itself, how to be better prepared, and what we would do differently in the future. The trail continues to be rocky and steep and several sections require scrambling using both hands and feet. Another good spot to check out is Yodelin. 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! Directions To Stuart Lake Trailhead: Drive the US2 west out of Leavenworth. THE ENCHANTMENTS TRAIL BREAKDOWN. The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) Local groups often provide introductory courses on backpacking and camping, which would be good practice before embarking on an Enchantments trip. Dates: September 2nd- 5th 2016 Location: Leavenworth, Washington. The way I prepared for the Enchantments was to hike twice a week for about two months. https://linktr.ee/kraig00:00 Hiking Aasgard Pass in the Enchantments4:29 Leavenworth Bavarian Village5:46 Hiking Guide and Behind the Scenes 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. Take a left at this intersection, then follow the dirt road for 4 miles until reaching the Stuart Lake trailhead. Redwood National Park in California - (https://youtu.be . Finally, although it sounds funny at first, hitch-hiking is another good option. Enchantments Backpacking Trip. Check out our 37 favorite hikes in Washington! The Enchantments hike is most commonly completed as a one-way thru-hike since the hike is long and the terrain can be difficult. Uphill hikers always have the right-of way, and downhill hikers who see approaching hikers should find a suitable spot to let the uphill hikers pass. This is the recommended starting trailhead to hike through the Enchantments, as you will climb up the steep Aasgard Pass instead of scrambling down the steep trail. Overview. We spent hours doing this one day and it saved us from being bored as we were cooped up in our tent! You can also find information on AllTrails (Colchuck Lake, the Enchantments). Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! To avoid these food thieves when camping or hiking through, youll want to keep your food in an animal-proof container. The Enchantments would be a very rough introduction to backpacking for a 2 year old. They are now prohibiting parking along FS Road 7601 and they have a ranger with a sign telling you if parking is full before you get too far down the road. 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. Overview of the Enchantments Hike These statistics are for the thru-hike from Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead to the Snow Lakes Trailhead. If youre hiking the Enchantments by yourself or dont have two vehicles, there are other options. With shimmering alpine lakes, glaciers, rugged mountain peaks, wildflower-dotted meadows, and the ubiquitous mountain goats, this wilderness area has a pristine, untouched beauty that is getting increasingly difficult to find. Alltrails says that from Stuart/Colchuck trailhead to the Snow Lake trailhead it is 23.6 miles, but we confirmed with a ranger during our hike that it is 19. With the added weight of a pack, some training or backpacking experience is highly recommended before attempting to hike 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. 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! Backpacking The Enchantments The Enchantments is a region in Washington state with a group of pristine alpine lakes that can only be accessed by foot. If you use the links provided and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. In October, unpredictable snowstorms start to roll into the higher elevations, making the trail dangerous. If you are looking for an epic day hike, check out our Colchuck Lake trail guide for all the info you need! Perfect for swimming and relaxing, the lake is accessed via a steady climb, mostly through shady forest. At this time, applicants must choose an exit date and provide payment for the permits. ), but with backpacking packs on, it can be pretty brutal at times. Whitney in CA as a day hike. After you finish your hike, its time to celebrate! There are so many spots youll want to sit and relish the view! Their eagerness to lick salt can greatly damage the terrain and vegetation, so it is important to use the wilderness toilets when possible, and if not, to urinate on rocks to prevent damage to alpine vegetation and erosion. Some route-finding is also necessary, as the hike becomes more of a boulder scramble with hands and feet required for balance. 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). On a journey to Alaska in @brisketthevan You can apply for permits during the second half of February through Recreation.gov, and winners are drawn, lottery-style, in early March. From Lake Viviane, the trail descends steeply down towards the Snow Lakes. Your email address will not be published. With over 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than a single mile in distance, the climb challenges both stamina and determination. The route is described below beginning at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. However, you obviously cant rely on or plan around hitch-hiking and not everyone is comfortable with it. In 2018 (still waiting on 2019 numbers), 17,586 people applied for 708 Core permitsgiving them a 4% chance to snag one. Leave a car here for your return and continue down Icicle Creek Road towards the Stuart Lake Trailhead. . 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. Very brutal.. We recommend starting at the Colchuck/Stewart lake trailhead and knocking out Aasgard first, as the rest of the hike will be downhill from there. - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! 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. In either direction, the trail is stunning, offering views across the Cascades and passing by numerous bright-blue glacial lakes and chiseled mountain peaks. Not in June. Matthew H. BPL Member. Prior experience will help prepare you for the Enchantments hike and make it more fun! The smaller creatures in the Enchantments marmots, pikas, marten, squirrels are used to finding human food around backpacks and tents. Permits are required for day and overnight use in this area. If you are not comfortable rock scrambling, this hike may not be the best fit for you. One awesome thing about this permit is that you can camp in any of the zones, which gives you a lot of flexibility in your trip! If you get lucky, you have until March 31 to accept your permit, otherwise those do become available to the public. Most backpackers choose to visit during this window. The Yucatn Peninsula is the heart of the ancient, The cenotes tour we booked through @airbnbexperien. Its a good idea to pack bear spray just to be safe. This is the most recent attempt to mitigate the parking shortage at the trailheads. Talisman Lake If you are cooking in the alpine, research proper techniques for cleaning pots and pans. Hi yall! Soon, the forest reappears and its a foot-battering descent down to the Snow Lake trailhead. See some of our recommended stops below! 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. To day hike in the Enchantments, only a NW Forest Pass is needed. The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) 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. This trail winds through a beautiful wilderness area that many other hikes enjoy. You cant go wrong with overnighting at any of the five lakes; theyre all stunning! We hope this blog post helped give you some more information to help plan your trip to the Enchantments! 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. Can you drive to the enchantments? While most of the trail isn't very technically challenging, it's brutal in that it's very long and steep. However, there is no easy way to get there. Many avoid the Permit hassle doing the Enchantments as a long day hike. Anytime! 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. 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. Youre all packed and now its time to start the hike! living on the road in ourself-converted sprinter van! The level of difficulty and sheer distance of the trail mean the best way to experience this area is via a multi-day hike. 19K views 1 year ago THE ENCHANTMENTS The Enchantments Hike is the most beautiful hike in all of Washington. Tucked away in a particularly rugged area of Washington, just accessing this beautiful environment takes substantial planning. Ever since moving to Washington and learning about this beautiful region, we had our sights set on backpacking there. 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. Depending on snow conditions, you may also want to bring gaiters to protect your boots from getting filled with snow. 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. 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! The. As you approach Leavenworth from the west on Highway 2, you will turn onto Icicle Creek Road on the edge of town. Note: Winners are drawn at random, so it makes absolutely no difference when you apply, as long as its within the application period. ), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. ), 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. Hiking poles are a good idea to help with the change in elevation and also for balance on the steep and rocky terrain. Before setting out on this trip, make sure you are physically ready for a strenuous hike through the wilderness! Don't shower for 3 weeks leading up your hike as a human repellent. Day Hike: As we mentioned above, if you do not get a permit to backpack, you can dayhike it! 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. And our favorite way to celebrate? Here you will also encounter larches, the iconic coniferous tree with deciduous needles that turn bright yellow before they drop for the winter. One of the most scenic hikes in the region, this hike passes several waterfalls and glacial lakes before climbing to Snow Lake. Once we reached the top of the pass, however, it was all worthwhile! 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. The hope for most is that dry sunny weather will coincide with whatever dates the luck of the draw has bestowed on them. Hiking the Enchantments is one of the most memorable PNW experiences. They have two parking lots in this area (the first one is for Eightmile and next one is for Stuart/Colchuck), as well as an overnight only parking area for those with overnight permits. Snow: This is the zone we camped in during our time in the Enchantments. We have a 22 B+ van. My backpack weighed 34 lbs at the start for three nights in the Snow Lakes Zone. Drive 8.4 miles and turn left onto Forest Service Road 7601. Mile 11: The shores of the Snow Lakes are the last large group of campsites. Distance: 19.25 miles (31 km) Difficulty: Extremely strenuous Total Elevation Gain: 5,500 feet (1,675 meters) Total Elevation Loss: 7,000 feet (2,133 meters) 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. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. You can either try to get a walk up permit (covered above) or day hike it (covered below). : 7982 ft. Max Elev. Early Summer While hiking in June still requires a permit, you run the risk of the trail being heavily covered in snow. 4.73 out of 5. Our friends had some and we were a taddddd jealous when their legs were nice and dry!If its warm out, bring a swimsuit so you can swim in one of the lakes! However, since these are averages it is best to be prepared for a wide range of temperatures during your trip. 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! Check out our the enchantments hiking selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. This makes travel more difficult and the views an endless sea of white (which is beautiful, just more difficult to hike). 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. Which would be good practice before embarking on an Enchantments trip hikes in the region, we to! Day hike: as we were cooped up in our tent by Elegant Themes | Powered by,. Is beautiful, just accessing this beautiful region, we had to ). 34 lbs at the Stuart Lake Trailhead make it more fun be a very introduction. 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