There are several campsites located along the way, and where you end up choosing to camp in the Enchantments will depend on availability and your planned mileage each day. We had to use our hands for balance as we slooowly clambered up what seemed like a near-vertical route. Ever since moving to Washington and learning about this beautiful region, we had our sights set on backpacking there. 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. . Insider tip: Since these campsites are outside the Core Enchantment zone, theyre easier to obtain and open to groups, rather than just individuals. 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. We are big fans of Wild Zora backpacking meals, especially the beef ones, as they are super natural and healthy. Perfection Lake is another clear, shallow alpine lake, perhaps more beautiful than the previous ones (hence its name, perhaps!). Overview. This was our base camp from where we would climb the steep Crystal Creek valley and . With over 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than a single mile in distance, the climb challenges both stamina and determination. In the summer, these will look like any other green coniferous tree unless you look for the distinctive bundles of needles coming off the branches. 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. Adventure joined a group of our friends on a trip up to the Enchantments in Washington. But the best partshe got six permits, which meant that Yvonne, Jeffrey, Adam, and myself could all go with her and her boyfriend Jackson! The hike is a mixture of a regular dirt trail and rock scrambling. Try this 20.5-mile point-to-point trail near Leavenworth, Washington. Yay, congrats! Our personal recommendation for the best time to hike the Enchantments is September. 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! Stuart Lake is at the end of this valley, but youre actually going to detour and gain a bit more elevation in order to reach stunning Colchuck Lake. Hiker from Olympia The trail The Enchantments trail consists of the Stuart Lake Trail, Colchuck Lake Trail and Snow Lakes Trail. GOOD TO KNOW: most people who thru-hike the entire Enchantments will start at the Stuart Lake Trailhead and end at the Snow Lake . ! There are usually more people present than permits, so they have to draw names, which occurs at 7:45 AM. 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. Thanks for the ideas! Didnt get a permit? 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) When to Hike The Enchantments 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. Hiking the Enchantments is one of the most memorable PNW experiences. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We managed to score a 5 day permit in the snow zone for Aug 30-Sept 3. Once applications are drawn, there is a few-week period where successful applicants must accept their permit. In this guide, well share how to best experience hiking the Enchantments, whether on a day trip or as a multi-day camping experience. 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! See some of our recommended stops below! Interestingly (and weirdly), many wild animals are attracted to the salts in urine and actually seek it out. The challenging 20-mile trail requires advanced planning, so weve broken it down in a comprehensive hiking guide. More than a dozen high alpine lakes carved in granite. Mar 18, 2012 at 6:00 pm #1855705. The zone is named after Snow Lake, the final lake before you climb up into the Core zone. However, you obviously cant rely on or plan around hitch-hiking and not everyone is comfortable with it. Enchantments Hike Specs: Length: 23.6 mi Elevation gain: 5,003 ft Route type: Point to point They headed up to Lake Stewart and up to Asgard Pass. Perfect for swimming and relaxing, the lake is accessed via a steady climb, mostly through shady forest. You cant go wrong with overnighting at any of the five lakes; theyre all stunning! After doing the hike, seeing what others have done, and researching the options, here are four of the best options (in our opinion) if you receive a Core or Snow permit. Not sure where to start? 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. After you get notified that you won the Enchantments lottery, youll want to figure out your route and how many days you want. Hiking poles are a good idea to help with the change in elevation and also for balance on the steep and rocky terrain. 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. Mile 6: Once you pass Colchuck Lake, you will have to ascend Aasgard Pass before finding the next campsites near Isolation and Tranquil Lakes. We had to go about 3 mph in the van (not joking lol! Ensure you know the correct routes and have the gear to keep you safe. It is never acceptable to clean pots by submerging them in a natural body of water. 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. This trail winds through a beautiful wilderness area that many other hikes enjoy. : 7982 ft. Max Elev. Hiking through the Enchantments core is beautiful and memorable. 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. The division of The environment here has turned from granite rocks to alpine marsh and meadow, full of grass and heather. Hey everyone, I have a 5 night hike in the Core Enchantment zone starting September 30. Please see our. There are quite a few ways you could craft your Enchantments adventure depending on how long you have, what you want to see, and what permit you won. Note to everyone: Aasgard Pass is a misnomer. Tucked away in a particularly rugged area of Washington, just accessing this beautiful environment takes substantial planning. To enter the permit lottery, you will first need to apply during the annual permit lottery (exact dates vary by year). Permits and permit information is available on the Recreation.gov Portal. The Enchantments is a region in Washington, just 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, a super cute Bavarian village town. The permits are a lottery system, which means that you enter between specific dates, typically February 15-March 2 and then on March 20 you find out if you won. It is important that you choose a designated campsite to help preserve the fragile alpine vegetation in the lake basin. The final group of campsites is at Snow Lake and Nada Lake, after quite a bit of descent and just a few miles from the Snow Lakes Trailhead. And our favorite way to celebrate? ), but with backpacking packs on, it can be pretty brutal at times. 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. First, there is an accepted right-of way when hiking on a trail. But the wait, stress, and uncertainty of getting to access this area is worth it!Note: Dogs are not allowed in the Enchantments. Hiking the Enchantments takes you through a variety of diverse terrain, which can be roughly broken down into three sections. (Sa. While we did not get lucky, that method will increase your chances. . Snow: This is the zone we camped in during our time in the Enchantments. Mile 13.5: If you prefer to travel a litter further on your final day, a few campsites are located near Nada Lake. We recommend this RAVPower Charger, which has two charging ports! 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. But where do you start? Posted on September 5, 2011 September 6, 2011 by Rick Mc. Read More. Hiking the Enchantments means your jaw will drop at every turn. The main path stays to the left of the waterfall but is not immediately next to the left rock cliffs. However, camping and hiking in the Enchantments is well worth all the effort! Before embarking on your adventure, please review theLeave No Trace principlesto ensure you leave every place better than you found it, so that others can enjoy these beautiful places for many years to come!These seven principles include planning ahead and preparing, hiking and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in! The best strategy is to keep your distance as much as possible. 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. If you were to ask us what we think is the most beautiful place in the world, youd probably get a long silence as we racked our brains where to even start?! . Whitney in CA as a day hike. Drive 8.4 miles and turn left onto Forest Service Road 7601. Depending on snow conditions, you may also want to bring gaiters to protect your boots from getting filled with snow. Bear CanisterWhile we did not see any bears during our trip, we always pack a bear canister when in the wilderness to safely store our food. 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. Something we wish we had brought were waterproof pants. The weather in the mountains can change quickly, so always bring a rainjacket just in case! 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?)! : 1312 ft. the enchantments hiking washington day hike The most popular day hike in the Enchantments leads to a breathtaking blue glacial lake right underneath Aasgard Pass. Some route-finding is also necessary, as the hike becomes more of a boulder scramble with hands and feet required for balance. Here you will also encounter larches, the iconic coniferous tree with deciduous needles that turn bright yellow before they drop for the winter. 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. 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! Although it may look too formidable to even attempt, the beautiful craggy peak behind Colchuck Lake is where the Enchantments hike continues. Additionally, this is where you'll get to do some off-trail excursions. The Enchantments area is full of wildlife, and you have a high chance of seeing wildlife on your visit including mountain goats, squirrels, marmots, pika, and marten. These are the hikes I did (if you don't live in Seattle, pick hikes of similar length and elevation gain): . The Enchantments is a slice of hiking paradise. But we couldnt miss the opportunity to go, so we committed to the permits and figured we would make it all work. It is a great option if you have been to Colchuck Lake before and hate the idea of Aasgard Pass! If youre hiking the Enchantments by yourself or dont have two vehicles, there are other options. Through-hiking the Enchantments in one day will challenge and reward you, but it's not for everyone. The environment here has turned from granite rocks to alpine marsh and meadow full... Days you want starting September 30 change in elevation and also for balance as we slooowly clambered up what like! 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