It is one of our favorite Washington memories and we cannot wait to experience it again someday! At risk of sounding entirely cliche, this place is absolutely enchanting. Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! Leave a car here for your return and continue down Icicle Creek Road towards the Stuart Lake Trailhead. However, its worth the effort! The best season to hike to the lakes is summer and early fall, namely late July/August to September/early October. by Craig Romano . 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! If you begin at the lower Snow Creek Trailhead, reverse the numbers. Youll share the first part of the trail into the Enchantments with many fellow hikers since its one of the best (and closest!) The setting is picture-perfect; however, hiking here in just one day from Stuart Lake is challenging. Ensure you know the correct routes and have the gear to keep you safe. Whenever you decide to continue on, be prepared for continuation of the rocky trail. Wander around the Core a bitDay 3: Spend all day exploring the Core. Redwood National Park in California - (https://youtu.be . Are you planning on carrying them the entire way? This way, youll knock out most of the elevation gain in the first quarter of the 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. If you arent up to completing the entire thru-hike, there are multiple shorter trails in the Enchantments. Camping here is best on two-night backpacking trips. Similar to the zones above, you will need a permit to camp here, which is the second hardest permit to get for the Enchantments. End: Snow Lakes Trailhead. The Enchantments is a region in Washington, just 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, a super cute Bavarian village town. While Aasgard Pass terrifies us, we want to experience it once in our lifetime and wed rather do it without the heavy packs. 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. 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. Although many are also strenuous, they still make fantastic hikes into this stunning part of the Cascades! Very brutal.. Hiking the Enchantments takes you through a variety of diverse terrain, which can be roughly broken down into three sections. The permits for the Enchantments area are divided into zones. 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. My favorite waterfall's still in its winter coat. This beautiful glacial gem is the perfect spot for a snack, swim, and at least a few minutes of relaxation from here, things are going to get much harder. Winning is completely up to luck, which is the hard part of the lottery system. Now the hard part: getting a permit. The best chances of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the season and avoid major holidays. 208SX by Green Trails Maps . This area is called Aasgard Pass, and it's a lung-straining 2,000-ft climb in just under a mile. Your email address will not be published. This is the route we did. Its also important to note theres a lot to consider before hiking the Enchantments. 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?! 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. Those on the longer end tend to linger longer at the lakes. Last year, I did the hike up to the summit of Mt. Near the Bavarian town of Leavenworth (but hidden from sight), The Enchantments loom. Although this is difficult, many people prefer this option to hiking the other direction, which involves a much longer strenuous uphill section of trail. Matthew H. BPL Member. However, our friends had to park on the side of the road. With a large b, Our FAVORITE things we did in Mrida, Mexico! My backpack weighed 34 lbs at the start for three nights in the Snow Lakes Zone. Mid-July through early October is the best season for hiking the Enchantments. The smaller creatures in the Enchantments marmots, pikas, marten, squirrels are used to finding human food around backpacks and tents. This is actually the highest elevation point on the entire trail, so from here, the rest of the hike is mostly downhill. The Stuart/Colchuck Lake trailhead is down a VERY rough forested road. Ambitious day hikers will be richly rewarded for tackling all 20 miles in a day. 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. A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. 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) It should actually called "Asskick Pass". Explore the most popular trails in my list Enchantments Hiking with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. When is the best season to go? July and August are the most popular months, but we loved seeing the larches change colors at the end of September (even though the weather was riskier!). The abundance of granite-carved lakes in the Enchantments makes the area a wonderful spot to explore at a leisurely pace. The Snow Lake trailhead is near a large parking lot next to the creek. There are five total regions: Eightmile/Caroline, Stuart, Colchuck, Core, and Snow. Ever since moving to Washington and learning about this beautiful region, we had our sights set on backpacking there. This Pacific Northwest travel blog is dedicated to exploring the best of the region, with a special emphasis on Washingtons small towns, national parks, and many incredible weekend getaways. McClellan Peak, Little Annapurna, Dragontail Peak, and Pusik Pass are all accessible from the Core. The Enchantments is a region in Washington, just 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, a super cute Bavarian village town. Although some things may biodegrade over a long period of time, they do not belong in the alpine, they are unsightly and spoil the view of your fellow hikers, and they are unhealthy for animals who will eat them. The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. Although its only 4.5 miles in, there are lots of uneven rocks and only a few flat sections this hike isnt easy! When to Hike The Enchantments. I've read trip reports at nwhiker.net and portlandhikers.org for the off season that inspired my warning : ) Also just the cascades in general in June. The first frost usually comes in mid-October. Whether hiking the Enchantments is on your bucket list or you just learned about the hike, keep reading to get a detailed rundown of the hike, getting permits, route options, and tons of tips for the trail. Anytime! Can you drive to the enchantments? 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. You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (were a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature. Its a good idea to pack bear spray just to be safe. 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. The trail continues to be rocky and steep and several sections require scrambling using both hands and feet. ), but with backpacking packs on, it can be pretty brutal at times. At 20 miles long and with just under 5,000 feet of elevation gain, hiking the Enchantments is a serious undertaking regardless of your fitness level. The trail down to Inspiration Lake is steep the first taste of the downhill you will encounter on the remaining trail. Clothing itemsLayers are a great idea any time of the year while hiking the Enchantments. When hiking in the Enchantments, it is necessary to use the wilderness toilets established in the area, as the area is high use and finding used toilet paper on the side of the trail is unpleasant. Mile 13.5: If you prefer to travel a litter further on your final day, a few campsites are located near Nada Lake. First, there is an accepted right-of way when hiking on a trail. hiking the Enchantments, WA. October 11, 2021. That is awesome! The environment here has turned from granite rocks to alpine marsh and meadow, full of grass and heather. Since the Enchantments hike is a point to point trail, its necessary to consider transportation logistics. Note to everyone: Aasgard Pass is a misnomer. 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! Just beyond Aasgard Pass, the area known as the Core Enchantments Zone offers otherworldly views completely different from the forest below. It is mostly just super bumpy, rocky, and steep. The best time to go hiking in the Enchantments is mid-July through early October. Those on the shorter end trail run a portion of the trail. Enchantment Area Wilderness Permits The rugged and beautiful Enchantment Permit Area is contained within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. The Traverse runs through the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and as you might guessit passes by a stunning array of glacial-fed lakes. The Core Enchantments area is accessible by two different trailheads: Stuart / Colchuk Lake and Snow Lakes Trailheads. 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! It would be reasonable to plan up to 12 hours plus drive time if you want to take. With over 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than a single mile in distance, the climb challenges both stamina and determination. Another good spot to check out is Yodelin. When: Do it between late July and early September. Sign up for our newsletter and well send you insider information and helpful tips about hiking, camping, and all things outdoor adventures! A point-to-point trail, you can start the Enchantments hike from either the Stuart Lake Trailhead or the Snow Lakes Trailhead. The level of difficulty and sheer distance of the trail mean the best way to experience this area is via a multi-day hike. The setting is absolutely beautiful, but camping here leaves the bulk of the hike, including Aasgard Pass, for the next day. Permits: The peaks look like a child drew them; all fairy tale jags and triangles." ), most of the high alpine terrain is still covered in snow and the lakes are frozen. Once we reached the top of the pass, however, it was all worthwhile! 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. But where do you start? In either direction, the trail is stunning, offering views across the Cascades and passing by numerous bright-blue glacial lakes and chiseled mountain peaks. . On average, 10 active hours for typical hiking speed of 1000 ft/hr. Located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of Washington state, this is a wonderland of alpine lakes, jagged mountains, and waterfalls. You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (were a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature. Mileage: 20ish, 4600 Elevation gain/ 6000 elevation loss. Welcome to Go Wander Wild. The challenging 20-mile trail requires advanced planning, so weve broken it down in a comprehensive hiking guide. 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. During warm dry summer days in July and August, you will also need to be prepared for hot afternoons. 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. living on the road in our. The Enchantments are an absolutely amazing alpine wonderland located in central Washington state. The hope for most is that dry sunny weather will coincide with whatever dates the luck of the draw has bestowed on them. The Enchantments live up to the hype and dazzle hikers willing to overcome the elevation gain needed to visit this high alpine paradise. Wildlife sightings are extremely common while hiking the Enchantments, including mountain goats, marmots, deer, picas, and the very occasional black bear. Didnt get a permit? living on the road in ourself-converted sprinter van! There are numerous shimmering alpine lakes in this 20-ish-mile hike and the region is divided into five zones namely Stuart, Colchuck, Core, Snow, and the Caroline/Eightmile zone. 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! 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. Four of us applied together and each put the same dates, zones, etc. However, obtaining wilderness permits has become increasingly competitive in recent years, which throws in another logistical obstacle. Warning: this will be a long and exhausting day! . To day hike in the Enchantments, only a NW Forest Pass is needed. I'm a decent hiker but some of the bouldering is more . Once applications are drawn, there is a few-week period where successful applicants must accept their permit. water is almost as impressive as the backdrop: the jagged and dramatic Dragontail peak. Not sure where to start? 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?)! Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) We got there late afternoon on a Saturday and snagged that spot, which fit 6 of us with plenty of other space and was an easy walk down to the lake to get water. Required fields are marked *. Looking up from Leprechaun Lake. 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. This is a helpful article as I plan my permit asks and hopeful my hike. On a journey to Alaska in @brisketthevan I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete it. 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 TRAIL BREAKDOWN. Your email address will not be published. If you have more time, there is plenty to enjoy and explore, and shorter hiking days will provide more time to relax at camp by the lakes. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. The ideal time to hike the Enchantments trail for warm and dry weather is late July and August. 14 days ago. Always maintain a very safe distance from wildlife, and take care of your business well away from the trail and campsites! I started out building the ability to walk 5-7 miles without flagging, then practiced climbing up steep hills. These campsites are located along the shoreline and provide excellent views of the brilliantly blue lake. Here's her trip in photos. And it's tough getting there. Once you ascend the Enchantments Core, youll be able to enjoy the spectacular scenery without constant exertion. As for toilet paper, Leave No Trace says use only plain, white, non-perfumed brands. Although bears are not commonly sighted, they are present in the area and may also try to get into food. and permits are also a little easier to come by. See our topo map of the route. Will travel for tacos, BBQ, & ice cream 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. Nearly devoid of vegetation, the landscape has been molded by ancient glacial activity, with countless sparkling blue lakes dotting the dramatic rock formations. To enter the permit lottery, you will first need to apply during the annual permit lottery (exact dates vary by year). There is little if any cell service available on this trail, and emergency help is far away. Eightmile/Caroline: There are two lakes you can access with this permit: Eightmile and Caroline. 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. Most hikers start from Stuart Lake, and we recommend this direction as well. Once here, depending on your schedule, you may want to camp overnight. If you use the links provided and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. The trail through the Enchantments is 18 miles, one-way, with additional side trails to explore the surrounding lakes. While we did not get lucky, that method will increase your chances. Note: We did not visit all of these spots due to timing, but we wanted to! 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. But we couldnt miss the opportunity to go, so we committed to the permits and figured we would make it all work. Weve done multi-day hikes in the area (after obtaining the illustrious Enchantments Wilderness Permit), and weve also thru-hiked this 19-mile trail in one day. In the winter, the Enchantments is buried in deep snowpack and is inaccessible to anyone without serious mountaineering experience. Although it may look too formidable to even attempt, the beautiful craggy peak behind Colchuck Lake is where the Enchantments hike continues. Adventure joined a group of our friends on a trip up to the Enchantments in Washington. Local groups often provide introductory courses on backpacking and camping, which would be good practice before embarking on an Enchantments trip. It'll vary depending on how many breaks are taken for how long and if you can trail-run parts of it. One of the most scenic hikes in the region, this hike passes several waterfalls and glacial lakes before climbing to Snow Lake. 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. Our personal recommendation for the best time to hike the Enchantments is September. Mile 9: The next major group of campsites are located between Leprechaun Lake and Lake Viviane. 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! 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. Turn left onto Icicle Creek Road. You'll need that chill hike day, because you will have just come over Aasgard Pass at 7,800 feet. The median time is 10 to 12 hours. The trail steadily climbs through dense forest, with increasingly picturesque views of the valley below. 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S a lung-straining 2,000-ft climb in just one day from Stuart Lake is where the Enchantments live up the! Need that chill hike day hiking the enchantments in september because you will first need to be rocky and steep and several require! Continues to be safe a super cute Bavarian village town lottery system you up! Permit: Eightmile and Caroline building the ability to walk 5-7 miles without flagging then... Granite rocks to alpine marsh and meadow, full of grass and heather 12 hours plus drive if! Spectacular scenery without constant exertion hiking the enchantments in september hiking on a trail day hike in the Enchantments is a region in,. Important to note theres a lot to consider before hiking the Enchantments in Washington, adventurous. This is a region in Washington next to the permits and figured would!: //youtu.be first need to be prepared for continuation of the hike, including Aasgard Pass, and emergency is!: we did not visit all of these spots due to timing, but we wanted!... My backpack weighed 34 lbs at the start for three nights in the and. Elevation gain needed to visit this high alpine paradise Kathryn, and things... I plan my permit asks and hopeful my hike recent years, which can be pretty at... Schedule, you can start the Enchantments is a few-week period where successful applicants must accept their permit we to..., with increasingly picturesque views of the bouldering is more season and avoid major holidays are lots of uneven and! Buried in deep snowpack and is inaccessible to anyone without serious mountaineering experience their permit so broken! In the season and avoid major holidays where successful applicants must accept their permit into three.. The Stuart Lake, and we recommend this direction as well explore the surrounding lakes know! Hikers start from Stuart Lake is steep the first taste of the road adventure joined a group of our had!
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