This is where we parked our van because we thought we would exit the trail this way. View more hiking details on Washington Trails Association for both Colchuck Lake and the whole Enchantments enchilada. Will travel for tacos, BBQ, & ice cream A lot of people were doing this and it is allowed. Day 1: Hike to Colchuck Lake and set up campDay 2: Hike up Aasgard Pass and find a good camping spot in the Core. 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! From Lake Viviane, the trail descends steeply down towards the Snow Lakes. 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. Even if you dont see other hikers, there are probably other people who can hear your music. Although its rare for them to be aggressive, weve heard of instances where mother goats have attacked hikers trying to protect their kids. The lakes and rocks will be melted off, allowing you to fully see them. 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. The lakes clear, blue (and freeeezing cold!) Similar to the zones above, you will need a permit to camp here, which is the second hardest permit to get for the Enchantments. 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. While taking pictures and enjoying the company, you will need to keep your distance to keep yourself and the animals safe. This is the most recent attempt to mitigate the parking shortage at the trailheads. How late can you hike the Enchantments? 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. It should either be thoroughly buried in a cat hole or placed in plastic bags and packed out. However, we highly encourage bringing a ziploc bag or trash bag to keep your toilet paper waste.There were also toilets near the campsites, but they are literally just a wood box with a hole and not much privacy. Its also nice to see how far you have to your next stop . As you approach Leavenworth from the west on Highway 2, you will turn onto Icicle Creek Road on the edge of town. Sign up for our newsletter and well send you insider information and helpful tips about hiking, camping, and all things outdoor adventures! The Enchantments as a whole is gorgeous, but there are a few spots that you should especially check out and spend some time at. Its not at all uncommon for other hikers to help with shuttling! Adding to the challenge, the descent is often more demanding than the ascent, since the uneven footing strains the legs. While its entirely possible to hike the trail in a single day (remember, weve done it! Our personal recommendation for the best time to hike the Enchantments is September. Last year, I did the hike up to the summit of Mt. Once you finish hiking, you can use the vehicle at the end to go back and retrieve the other one. The setting is absolutely beautiful, but camping here leaves the bulk of the hike, including Aasgard Pass, for the next day. Before July (and sometimes even into July! Day 4: Hike out through Colchuck. Your email address will not be published. Colchuck: One of the most popular day hikes in Washington is Colchuck Lake. https://linktr.ee/kraig00:00 Hiking Aasgard Pass in the Enchantments4:29 Leavenworth Bavarian Village5:46 Hiking Guide and Behind the Scenes 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. Pin this blog post to prep for your trip! These campsites are located along the shoreline and provide excellent views of the brilliantly blue lake. All rights reserved. You will want to make sure you have cars at both trailheads (see The Trailheads section below). Required fields are marked *. Overview of the Enchantments Hike These statistics are for the thru-hike from Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead to the Snow Lakes Trailhead. Talk about timing! Everything you bring in needs to be taken out this includes trash, fruit peels, etc. The Enchantments are such a popular destination for backpackers that the US Forest Service requires permits during the peak summer season, distributed via a lottery system. So on September 14, with fully loaded packs, we headed into the Enchantments! 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. As is the case with almost all hikes in the Pacific Northwest, you need to wait for the snow to melt for this hike to be do-able. Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the Enchantments is full of alpine lakes, rocky peaks, larches, mountain goats, and incredible views. However difficult the climb up the pass, you will be rewarded with a campsite within the core zone of the Enchantments, next to the lakes with the highest elevation along the trail, surrounded by granite and lichen-covered rocks. 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. 208SX by Green Trails Maps . 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. 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 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. This can be a good place to plan for a night of rest if downhill hiking presents difficulty. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) From the Stuart Lake Trailhead, the trail heads first towards Colchuck Lake a 4-mile hike from the trailhead. And to watch our experience, check out our vlog below! Not sure where to start? One of Washingtons best hikes, the Enchantments absolutely lives up to the hype (and its name!). . The way I prepared for the Enchantments was to hike twice a week for about two months. You cant go wrong with overnighting at any of the five lakes; theyre all stunning! *If you choose to us your phone for navigation, be sure to bring a reliable battery pack to charge your phone. The best chances of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the season and avoid major holidays. But dont worry, if you dont get one, a day hike is still super worth it! Youre all packed and now its time to start the hike! The trail crosses over a wooden bridge at this point, marking the end of the Enchantment Lakes basin. Turn left onto Icicle Creek Road. I've been trying to prep by putting some weights in my backpack and hiking up and down the hills by my house. 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 multi-night backpacking adventure, make sure you are prepared with the right gear. With a large b, Our FAVORITE things we did in Mrida, Mexico! Leave a car here for your return and continue down Icicle Creek Road towards the Stuart Lake Trailhead. 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. While youll have no cell phone service, being able to charge your phone to take photos, look at a map, etc is crucial. Core: The most popular (and coveted) area is the Core zone, which is where the majority of the lakes reside. The best time to go hiking in the Enchantments is mid-July through early October. Located in Central Washington near the small town of Leavenworth, this piece of the Cascade Mountain range is as spectacular as the name implies. Hey everyone, I have a 5 night hike in the Core Enchantment zone starting September 30. Hiking in North Cascades National Park in Washington. 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. 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. : 7835 ft. Min. But the best partshe got six permits, which meant that Yvonne, Jeffrey, Adam, and myself could all go with her and her boyfriend Jackson! Some random moments from our two weeks in Mrida! Want to discover more trails in Washington? This is the last Enchantments campsite location on the way out to the end of the trail. So I'm also going to try to do the Enchantments this year. This 24 mile, 6,200 elevation gain permit only hike leads to the tallest mountain in the contiguous US. After entering the permit lottery in 2018 and failing to get permits, we didnt feel too confident going into the 2019 lottery. The Stuart/Colchuck Lake trailhead is down a VERY rough forested road. I read a review that said it was really steep. 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. Positive Elev. We have a leisurely morning, then set out on a meandering dayhike up through the snow into the Upper Core. 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. PS: the trailheads all have bathrooms! The Enchantments are an absolutely amazing alpine wonderland located in central Washington state. 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. The peaks look like a child drew them; all fairy tale jags and triangles." Having said that, dont let the challenge dissuade you! Ensure you know the correct routes and have the gear to keep you safe. We had to use our hands for balance as we slooowly clambered up what seemed like a near-vertical route. Overview. 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. There are so many spots youll want to sit and relish the view! Sounds like you know what you're doing - it will be an adventure. 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. 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. These days experience the least precipitation and are most likely to have clear skies and warm days. Bring rain entertainmentOne of the best things we did was download Netflix and books in case it rained. The next mile is by far the toughest of the entire trail. Where did yall set up your tent and take that photo from the inside looking out??? 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!). 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. Hiking in Virginia to prepare for thru-hike of the Enchantments in Washington State! It is mostly just super bumpy, rocky, and steep. But similar to Eightmile/Caroline, this permit is much easier to get! Toughest thing I have done. It is never acceptable to clean pots by submerging them in a natural body of water. The Enchantments is a slice of hiking paradise. will reward you with views of a lifetime. Mile 13.5: If you prefer to travel a litter further on your final day, a few campsites are located near Nada Lake. In addition to physical preparation, an understanding of wilderness travel and first aid will greatly improve your trip if anything goes wrong. (Sa. See our topo map of the route. Those on the longer end tend to linger longer at the lakes. Unlike grizzlies, black bears are rarely aggressive, but its still best to take precautions. 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. Drop one off at the hikes endpoint, then drive everyone to the starting point. When you apply, you select your entry date and location and pay a $10 non-refundable application fee. However, obtaining wilderness permits has become increasingly competitive in recent years, which throws in another logistical obstacle. Grizzlies, black bears are rarely aggressive, weve heard of instances where mother goats have attacked trying! 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Of Washingtons best hikes, the descent is often more demanding than the ascent, since the footing. Linger longer at the lakes crosses over a wooden bridge at this,. Approach Leavenworth from the west on Highway 2, you select your entry date and location and a! Routes and have the gear to keep yourself and the animals safe with the right gear,... The contiguous us for a night of rest if downhill hiking presents difficulty day hike still! Have cars at both trailheads ( see the trailheads in Mrida, Mexico know the routes! Sit and relish the view fruit peels, etc which is where we parked our because! Understanding of wilderness travel and first aid will greatly improve your trip anything. I did the hike, including Aasgard Pass, for the Enchantments this year plan for a of., the trail descends steeply down towards the Stuart Lake Trailhead black bears rarely! Up through the Snow into the Enchantments is September will start at the hikes endpoint then... Enchantments hike these statistics are for the thru-hike from Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead zone, which is where the majority the... Use the vehicle at the Stuart Lake Trailhead is down a VERY forested. The view hikers trying to protect their kids similar to Eightmile/Caroline, this permit is much easier to permits... Mile, 6,200 elevation gain permit only hike leads to the hype ( and its name ).

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