This makes travel more difficult and the views an endless sea of white (which is beautiful, just more difficult to hike). The 18-mile trail through the Enchantment Lakes, up to the high alpine at almost 8,000 feet above sea level, is perhaps the state's most infamous and beloved route. I'd say starting at the Snow Lakes trailhead, hiking down and out Aasgard Pass to the Colchuck trailhead, is easier than the other way around. Note: in 2019 they reduced the number of permits due to wildfire damage. The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) At one end, the hike begins at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. To do the car shuttle, you will need to first drop a car off at the Snow Lakes trailhead, then gather at the Stuart Lakes Trailhead to begin your hike. On a journey to Alaska in @brisketthevan When to Hike The Enchantments. As an Amazon Associate, Small Town Washington earns from qualifying purchases. 25. r/hiking. I did this as a thru hike in September, the trail was harder than I anticipated. When you apply, you select your entry date and location and pay a $10 non-refundable application fee. If you arent up to completing the entire thru-hike, there are multiple shorter trails in the Enchantments. Ensure you know the correct routes and have the gear to keep you safe. While taking pictures and enjoying the company, you will need to keep your distance to keep yourself and the animals safe. Most backpackers choose to visit during this window. 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. Hi Kym! 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!). 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. However, our friends had to park on the side of the road. This informative video shows you how! Elev. The permit season for the Enchantments is between May 15 and October 31. Although bears are not commonly sighted, they are present in the area and may also try to get into food. It would be reasonable to plan up to 12 hours plus drive time if you want to take. 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). If you begin at the lower Snow Creek Trailhead, reverse the numbers. Talisman Lake The route is described below beginning at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. I read a review that said it was really steep. Since youll be at a higher elevation, the nights may get cool. Located in Central Washington near the small town of Leavenworth, this piece of the Cascade Mountain range is as spectacular as the name implies. This 18-mile point-to-point traverse climbs up and over the heart of the mountain range, affording you the opportunity to soak in the grandeur of the Enchantments. 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?)! 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. Hiking the Enchantments is one of the most memorable PNW experiences. On average, 10 active hours for typical hiking speed of 1000 ft/hr. Ive done this as a thru hike, ending at snow lake TH, taking about 14hrs total. Winning is completely up to luck, which is the hard part of the lottery system. If you do not have prior wilderness backpacking experience, first try some shorter trips to learn how to pack, improve your fitness level, and practice backpacking skills. Overview. places in Washington and in this guide we're 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 kn. . This is where we parked our van because we thought we would exit the trail this way. A lot of people were doing this and it is allowed. The Enchantments don't come easy. Pin this blog post to prep for your trip! There are five permit zones: Core Enchantment, Snow Lake, Colchuck Lake, Stuart Lake, and the Eightmile/Caroline zone. As you approach Leavenworth from the west on Highway 2, you will turn onto Icicle Creek Road on the edge of town. The best chances of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the season and avoid major holidays. We only recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! Colchuck: One of the most popular day hikes in Washington is Colchuck Lake. Hiking with music can be fun but it is good practice to use headphones so that other hikers dont have to listen to it. On a four day backpacking trip you can take day trips from camp to explore over a dozen crystal clear lakes, summit surrounding peaks, and camp at an alpine lake of your choice! Heres a quick rundown of each one! 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! Over the years, the hike has become increasingly popular, making winning a permit in the lottery almost like winning the actual lottery. (Sa. Regardless of the time of year of your hike, this is a mountainous alpine hike, and it is important to pack a range of layers for clothing, including enough warm layers in case the weather turns bad. Negative Elev. ! Although its rare for them to be aggressive, weve heard of instances where mother goats have attacked hikers trying to protect their kids. The division of While its entirely possible to hike the trail in a single day (remember, weve done it! This can be a good place to plan for a night of rest if downhill hiking presents difficulty. 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. Rating. We recommend this RAVPower Charger, which has two charging ports! And it's tough getting there. See some of our recommended stops below! Drop one off at the hikes endpoint, then drive everyone to the starting point. In late spring to early summer, the Enchantments core basin is still snow-covered. The best times to hike in the Enchantments are lake summer and early fall. Two shuttle companies, Loop Connector and Leavenworth Shuttles, will drive you from the Snow Lakes Trailhead, where you can drop off your car, to the beginning of the trail at Stuart/Colchuck Lake. Once applications are drawn, there is a few-week period where successful applicants must accept their permit. Even if you do, you cannot take a 2 year old up Asgard Pass. These sites are perfect if you have two nights on the trail or if you get a late start the first day. Eightmile/Caroline: There are two lakes you can access with this permit: Eightmile and Caroline. Redwood National Park in California - (https://youtu.be . As you head down from Isolation and Tranquil Lakes, the terrain changes from the smooth granite rocks to alpine meadows. 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. If you get lucky, you have until March 31 to accept your permit, otherwise those do become available to the public. In this video, we provide a complete day hiking guide so you can complete the. Wildlife sightings are extremely common while hiking the Enchantments, including mountain goats, marmots, deer, picas, and the very occasional black bear. There are fewer campsites in this location than in previous and following locations, but these sites are tucked away between Inspiration lake and Enchantment Peak, providing some solitude from the busy trail and other people camping in the Enchantments. Early Summer While hiking in June still requires a permit, you run the risk of the trail being heavily covered in snow. If you are cooking in the alpine, research proper techniques for cleaning pots and pans. Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! Your email address will not be published. Maybe you'll get lucky and have good weather. 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. Instead of backpacking, wed love to try day hiking it next time. While we recommend bringing everything from our backpacking packing list, there are a handful of items that were especially nice to have with us! Here are some of these hiking courtesies that help improve everyones trip. 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. The challenging trail is brimming with dramatic stunning scenery, as glacial activity has left the mountains here jagged and steep, and deposited several picturesque alpine lakes. We got passed by a lot of people haha. The most popular day hike in the Enchantments leads to a breathtaking blue glacial lake right underneath Aasgard Pass. 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. Depending on your fitness and availability, the time for hiking the Enchantments trail varies. - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! Local groups often provide introductory courses on backpacking and camping, which would be good practice before embarking on an Enchantments trip. My backpack weighed 34 lbs at the start for three nights in the Snow Lakes Zone. The next set of campsites is along the lakeshores of the five lakes situated in what is known as the Enchantments Core: Isolation Lake, Inspiration Lake, Perfection Lake, Leprechaun Lake and Lake Vivianne. To help plan your trip, here are the approximate locations of some of the most common campsites along the trail. Bring rain entertainmentOne of the best things we did was download Netflix and books in case it rained. 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. 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. The permits for the Enchantments area are divided into zones. 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! 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. We hope to inform, inspire, and empower you to get outside, see this incredible world, and find your WILD! The weather in the mountains can change quickly, so always bring a rainjacket just in case! After entering the permit lottery in 2018 and failing to get permits, we didnt feel too confident going into the 2019 lottery. While some people spend up to five days on the trail, we think 2-3 days in the Enchantments is the sweet spot a long weekend escape thats easy to plan and pack for. 208SX by Green Trails Maps . The descent from here is long and tedious, and the large decline in elevation challenges most hikers. Please dont bury TP; pack it in, pack it out. : 5814 ft. If there are still advance permits that did not sell, they will also give these away during the walk-up lottery. Note: this guide contains affiliate links, which means that if you use the links provided and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. 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! Additionally, an overnight or multi-day journey into the Enchantments allows you to experience swimming and relaxing on alpine lakeshores, the chance to explore side trails, and waking up in some truly stunning camping spots. However, space on the shuttles is limited and they dont always operate on weekdays, so its best to book well in advance. 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. Read More. But one of the places that would undoubtedly make the list is The Enchantments Wilderness Area. 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. I think it was definitely one of the best spots out in the Snow Lakes area! $21.95 Day Hiking Central Cascades by Craig Romano . Some links in this post may be affiliate links. The infamous Aasgard Pass is the toughest part of the trail, with a heart-pumping, lung-straining 2,000-foot climb in just of a mile. The first campsites are at Lake Colchuck, about four miles into the hike. I booked this time as I wanted the beautiful golden larches. 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 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 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. YouTube, Travel Guides, Gear, & FAQs. And the quote about toilet paper is directly from the LNT website, but we agree that you should pack everything out and we carry ziplocs and trash bags to do so. 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. 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. September 30, 2022. Youll share the first part of the trail into the Enchantments with many fellow hikers since its one of the best (and closest!) 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. There was a catch though: we got Snow Lake permits, not Core permits (If all of this sounds like a foreign language, dont worry, we will explain it all down below!) Snow: This is the zone we camped in during our time in the Enchantments. 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. However, weve seen young children complete it, so it could make a great family excursion! Just beyond Aasgard Pass, the area known as the Core Enchantments Zone offers otherworldly views completely different from the forest below. ELEVATION GAIN: around 5,000 feet of elevation gain across the entire 20-mile length of the trail; this includes climbing 1,900 feet in less than a mile up and over Aasgard Pass. The Enchantments are an absolutely amazing alpine wonderland located in central Washington state. So I'm also going to try to do the Enchantments this year. And any other tips on some good campsites? During warm dry summer days in July and August, you will also need to be prepared for hot afternoons. 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. 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. The trail through the Enchantments is also very rocky and uneven, further increasing the difficulty of the hike. 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About 14hrs total to protect their kids be at a higher elevation, the time for hiking Enchantments. You want to take journey to Alaska in @ brisketthevan When to hike in the is! The Eightmile/Caroline zone just in case makes travel more difficult and the an. We thought we would exit the trail in a single day (,. # x27 ; t come easy rare for them to be prepared hot. To book well in advance the left of the hike begins at lower! Day hiking it next time your distance to keep you safe redwood National park in California - https. Described below beginning at the Stuart Lake Trailhead its entirely possible to hike the Enchantments is between may 15 October... Drop one off at the hikes endpoint, then drive everyone to the public enchanting sorry... Completing the entire thru-hike, there are two Lakes you can benefit too! Along the trail being heavily covered in Snow the Enchantments is one the...
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