Having said that, dont let the challenge dissuade you! Pre- Enchantments: A lot went into this 4 day/3 night backpacking trip. But similar to Eightmile/Caroline, this permit is much easier to get! - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! Take a left at this intersection, then follow the dirt road for 4 miles until reaching the Stuart Lake trailhead. We had to go about 3 mph in the van (not joking lol! And to watch our experience, check out our vlog below! My favorite waterfall's still in its winter coat. The map below shows the area that make up the Enchantments. While its entirely possible to hike the trail in a single day (remember, weve done it! Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) Talk about timing! However, camping and hiking in the Enchantments is well worth all the effort! 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. I think it was definitely one of the best spots out in the Snow Lakes area! Hiking the Enchantments is one of the most memorable PNW experiences. Drop one off at the hikes endpoint, then drive everyone to the starting point. 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. We hope this blog post helped give you some more information to help plan your trip to the Enchantments! Enchantments Hike Specs: Length: 23.6 mi Elevation gain: 5,003 ft Route type: Point to point This means that you will start at one trailhead and end your hike at another, without retracing your steps. Thankfully Christie applied and was able to bring us along! 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. This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. 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. The views are dramatic, but they come at a price, as the trail is a near-constant climb through rocks and forest. If you begin at the lower Snow Creek Trailhead, reverse the numbers. 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. Hiking poles are a good idea to help with the change in elevation and also for balance on the steep and rocky terrain. Here's her trip in photos. 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. 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?! 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!). ), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. Rating. ! And do it on a hot daya record-breaking hot day is even better. This is a great campsite if you are planning a short first day of hiking. 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. The elevation gain and loss are large, meaning that you will be working hard at most points during your hike. Core: The most popular (and coveted) area is the Core zone, which is where the majority of the lakes reside. 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. Can you drive to the enchantments? Tucked away in a particularly rugged area of Washington, just accessing this beautiful environment takes substantial planning. Yay, congrats! After you finish your hike, its time to celebrate! The setting is picture-perfect; however, hiking here in just one day from Stuart Lake is challenging. The Snow Lakes trailhead is 4 miles down this road on the right, a signed parking lot immediately off the road. As an Airbnb Associate, we may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) Since youll be at a higher elevation, the nights may get cool. We highly recommend getting the Alltrails app so you can see the map (even without cell service) and make sure youre going the right way. Talisman Lake 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! Eightmile/Caroline: There are two lakes you can access with this permit: Eightmile and Caroline. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. $18.95 Alpine Lakes East Stuart Range, WA No. Local groups often provide introductory courses on backpacking and camping, which would be good practice before embarking on an Enchantments trip. When is the best season to go? Then, youd likely get a long rambling list of epic places weve been or those were itching to visit. 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. Required fields are marked *. The Snow Lake trailhead is off of Icicle Creek Road and has a decent parking lot. Before July (and sometimes even into July! Mar 18, 2012 at 6:00 pm #1855705. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness named "The Enchantments" draws explorers from all over the world. Spread out over a few days, its incredibly rewarding, with once-in-a-lifetime views and experience to match your efforts. 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. Unlike grizzlies, black bears are rarely aggressive, but its still best to take precautions. 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. These days experience the least precipitation and are most likely to have clear skies and warm days. During warm dry summer days in July and August, you will also need to be prepared for hot afternoons. (Sa. For this multi-night backpacking adventure, make sure you are prepared with the right gear. This way, youll knock out most of the elevation gain in the first quarter of the hike. The main reason to day-hike the Enchantments is that doing so means you dont need a hard-to-get camping permit. 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. You can either try to get a walk up permit (covered above) or day hike it (covered below). This will give you time to cool off and avoid hiking in the heat of the day. Similar to the zones above, you will need a permit to camp here, which is the second hardest permit to get for the Enchantments. 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. In addition to the lottery permits, a very limited number of permits are reserved for walk-ins available at the Leavenworth Ranger Station. Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the Enchantments is full of alpine lakes, rocky peaks, larches, mountain goats, and incredible views. Always maintain a very safe distance from wildlife, and take care of your business well away from the trail and campsites! The elevation gain and loss are large, meaning that you will be working hard at most points during your hike. The sights are spectacular, with views of surrounding peaks and Colchuck Lake dwarfed into a gleaming blue jewel far below. It'll vary depending on how many breaks are taken for how long and if you can trail-run parts of it. :) We recommend this RAVPower Charger, which has two charging ports! The trail through the Enchantments is 18 miles, one-way, with additional side trails to explore the surrounding lakes. 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. Winning is completely up to luck, which is the hard part of the lottery system. Sign up for our newsletter and well send you insider information and helpful tips about hiking, camping, and all things outdoor adventures! day hikes near Leavenworth. Those on the shorter end trail run a portion of the trail. 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. Your email address will not be published. Will travel for tacos, BBQ, & ice cream The Enchantments is a classic Washington hike. Each campsite listed has a wilderness toilet for your use and to preserve the natural beauty of the area. Prusik Peak over Lake Viviane. To preserve the experience of other hikers and the wilderness character of the trail, it is important to follow common hiking etiquettes. 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. Mile 4: There are many campsites at Colchuck Lake around mile 4 from the trailhead. 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. Where did yall set up your tent and take that photo from the inside looking out??? Whitney in CA as a day hike. Hiker from Olympia The trail The Enchantments trail consists of the Stuart Lake Trail, Colchuck Lake Trail and Snow Lakes Trail. This campsite location puts you in a great position to finish the hike the next day and return home. This was our base camp from where we would climb the steep Crystal Creek valley and . Clothing itemsLayers are a great idea any time of the year while hiking the Enchantments. Dates: September 2nd- 5th 2016 Location: Leavenworth, Washington. Many consider it one of the most beautiful areas of the state. Theres some moderate elevation gain through gorgeous old-growth forest and a flat section in a beautiful meadow, before finishing at a stunning lake backed by even more stunning mountains! The challenging 20-mile trail requires advanced planning, so weve broken it down in a comprehensive hiking guide. It is important that you choose a designated campsite to help preserve the fragile alpine vegetation in the lake basin. Our friends also brought water treatment liquid that worked great too! Note to everyone: Aasgard Pass is a misnomer. The weather in the mountains can change quickly, so always bring a rainjacket just in case! At this time, applicants must choose an exit date and provide payment for the permits. and permits are also a little easier to come by. In this guide, well share how to best experience hiking the Enchantments, whether on a day trip or as a multi-day camping experience. They only give out one permit per zone per day, with up to 8 people per permit. The mountain goats in particular are habituated to visitors. Some route-finding is also necessary, as the hike becomes more of a boulder scramble with hands and feet required for balance. September 8, 2016. Our friends all brought Mountain House meals and loved theirs too! Anytime! This is the last Enchantments campsite location on the way out to the end of the trail. : 7835 ft. Min.

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