The best chances of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the season and avoid major holidays. The zone is named after Snow Lake, the final lake before you climb up into the Core zone. Its a bit of a pain to carry, but worth it to avoid any mishaps with wildlife. I started out building the ability to walk 5-7 miles without flagging, then practiced climbing up steep hills. - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! However, our friends had to park on the side of the road. Pin this blog post to prep for your trip! 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. There are numerous epic campsites along the trail; however, where you can camp overnight depends strictly on the permit you receive. Early Summer While hiking in June still requires a permit, you run the risk of the trail being heavily covered in snow. This is a great campsite if you are planning a short first day of hiking. We coordinated with two friends (Yvonne and Jeffrey) on the dates we wanted, zones we wanted to apply for, and other logistics. 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. We recommend starting at the Colchuck/Stewart lake trailhead and knocking out Aasgard first, as the rest of the hike will be downhill from there. More than a dozen high alpine lakes carved in granite. Snow: This is the zone we camped in during our time in the Enchantments. 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. Check out our 37 favorite hikes in Washington! Plan your hike for mid-July to mid-September, and check both trip reports and weather forecasts before getting started. 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. We had to use our hands for balance as we slooowly clambered up what seemed like a near-vertical route. You should try taking them on a couple easier backpacking trips first to see how they do. Even if you do, you cannot take a 2 year old up Asgard Pass. . Their eagerness to lick salt can greatly damage the terrain and vegetation, so it is important to use the wilderness toilets when possible, and if not, to urinate on rocks to prevent damage to alpine vegetation and erosion. Some random moments from our two weeks in Mrida! These campsites are located along the shoreline and provide excellent views of the brilliantly blue lake. Dont worry, not all hope is lost. Hiking up Aasgard Pass means that the remaining 13 miles of trail are generally downhill. 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. Day and overnight visitors need to check the weather and be prepared for all weather types throughout the season. Our personal recommendation for the best time to hike the Enchantments is September. There are so many spots youll want to sit and relish the view! 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. Its not at all uncommon for other hikers to help with shuttling! It is a great option if you have been to Colchuck Lake before and hate the idea of Aasgard Pass! If you get lucky, you have until March 31 to accept your permit, otherwise those do become available to the public. If youre hiking the Enchantments with another person but only have one vehicle, another option is to rent an additional car to drop off at the endpoint. Directions To Stuart Lake Trailhead: Drive the US2 west out of Leavenworth. Just beyond Aasgard Pass, the area known as the Core Enchantments Zone offers otherworldly views completely different from the forest below. Negative Elev. If youre not very familiar with the Enchantments Wilderness Area, you may be surprised to know that it requires a bit more planning and preparation than simply lacing up your hiking boots and hitting the trail. Everything you bring in needs to be taken out this includes trash, fruit peels, etc. Overview of the Enchantments Hike These statistics are for the thru-hike from Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead to the Snow Lakes Trailhead. Please dont bury TP; pack it in, pack it out. 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. I read a review that said it was really steep. Your email address will not be published. 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. This area is called Aasgard Pass, and it's a lung-straining 2,000-ft climb in just under a mile. At the end of your trip, you will use the car at the Snow Lakes trailhead to return to the car you left at the Stuart Lakes trailhead. 4.73 out of 5. However, there is no easy way to get there. 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. Sounds like you know what you're doing - it will be an adventure. The hope for most is that dry sunny weather will coincide with whatever dates the luck of the draw has bestowed on them. It is important that you choose a designated campsite to help preserve the fragile alpine vegetation in the lake basin. Obviously, for this, you will need two drivers in your party and two cars! The increasingly jaw-dropping views are the only distraction from the heart-pumping exertion. Required fields are marked *. Talk about timing! Drive 8.4 miles and turn left onto Forest Service Road 7601. Since youll be at a higher elevation, the nights may get cool. What awaits visitors: -Nearby Bavarian-styled village -High alpine lakes carved in granite -Curious mountain goats and their kids -Dramatic peaks -Golden larches come fall This makes travel more difficult and the views an endless sea of white (which is beautiful, just more difficult to hike). . One of Washingtons best hikes, the Enchantments absolutely lives up to the hype (and its name!). Black bear sightings are very uncommon here, but do occasionally happen. Positive Elev. Local groups often provide introductory courses on backpacking and camping, which would be good practice before embarking on an Enchantments trip. Bring rain entertainmentOne of the best things we did was download Netflix and books in case it rained. 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!). Once winners are notified, theres actually a second step youre required to go back into Recreation.gov and claim and pay for your permit, plus provide your intended exit date. This informative video shows you how! Whitney in CA as a day hike. On average, 10 active hours for typical hiking speed of 1000 ft/hr. Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the Enchantments is full of alpine lakes, rocky peaks, larches, mountain goats, and incredible views. This was our base camp from where we would climb the steep Crystal Creek valley and . Mileage: 20ish, 4600 Elevation gain/ 6000 elevation loss. 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. Adventure joined a group of our friends on a trip up to the Enchantments in Washington. This campsite location puts you in a great position to finish the hike the next day and return home. Enter: Christie, our Enchantments savior. Day-to-day, the weather can be unpredictable. If you are chosen, you must log in to choose your exit date and the number of people in your party (8 people max), as well as pay for the permit, which is $5/person per day. The main reason to day-hike the Enchantments is that doing so means you dont need a hard-to-get camping permit. 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. 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. The most popular day hike in the Enchantments leads to a breathtaking blue glacial lake right underneath Aasgard Pass. The mountain goats in particular are habituated to visitors. Ive done this as a thru hike, ending at snow lake TH, taking about 14hrs total. $18.95 Alpine Lakes East Stuart Range, WA No. $21.95 Day Hiking Central Cascades by Craig Romano . 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. The trail crosses over a wooden bridge at this point, marking the end of the Enchantment Lakes basin. Looking up from Leprechaun Lake: My dad: We hope you snag a permit! After you finish your hike, its time to celebrate! 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. and permits are also a little easier to come by. The elevation gain and loss are large, meaning that you will be working hard at most points during your hike. Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) This is the recommended starting trailhead to hike through the Enchantments, as you will climb up the steep Aasgard Pass instead of scrambling down the steep trail. If you are looking for an epic day hike, check out our Colchuck Lake trail guide for all the info you need! Ambitious day hikers will be richly rewarded for tackling all 20 miles in a day. Hiking through the Enchantments core is beautiful and memorable. Thankfully Christie applied and was able to bring us along! A hard-to-acquire permit is required to camp in any of the area's five zones, with the Enchantment Core permit being the most desirable. https://linktr.ee/kraig00:00 Hiking Aasgard Pass in the Enchantments4:29 Leavenworth Bavarian Village5:46 Hiking Guide and Behind the Scenes We are big fans of Wild Zora backpacking meals, especially the beef ones, as they are super natural and healthy. Enjoy this walking video tour of the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail in Redwood National Park in California. ), most of the high alpine terrain is still covered in snow and the lakes are frozen. Soon, the forest reappears and its a foot-battering descent down to the Snow Lake trailhead. Over the years, the hike has become increasingly popular, making winning a permit in the lottery almost like winning the actual lottery. When to go: The Enchantments overnighting permit season extends from May 15 to October 31st, but the trail is frequently covered by snow both early and late in the season. Adding to the challenge, the descent is often more demanding than the ascent, since the uneven footing strains the legs. Winning is completely up to luck, which is the hard part of the lottery system. This is where we parked our van because we thought we would exit the trail this way. If you are not comfortable rock scrambling, this hike may not be the best fit for you. 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! Cathole TrowelNature may call during your trip and when it does, youll need a cathole trowel! Wildlife in the area is accustomed to visitors, making it easy to get good pictures of any you spot during your trip. Having said that, dont let the challenge dissuade you! Mountain goats are the most prevalent wildlife youll encounter. 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. Similar to the zones above, you will need a permit to camp here, which is the second hardest permit to get for the Enchantments. Those on the longer end tend to linger longer at the lakes. 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. Overview. ), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. The Stuart/Colchuck Lake trailhead is down a VERY rough forested road. It is mostly just super bumpy, rocky, and steep. The trail steadily climbs through dense forest, with increasingly picturesque views of the valley below. A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. will reward you with views of a lifetime. As an Amazon Associate, Small Town Washington earns from qualifying purchases. Widely regarded as the crown jewel of hiking in Washington, this trail exceeds even the wildest of superlatives. You can also choose an alternate leader. After entering the permit lottery in 2018 and failing to get permits, we didnt feel too confident going into the 2019 lottery. 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. They only give out one permit per zone per day, with up to 8 people per permit. No clue if this is beneficial but it does feel like it's getting easier. To 8 people per permit you have until March 31 to accept your permit, otherwise those do become to... Most points during your hike for mid-July to mid-September, and it & x27... We hope you snag a permit, you have until March 31 to accept your permit otherwise. The most popular day hike, ending at snow Lake, the forest below to luck, which the! Be the best things we did was download Netflix and books in case it rained most that. 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