Hiking in North Cascades National Park in Washington. Here, just east of Leavenworth in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and reachable only on foot, are the Enchantments. Just beyond Aasgard Pass, the area known as the Core Enchantments Zone offers otherworldly views completely different from the forest below. 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 Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) At one end, the hike begins at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. But we couldnt miss the opportunity to go, so we committed to the permits and figured we would make it all work. 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. 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. During warm dry summer days in July and August, you will also need to be prepared for hot afternoons. Required fields are marked *. Our friends all brought Mountain House meals and loved theirs too! Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! Camping spots are limited, but when possible, put your tent up away from other tents to give other campers privacy. The Enchantments live up to the hype and dazzle hikers willing to overcome the elevation gain needed to visit this high alpine paradise. 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. Once here, depending on your schedule, you may want to camp overnight. In either direction, the trail is stunning, offering views across the Cascades and passing by numerous bright-blue glacial lakes and chiseled mountain peaks. The way I prepared for the Enchantments was to hike twice a week for about two months. (Sa. We will only ever recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! Permits. Winning is completely up to luck, which is the hard part of the lottery system. Hike Summary Distance: 20 miles one way Total Elevation Gain: 5,800 ft Total Elevation Loss: 7,400 ft Starting Elevation: 3,400 ft Highest Point: 7,800 ft Hike Time: 16 - 17 hrs Difficulty: Extremely Difficult Seasons: July - September Dogs: Not Allowed Pass Required (Day Hike): Northwest Forest Pass But similar to Eightmile/Caroline, this permit is much easier to get! But one of the places that would undoubtedly make the list is The Enchantments Wilderness Area. However, since these are averages it is best to be prepared for a wide range of temperatures during your trip. Ambitious day hikers will be richly rewarded for tackling all 20 miles in a day. 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. HeadlampsHaving a headlamp is not only one of the 10 hiking essentials, but is especially important if you plan to hike for sunrise, or just have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. With your permit you will receive special parking permits for each of the trailhead, allowing you to park in designated spots for permitees. Although many are also strenuous, they still make fantastic hikes into this stunning part of the Cascades! Here you will also encounter larches, the iconic coniferous tree with deciduous needles that turn bright yellow before they drop for the winter. These make for the best overnight spots in the Enchantments overall. There are five total regions: Eightmile/Caroline, Stuart, Colchuck, Core, and Snow. The views are dramatic, but they come at a price, as the trail is a near-constant climb through rocks and forest. In early September, Mrs. Depending on your fitness and availability, the time for hiking the Enchantments trail varies. Mile 13.5: If you prefer to travel a litter further on your final day, a few campsites are located near Nada Lake. Positive Elev. In late spring to early summer, the Enchantments core basin is still snow-covered. 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. Read More. Sign up to get travel updates, guides, vlogs, and other resources delivered straight to your inbox once a month! The environment here has turned from granite rocks to alpine marsh and meadow, full of grass and heather. This will give you time to cool off and avoid hiking in the heat of the day. To obtain one of these, you will need to arrive at the ranger station early in the morning on the day you wish to start your trip. The summer temperatures drop (it occasionally reaches a scorching 100 degrees in July and August!) ), 6 Great Places to Celebrate Christmas in Washington, 21 World-Class Weekend Getaways in Washington State, Microspikes & gaiters, if hiking when there might be snow. 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. We recommend this RAVPower Charger, which has two charging ports! This website contains affiliate links from websites such as Amazon.com, Booking.com, and Rentalcars.com. ! The route is described below beginning at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. Very brutal.. Before setting out on this trip, make sure you are physically ready for a strenuous hike through the wilderness! ), only experienced and fit hikers who are very confident in their abilities should attempt it. 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. If youre hiking the Enchantments by yourself or dont have two vehicles, there are other options. Please dont bury TP; pack it in, pack it out. Our first time, we were lucky enough to score camping permits and spend a few amazing days in this slice of paradise. 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. I did the hike September 9th-11th, for reference. These campsites are located along the shoreline and provide excellent views of the brilliantly blue lake. The weather can change quickly during your multi-day trip from the original forecast. places in Washington and in this guide were 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 knock off an item from our bucket list: hiking the Enchantments in Washington! This is what we planned to do, but Mother Nature had other ideas. See some of our recommended stops below! Best 2-Person Tents for Camping & Backpacking, 17 Best Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, Dispersed Camping: What is It & How to Find Dispersed Campsites, 25 Hiking Lunch Ideas to Keep You Fed on the Trail, Cracker Lake Trail Guide for Glacier National Park, Tips for Eco Camping: A Guide for the Environmentally Conscious Camper, navigation: physical map, phone* with offline maps downloaded (or both), layers (here is a great resource if youre wondering, sun protection: sunscreen, hat, sun glasses, water bottles and bladder for your Camelbak, way to purify your water (we used our Grayl water bottles on this trail and they were fantastic! When the landscape is snow-covered, the lakes may be frozen and not distinguishable from the rest of the landscape. Black bear sightings are very uncommon here, but do occasionally happen. Planning at least two nights of camping and three days of hiking is recommended. ), dry bag (we always carry one with us for our valuables in case of rain), bear canister (to properly store your food), toilet kit: toilet paper, small shovel, bag for packing out TP, hand sanitizer, camp chairs (we love our Crazy Creek chairs), battery pack (if you are relying on your phone), dehydrated meals (we like making our own backpacking meals with dehydrated ingredients, but you can pick up a decent variety at most outdoor stores). A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. The peaks look like a child drew them; all fairy tale jags and triangles." 25. r/hiking. A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. 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. Although its only 4.5 miles in, there are lots of uneven rocks and only a few flat sections this hike isnt easy! These days experience the least precipitation and are most likely to have clear skies and warm days. Your email address will not be published. Permits: 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. Having said that, dont let the challenge dissuade you! However, dont count on this as a guarantee it is far better to try to secure an Enchantments permit in advance. This day-hike only shares a couple of miles of the Enchantments Trail, bypassing most of the crowds for solitude in a stunning valley. We hope you snag a permit! Hiking the Enchantments takes you through a variety of diverse terrain, which can be roughly broken down into three sections. After entering the permit lottery in 2018 and failing to get permits, we didnt feel too confident going into the 2019 lottery. Some particularly adventurous skiers and snowshoers attempt the trail during the winter, but thats only advised for very experienced winter sports enthusiasts. 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. Negative Elev. Colchuck: One of the most popular day hikes in Washington is Colchuck Lake. Its a unique, labor-intensive process that has an extremely low success rate (the odds of winning a permit are about 2% at best), but well worth it. Up is easier than down, especially at the beginning of a long hike! Sounds like you know what you're doing - it will be an adventure. I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete it. 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. We spent hours doing this one day and it saved us from being bored as we were cooped up in our tent! The trail in this area passes by stunning spots like aptly-named Lake Perfection and Lake Vivianne while continuously dropping in elevation towards Snow Lake. Permits are required for day and overnight use in this area. Hiking The Enchantments in Washington . This is another hike that is a doable day trip, but if youd like to stay overnight, youll need to enter the Enchantments lottery for a permit. 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. So I'm also going to try to do the Enchantments this year. Take a left at this intersection, then follow the dirt road for 4 miles until reaching the Stuart Lake trailhead. Its also important to note theres a lot to consider before hiking the Enchantments. Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) CRAZY! ), but with backpacking packs on, it can be pretty brutal at times. Most people prefer to backpack in the Enchantments during the summer months, to enjoy the clear blue lakes and granite rocks. For most hikers, this is the hardest day hike they've ever done. Continue reading. Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) Jun 24, 2014 at 7:44 am #1318302. Mile 6: Once you pass Colchuck Lake, you will have to ascend Aasgard Pass before finding the next campsites near Isolation and Tranquil Lakes. The permits for the Enchantments area are divided into zones. The Enchantments are not named as such for naught - they have some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in the country. Drive 4 miles past the Snow Lakes parking lot until you reach FS Road 7601. The Snow Lake trailhead is near a large parking lot next to the creek. On average, 10 active hours for typical hiking speed of 1000 ft/hr. day hikes near Leavenworth. There is little if any cell service available on this trail, and emergency help is far away. - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! With a daypack, the scrambling isnt too bad (I hate rock scrambling and didnt cry! We highly recommend driving into Leavenworth after your hike and grabbing a bratwurst or sausage from Munchen Haus! I booked this time as I wanted the beautiful golden larches. You may be able to find a ride back to the Stuart Lake trailhead from someone else completing their hike, but for overnight trips, most people leave a car at both trailheads. Bring rain entertainmentOne of the best things we did was download Netflix and books in case it rained. Redwood National Park in California - (https://youtu.be . Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the Enchantments is full of alpine lakes, rocky peaks, larches, mountain goats, and incredible views. 14 days ago. 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. The Yucatn Peninsula is the heart of the ancient, The cenotes tour we booked through @airbnbexperien. Its not scary, but you will need to go slow. While Aasgard Pass terrifies us, we want to experience it once in our lifetime and wed rather do it without the heavy packs. Plan your hike for mid-July to mid-September, and check both trip reports and weather forecasts before getting started. For this multi-night backpacking adventure, make sure you are prepared with the right gear. 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. Both trailheads get really busy, so arrive early! I read a review that said it was really steep. Wildlife in the area is accustomed to visitors, making it easy to get good pictures of any you spot during your trip. 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. Day Hike: As we mentioned above, if you do not get a permit to backpack, you can dayhike it! The weather in the mountains can change quickly, so always bring a rainjacket just in case! Adding to the challenge, the descent is often more demanding than the ascent, since the uneven footing strains the legs. How long does it take to hike the Enchantments trail? 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. While taking pictures and enjoying the company, you will need to keep your distance to keep yourself and the animals safe. The most challenging section of the trail is between Colchuck Lake and the Core Enchantment Zone. Everything you bring in needs to be taken out this includes trash, fruit peels, etc. It is never acceptable to clean pots by submerging them in a natural body of water. In 2018 (still waiting on 2019 numbers), 17,586 people applied for 708 Core permitsgiving them a 4% chance to snag one. Elev. The best times to hike in the Enchantments are lake summer and early fall. a little bit of snow on the trail even in early September Whenever you decide to continue on, be prepared for continuation of the rocky trail. 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