Rating. Prior experience will help prepare you for the Enchantments hike and make it more fun! The below table is the monthly average temperatures for Leavenworth. McClellan Peak, Little Annapurna, Dragontail Peak, and Pusik Pass are all accessible from the Core. It is never acceptable to clean pots by submerging them in a natural body of water. 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. These permits can be difficult to secure, as most of them are drawn on a lottery. We only recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! The climb up the pass is grueling, but once you make it, you will be blessed with the view of the Core Enchantment Zone the granite rock and bright blue alpine lakes that make this place special. Leave a car here for your return and continue down Icicle Creek Road towards the Stuart Lake Trailhead. Permits and permit information is available on the Recreation.gov Portal. The final group of campsites is at Snow Lake and Nada Lake, after quite a bit of descent and just a few miles from the Snow Lakes Trailhead. 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. The Enchantments is a region in Washington, just 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, a super cute Bavarian village town. Once we reached the top of the pass, however, it was all worthwhile! As you head down from Isolation and Tranquil Lakes, the terrain changes from the smooth granite rocks to alpine meadows. 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. October 11, 2021. Day 4: Hike out through Colchuck. Up is easier than down, especially at the beginning of a long hike! Adding to the challenge, the descent is often more demanding than the ascent, since the uneven footing strains the legs. 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 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. Heres a quick rundown of each one! You can also choose an alternate leader. The Enchantments area is full of wildlife, and you have a high chance of seeing wildlife on your visit including mountain goats, squirrels, marmots, pika, and marten. The permits for the Enchantments area are divided into zones. Starting at Stuart / Colchuck Lake trailhead means you climb 4,549 ft and descend 6,688 ft. The weather in the mountains can change quickly, so always bring a rainjacket just in case! This trail winds through a beautiful wilderness area that many other hikes enjoy. 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?)! But once you get up Aasgard, you have an alpine lake filled playground to call home for the night. Hi Kym! Mar 18, 2012 at 6:00 pm #1855705. Hiking with music can be fun but it is good practice to use headphones so that other hikers dont have to listen to it. The next mile is by far the toughest of the entire trail. Enter: Christie, our Enchantments savior. But dont worry, if you dont get one, a day hike is still super worth it! Our friends all brought Mountain House meals and loved theirs too! 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. Theres no sense in minimizing it: the Enchantments hike is very strenuous. Your email address will not be published. For a challenging side adventure, there is a trail that branches off near Perfection Lake and heads up Prusik Pass. In October, unpredictable snowstorms start to roll into the higher elevations, making the trail dangerous. Note: in 2019 they reduced the number of permits due to wildfire damage. En route, youll spot the craggy peaks of the Enchantments without a thigh-burning climb. 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 Enchantments is a slice of hiking paradise. Here are two ways you can geta permit after the lottery closes: Our tip: even though this didnt work for us, apply with friends to increase your chances. Redwood National Park in California - (https://youtu.be . Core: The most popular (and coveted) area is the Core zone, which is where the majority of the lakes reside. and permits are also a little easier to come by. To get to this zone, you have to climb up the infamous Aasgard Pass, a steep and rocky area directly to the left of Dragontail peak, which gains 2,000 ft elevation gain in of a mileouch.This portion of the hike requires scrambling and boulder fields and is extremely difficult and even dangerous in the wrong weather conditions, so please keep that in mind when deciding if you are going to tackle the Core zone. . 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. No clue if this is beneficial but it does feel like it's getting easier. Posted on September 5, 2011 September 6, 2011 by Rick Mc. Its also nice to see how far you have to your next stop . The descent from here is long and tedious, and the large decline in elevation challenges most hikers. There are five unique areas amongst the Enchantments zone which covers about 75 square miles. There are usually more people present than permits, so they have to draw names, which occurs at 7:45 AM. Please see our. The Enchantments hike is most commonly completed as a one-way thru-hike since the hike is long and the terrain can be difficult. Drive 8.4 miles and turn left onto Forest Service Road 7601. The last hiking practice Ill mention here is to be courteous of other peoples trips. 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. 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. Colchuck: One of the most popular day hikes in Washington is Colchuck Lake. We had to use our hands for balance as we slooowly clambered up what seemed like a near-vertical route. "I can see why it's called the Enchantments. ), but with backpacking packs on, it can be pretty brutal at times. Positive Elev. 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. The setting is absolutely beautiful, but camping here leaves the bulk of the hike, including Aasgard Pass, for the next day. The first frost usually comes in mid-October. 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. The only way to visit the Enchantments is by hiking and it is no easy task. February 1, 2022. The most popular day hike in the Enchantments leads to a breathtaking blue glacial lake right underneath Aasgard Pass. 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. CRAZY! Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) Jun 24, 2014 at 7:44 am #1318302. 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. Each campsite listed has a wilderness toilet for your use and to preserve the natural beauty of the area. Overview of the Enchantments Hike Length of Time: 8 to 15 hours. Didnt get a permit? But similar to Eightmile/Caroline, this permit is much easier to get! As you approach Leavenworth from the west on Highway 2, you will turn onto Icicle Creek Road on the edge of town. 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 However, you obviously cant rely on or plan around hitch-hiking and not everyone is comfortable with it. Permits: Early Summer While hiking in June still requires a permit, you run the risk of the trail being heavily covered in snow. The trail down here is long, but if you can remember to enjoy the continued beauty, it will make the rest of the trip less painful. The hike is a mixture of a regular dirt trail and rock scrambling. Near the Bavarian town of Leavenworth (but hidden from sight), The Enchantments loom. 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. If you have two nights, spend some extra time exploring the side trails and lakes in this area. Weve done multi-day hikes in the area (after obtaining the illustrious Enchantments Wilderness Permit), and weve also thru-hiked this 19-mile trail in one day. With your permit you will receive special parking permits for each of the trailhead, allowing you to park in designated spots for permitees. 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 Colchuck. Then, youd likely get a long rambling list of epic places weve been or those were itching to visit. 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. These days experience the least precipitation and are most likely to have clear skies and warm days. The zone is named after Snow Lake, the final lake before you climb up into the Core zone. We camped probably 1 mile from where you start the hike to the Core from the Snow Lakes area. Its a good idea to pack bear spray just to be safe. Don't shower for 3 weeks leading up your hike as a human repellent. - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! Comment below if you have questions about hiking the Enchantments in Washington state and well do our best to get back to you! Although many are also strenuous, they still make fantastic hikes into this stunning part of the Cascades! I did this as a thru hike in September, the trail was harder than I anticipated. 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. Your email address will not be published. These are the hikes I did (if you don't live in Seattle, pick hikes of similar length and elevation gain): . 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. In fact, people have died doing so from falling into crevasses or waterfall holes. Cathole TrowelNature may call during your trip and when it does, youll need a cathole trowel! The trailheads for both are located off Icicle Creek Road. The first campsites are at Lake Colchuck, about four miles into the hike. Wildlife in the area is accustomed to visitors, making it easy to get good pictures of any you spot during your trip. When you are being approached by faster hikers from behind, it is also courtesy to let them pass. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Policy, 2021 Adventures of A+K. The mountain goats in particular are habituated to visitors. 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! 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 best season to hike to the lakes is summer and early fall, namely late July/August to September/early October. As an Airbnb Associate, we may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. To September/early October of any you spot during your trip Pass, however, it was all worthwhile other trips... Hikers from behind, it can be difficult to secure, as most them! September, the descent from here is long and tedious, and think you can benefit from!... Annapurna, Dragontail Peak, and Pusik Pass are all accessible from the on! Through 13 ( of 13 total ) Jun 24, 2014 at 7:44 AM # 1318302 Depositphotos... 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