Drop one off at the hikes endpoint, then drive everyone to the starting point. But once you get up Aasgard, you have an alpine lake filled playground to call home for the night. Camping spots are limited, but when possible, put your tent up away from other tents to give other campers privacy. One of Washingtons best hikes, the Enchantments absolutely lives up to the hype (and its name!). Good mealsAfter a long day of hiking, there is nothing better than a hot meal. Your email address will not be published. But where do you start? 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! Day 4: Hike out through Colchuck. Always maintain a very safe distance from wildlife, and take care of your business well away from the trail and campsites! Almost immediately beyond the lake, the trail becomes littered with large boulders and scree, making a bit of route-finding a sudden necessity. The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) 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 the last Enchantments campsite location on the way out to the end of the trail. Wildlife in the area is accustomed to visitors, making it easy to get good pictures of any you spot during your trip. The zone is named after Snow Lake, the final lake before you climb up into the Core zone. McClellan Peak, Little Annapurna, Dragontail Peak, and Pusik Pass are all accessible from the Core. The trail continues to be rocky and steep and several sections require scrambling using both hands and feet. While youll have no cell phone service, being able to charge your phone to take photos, look at a map, etc is crucial. So on September 14, with fully loaded packs, we headed into the Enchantments! We recommend this RAVPower Charger, which has two charging ports! Many consider it one of the most beautiful areas of the state. Note: in 2019 they reduced the number of permits due to wildfire damage. Hiking the Enchantments means your jaw will drop at every turn. In this video, we provide a complete day hiking guide so you can complete the. 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. The summer temperatures drop (it occasionally reaches a scorching 100 degrees in July and August!) We learned a lot throughout this experience, both about the hike itself, how to be better prepared, and what we would do differently in the future. : 7982 ft. Max Elev. The first campsites are at Lake Colchuck, about four miles into the hike. Bring rain entertainmentOne of the best things we did was download Netflix and books in case it rained. 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. You cant go wrong with overnighting at any of the five lakes; theyre all stunning! Up is easier than down, especially at the beginning of a long hike! Those on the shorter end trail run a portion of the trail. If you begin at the lower Snow Creek Trailhead, reverse the numbers. 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. 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. Here, just east of Leavenworth in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and reachable only on foot, are the Enchantments. Read More. a little bit of snow on the trail even in early September Colchuck Lake: Stuart Lake Trailhead to first view of the lake4.2 miles (one way)2,200 ft elevation gain. Enter: Christie, our Enchantments savior. There are numerous epic campsites along the trail; however, where you can camp overnight depends strictly on the permit you receive. Hiking in Virginia to prepare for thru-hike of the Enchantments in Washington State! ! 25. r/hiking. However, since these are averages it is best to be prepared for a wide range of temperatures during your trip. On a journey to Alaska in @brisketthevan Looking up from Leprechaun Lake. The most popular day hike in the Enchantments leads to a breathtaking blue glacial lake right underneath Aasgard Pass. When is the best season to go? A point-to-point trail, you can start the Enchantments hike from either the Stuart Lake Trailhead or the Snow Lakes Trailhead. 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. by Craig Romano . The only way to visit the Enchantments is by hiking and it is no easy task. 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. But the best partshe got six permits, which meant that Yvonne, Jeffrey, Adam, and myself could all go with her and her boyfriend Jackson! Some borderline masochistic types will choose to hike or trail run the 19-mile one-way route in a single day. This is actually the highest elevation point on the entire trail, so from here, the rest of the hike is mostly downhill. Last year, I did the hike up to the summit of Mt. But we couldnt miss the opportunity to go, so we committed to the permits and figured we would make it all work. I'm a decent hiker but some of the bouldering is more . Another option is tapping into local hiking groups. Pre- Enchantments: A lot went into this 4 day/3 night backpacking trip. Cathole TrowelNature may call during your trip and when it does, youll need a cathole trowel! The best season to hike to the lakes is summer and early fall, namely late July/August to September/early October. Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! Spread out over a few days, its incredibly rewarding, with once-in-a-lifetime views and experience to match your efforts. Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) We managed to score a 5 day permit in the snow zone for Aug 30-Sept 3. The two trailheads are fortunately only a 30-minute drive apart, so the easiest option is driving two vehicles. To avoid these food thieves when camping or hiking through, youll want to keep your food in an animal-proof container. We hope to inform, inspire, and empower you to get outside, see this incredible world, and find your WILD! Overview of the Enchantments Hike These statistics are for the thru-hike from Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead to the Snow Lakes Trailhead. 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! In February I put in the permit application for the enchantments as I heard everyone talking about it. But on March 20, we got the disappointing news that we did not get permits. The trail down to Inspiration Lake is steep the first taste of the downhill you will encounter on the remaining trail. Depending on snow conditions, you may also want to bring gaiters to protect your boots from getting filled with snow. They also make some amazing meat and veggie bars. 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. 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. Over the years, the hike has become increasingly popular, making winning a permit in the lottery almost like winning the actual lottery. Thanks for the ideas! Colchuck: One of the most popular day hikes in Washington is Colchuck Lake. ), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. As an Amazon Associate, Small Town Washington earns from qualifying purchases. The miles of steep, rocky terrain are relentless and because youre at high elevation, you often have to combat Mother Nature, too. 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. Since the Enchantments hike is a point to point trail, its necessary to consider transportation logistics. 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. How late can you hike the Enchantments? Mileage: 20ish, 4600 Elevation gain/ 6000 elevation loss. 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). Prior experience will help prepare you for the Enchantments hike and make it more fun! Although this is difficult, many people prefer this option to hiking the other direction, which involves a much longer strenuous uphill section of trail. Something we wish we had brought were waterproof pants. As you descend, you will reach Snow Lakes and Nada Lake, both with a variety of campgrounds for the weary hiker. 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. I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete it. Understandably, the trail gets busy and snagging an overnight permit is extremely tough. The Enchantments is a slice of hiking paradise. A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. Obviously, for this, you will need two drivers in your party and two cars! Not sure where to start? Positive Elev. I read a review that said it was really steep. Hiking with music can be fun but it is good practice to use headphones so that other hikers dont have to listen to it. We day hiked the 8 miles round trip to Colchuck a couple summers ago and despite running out of water (rookie mistake), it is still one of our favorite hikes in all of Washington! 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. This will give you time to cool off and avoid hiking in the heat of the day. This way, youll knock out most of the elevation gain in the first quarter of the hike. 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. Elev. Regardless of the weather you will need to be prepared for fluctuating temperatures and potential storms. 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. The elevation gain and loss are large, meaning that you will be working hard at most points during your hike. Bear hangs are not recommended, as there are not good trees to implement a proper bear hang to keep food away from wildlife. Leave a car here for your return and continue down Icicle Creek Road towards the Stuart Lake Trailhead. Christie is Yvonnes friend, who I had met before, and happened to enter the lottery the day before it closed. Adventure joined a group of our friends on a trip up to the Enchantments in Washington. If youre hiking the Enchantments by yourself or dont have two vehicles, there are other options. Day Hike: As we mentioned above, if you do not get a permit to backpack, you can dayhike it! 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. Mile 8: Just below Inspiration Lake is another group of campsites. Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the Enchantments is full of alpine lakes, rocky peaks, larches, mountain goats, and incredible views. These campsites provide excellent views of Little Annapurna, one of the tallest peaks along the trail, and an opportunity for a scrambling side-trip if you are feeling adventurous. The median time is 10 to 12 hours. It is one of our favorite Washington memories and we cannot wait to experience it again someday! The Stuart/Colchuck Lake trailhead is down a VERY rough forested road. First, there is an accepted right-of way when hiking on a trail. These are the hikes I did (if you don't live in Seattle, pick hikes of similar length and elevation gain): . I've been trying to prep by putting some weights in my backpack and hiking up and down the hills by my house. As the trail winds through the lakes surrounded by lichen-covered rocks beneath the rugged mountain peaks, you will find more campsites. Overview. But similar to Eightmile/Caroline, this permit is much easier to get! Hiking up Aasgard Pass means that the remaining 13 miles of trail are generally downhill. Once applications are drawn, there is a few-week period where successful applicants must accept their permit. Everything you bring in needs to be taken out this includes trash, fruit peels, etc. 1. Our friends all brought Mountain House meals and loved theirs too! Additionally, this is where you'll get to do some off-trail excursions. When you apply, you select your entry date and location and pay a $10 non-refundable application fee. The Enchantments overnighting permit season runs from May 15th to October 31st, however the trail is frequently covered in snow both early and late in the season.To be on the safe side, plan your hike for mid-July to late-September. September 30, 2022. The setting is picture-perfect; however, hiking here in just one day from Stuart Lake is challenging. When the landscape is snow-covered, the lakes may be frozen and not distinguishable from the rest of the landscape. If you have two nights, spend some extra time exploring the side trails and lakes in this area. This day-hike only shares a couple of miles of the Enchantments Trail, bypassing most of the crowds for solitude in a stunning valley. The Enchantments are an absolutely amazing alpine wonderland located in central Washington state. Permits: The best chances of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the season and avoid major holidays. 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 water is almost as impressive as the backdrop: the jagged and dramatic Dragontail peak. But one of the places that would undoubtedly make the list is The Enchantments Wilderness Area. Please see our. Four of us applied together and each put the same dates, zones, etc. Top 10 Hiking 100 Classic Hikes: Washington, 3rd Ed. Didnt get a permit? 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 bought a new water filter for the trip and the water filtered super fastit was amazing! Only way to visit the Enchantments in Washington on March 20, we the. 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