You will hike counter-clockwise around Colchuck Lake. Once on the opposite side you start the hike up and over the Aasgard Pass. It takes 45 minutes to one hour to walk around the lake to start of the climb up Aasgard Pass. When you get to the far end of the lake, you’ll come out of the trees and enter a boulder area.
Where do you stay to hike the enchantments?
We stayed in the lovely Bavarian town of Leavenworth . This town sits just outside of the Enchantments and from here it is less than a 10-minute drive to the Snow Lakes Trailhead. It has a wide range of hotels and restaurants as well as small shops. This is a great place to relax, before and after your hike.
When should I hike enchantments?
The best times to hike in the Enchantments are lake summer and early fall . In late spring to early summer, the Enchantments core basin is still snow-covered. This makes travel more difficult and the views an endless sea of white (which is beautiful, just more difficult to hike).
How long does it take to thru-hike the enchantments?
It took Quin and me approximately 13 hours to thru-hike the Enchantments (starting at the Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead at 5:10 AM and finishing at the Snow Lake Trailhead at 6:05 PM). We are not exceptionally fast hikers, we didn’t train at all, and we stop A LOT to take photographs.
How hard is The Enchantments hike?
Even though it is an overall downhill, hiking from the the Core Enchantments to Snow Lake, this part of the trail is still challenging. And it’s very difficult to move quickly . For 1.5 miles, you will descend down steep dirt trails, stepping and scrambling over large rocks and tangled tree roots.
Where do you put Enchantments?
GETTING THERE. The Enchantments are just outside of Leavenworth, Washington . The drive time from Seattle is about 2.5 hours and the drive time from Portland is about 5 hours. From Seattle you’ll take highway 2 to Leavenworth and from Portland you’ll follow 97 to Leavenworth.
Do you need bear spray in the Enchantments?
There are not actually any specific food storage regulations for the Enchantments, so we decided not to carry our bear canister to reduce weight as bears are not a big issue in this area.
How many days do you need for the enchantments?
Trail Route
Although the Enchantments hike can be done in two days, this hike is best done in at least three days , spending two nights camping within the permit zone.
Can you swim in the Enchantments?
Route: For the broadest swim experience, do the Enchantment Traverse, a 21-mile hike starting at the Colchuck Lake Trailhead (Mountaineer Creek) and ending at the Snow Creek Trailhead . See our topo map of the route.
Do I need a permit to day hike Enchantments?
Day users need only fill out a free day-use permit , available at any of the three trailheads accessing The Enchantment Permit Area. Day use is very popular and opportunities for solitude are limited and not likely during the summer.
What should I bring to Enchantments?
- pack- Osprey 65L, still loving this pack!
- pack rain cover (ended up using this a couple times)
- hiking poles.
- tent (love, love, love our Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 3)
- sleeping bag ( I have a mummy Marmot down sleeping bag and hate the mummy style so much.
Are there toilets in The Enchantments?
The network of 40-plus vault toilets located through the Enchantment Basin is one of the main reasons the area remains so pristine.
Is Colchuck Lake hike hard?
Discover this 9.00 mile, out and back trail near Leavenworth, Washington. Generally considered a challenging route , it takes an average of 5 h 10 min to complete.
Can you hike The Enchantments in June?
The Enchantments — Wednesday, Jun.
Hiked across the Core zone this past week June 10 thru June 13 ,2020 . Started on the Colchuck Lake side, up Aasgard pass, across Core Zone and out Snow Lake area.
Is Colchuck trail open?
The gate on Road #7601 near junction with Icicle Road is closed and locked for the season (November 12, 2021) . The road accesses Eightmile and Colchuck/Stuart trailheads. The road is closed to vehicles every winter to protect the roadbed from damage and prevent hazardous travel on the steep exposed snow covered road.
Can you camp in the Enchantments?
The Enchantment Permit Area Zones
During the permit season, camping is restricted to the zone for which a permit is issued . The only exception to this is that those obtaining a Core Enchantment Permit are also allowed to camp in any of the other zones.
How do you win the Enchantments lottery?
Tips. If you wish to see Enchantment Basin, you’ll have much better odds of winning the lottery if you apply for a permit in either the Colchuck or Snow Zones and plan on day-hiking up to the basin (rather than applying to camp there).
Is there cell service in the Enchantments?
Coverage is non-existent from the Stuart Lake trailhead to Aasgard Pass . Don’t expect to post Facebook pictures, but texts in the upper and lower Enchantments did go through for us. To learn more about cell coverage in the wilderness check out the Cairn App.
Can you have fires in the Enchantments?
Fires are prohibited throughout the vast majority of the Enchantment Permit Area ; no fires anywhere above 5,000 feet or within 1/2 mile of any lakes. Camp stoves that burn wood or solid fuel are not allowed above 5,000′ elevation.
