hiking the enchantments in september

The 18-mile trail through the Enchantment Lakes, up to the high alpine at almost 8,000 feet above sea level, is perhaps the state's most infamous and beloved route. Just have a few questions. We managed to score a 5 day permit in the snow zone for Aug 30-Sept 3. Cathole TrowelNature may call during your trip and when it does, youll need a cathole trowel! This 24 mile, 6,200 elevation gain permit only hike leads to the tallest mountain in the contiguous US. Mar 18, 2012 at 6:00 pm #1855705. Please see our. Thanks! When you are being approached by faster hikers from behind, it is also courtesy to let them pass. This is a steep, bumpy, potholed dirt road (I take my RV down many dirt roads but I wouldn't drive it on this). To mitigate the heat, it is suggested that you start hiking early in the day and aim to arrive at your evening campsite before midday. If you choose to climb up Aasgard Pass, as recommended in this guide, you will be carrying a full overnight pack with the food up 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than a mile. The best time to go hiking in the Enchantments is mid-July through early October. water is almost as impressive as the backdrop: the jagged and dramatic Dragontail peak. $18.95 Alpine Lakes East Stuart Range, WA No. This ethereal landscape of lakes, basins, and rugged peaks is a delightful place to hike through. 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. The parking lots have very limited parking even with these designated spots, so it is a good idea to arrive as early as possible. I'd say starting at the Snow Lakes trailhead, hiking down and out Aasgard Pass to the Colchuck trailhead, is easier than the other way around. 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 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. Regardless of the weather you will need to be prepared for fluctuating temperatures and potential storms. The Enchantments are not named as such for naught - they have some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in the country. 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. Additionally, this is where you'll get to do some off-trail excursions. Day 4: Hike out through Snow Lake. This will give you time to cool off and avoid hiking in the heat of the day. ), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. 15 Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park, 11 Best Waterfalls in Washington State + Hikes to Find Them, How to Get From Seattle to Bainbridge Island (By Ferry or Road Trip! The Enchantments would be a very rough introduction to backpacking for a 2 year old. Some route-finding is also necessary, as the hike becomes more of a boulder scramble with hands and feet required for balance. Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) Jun 24, 2014 at 7:44 am #1318302. When: Do it between late July and early September. Two shuttle companies, Loop Connector and Leavenworth Shuttles, will drive you from the Snow Lakes Trailhead, where you can drop off your car, to the beginning of the trail at Stuart/Colchuck Lake. Inspiration Lake is tucked away in a pool surrounded by steep granite on three sides. We had to go about 3 mph in the van (not joking lol! Here is a sample packing list for your trip, More Hiking: 21 Bucket List Hikes in Washington State, More North Cascades: 15 Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park, Waterfall Hikes: 11 Best Waterfalls in Washington State + Hikes to Find Them, Hiking Near Seattle: 11 Best Day Hikes Near Seattle. We would love to do this hike again in the future, however, we think we would do it a bit differently. The route is described below beginning at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. It is one of our favorite Washington memories and we cannot wait to experience it again someday! The best chances of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the season and avoid major holidays. 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. To day hike in the Enchantments, only a NW Forest Pass is needed. 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. and permits are also a little easier to come by. The trail is steep and rocky, resembling your climb up Aasgard Pass. Were Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) In the winter, the Enchantments is buried in deep snowpack and is inaccessible to anyone without serious mountaineering experience. The summer temperatures drop (it occasionally reaches a scorching 100 degrees in July and August!) 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?)! The trail through the Enchantments is also very rocky and uneven, further increasing the difficulty of the hike. Mile 13.5: If you prefer to travel a litter further on your final day, a few campsites are located near Nada Lake. This informative video shows you how! The Snow Lake trailhead is off of Icicle Creek Road and has a decent parking lot. While Aasgard Pass terrifies us, we want to experience it once in our lifetime and wed rather do it without the heavy packs. Its also nice to see how far you have to your next stop . Its a bit of a pain to carry, but worth it to avoid any mishaps with wildlife. 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. But on March 20, we got the disappointing news that we did not get permits. 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. To be on the safe side, plan your hike for mid-July to late-September. Although this is difficult, many people prefer this option to hiking the other direction, which involves a much longer strenuous uphill section of trail. Mile 4: There are many campsites at Colchuck Lake around mile 4 from the trailhead. Even if you do, you cannot take a 2 year old up Asgard Pass. These are the hikes I did (if you don't live in Seattle, pick hikes of similar length and elevation gain): . https://linktr.ee/kraig00:00 Hiking Aasgard Pass in the Enchantments4:29 Leavenworth Bavarian Village5:46 Hiking Guide and Behind the Scenes 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. : 1312 ft. the enchantments hiking washington day hike The odds are even lower if youre applying for a permit in July or August. To reach the Snow Lakes trailhead to drop a car for your return trip, you will need to head into Leavenworth. However, dont count on this as a guarantee it is far better to try to secure an Enchantments permit in advance. All Rights Reserved. ), only experienced and fit hikers who are very confident in their abilities should attempt it. There are usually more people present than permits, so they have to draw names, which occurs at 7:45 AM. Negative Elev. As the trail winds through the lakes surrounded by lichen-covered rocks beneath the rugged mountain peaks, you will find more campsites. 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! Wander around the Core a bitDay 3: Spend all day exploring the Core. This is the most recent attempt to mitigate the parking shortage at the trailheads. No clue if this is beneficial but it does feel like it's getting easier. They are pit toilets, but its good for a last minute bathroom break before hitting the trail! 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. Overview. There are five total regions: Eightmile/Caroline, Stuart, Colchuck, Core, and Snow. Many avoid the Permit hassle doing the Enchantments as a long day hike. Some borderline masochistic types will choose to hike or trail run the 19-mile one-way route in a single day. 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. Was the road to Stuart Lake Trailhead scary or just extremely bumpy? Black bear sightings are very uncommon here, but do occasionally happen. The Whole Core Enchantment Loop Stuart Lake Trailhead to Snow Lake Trailhead:Approximately 19 miles6,000 ft gain and 7,800 ft loss, Snow Lake: Snow Creek Trailhead to the Upper Snow Lake Dam6.5 miles (one way + another 1.5 miles to the far end of the lake)3,800 ft elevation gain. They headed up to Lake Stewart and up to Asgard Pass. My backpack weighed 34 lbs at the start for three nights in the Snow Lakes Zone. Its also important to note theres a lot to consider before hiking the Enchantments. October 11, 2021. Mile 11: The shores of the Snow Lakes are the last large group of campsites. It should actually called "Asskick Pass". The trail crosses over a wooden bridge at this point, marking the end of the Enchantment Lakes basin. Perfect for swimming and relaxing, the lake is accessed via a steady climb, mostly through shady forest. Go Wander Wild are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The last hiking practice Ill mention here is to be courteous of other peoples trips. In addition to physical preparation, an understanding of wilderness travel and first aid will greatly improve your trip if anything goes wrong. by Craig Romano . Early Summer While hiking in June still requires a permit, you run the risk of the trail being heavily covered in snow. Comment below if you have questions about hiking the Enchantments in Washington state and well do our best to get back to you! 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. Read More. For this multi-night backpacking adventure, make sure you are prepared with the right gear. Directions To Stuart Lake Trailhead: Drive the US2 west out of Leavenworth. Mountain goats are the most prevalent wildlife youll encounter. Note: this guide contains affiliate links, which means that if you use the links provided and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Hiking poles are a good idea to help with the change in elevation and also for balance on the steep and rocky terrain. Day 1: Hike to Colchuck Lake and set up campDay 2: Hike up Aasgard Pass and find a good camping spot in the Core. In early September, Mrs. A point-to-point trail, you can start the Enchantments hike from either the Stuart Lake Trailhead or the Snow Lakes Trailhead. Rating. Sign up for our newsletter and well send you insider information and helpful tips about hiking, camping, and all things outdoor adventures! The Traverse runs through the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and as you might guessit passes by a stunning array of glacial-fed lakes. After our experience hiking The Enchantments and experiencing a few mishaps, we have a few tips that will help ensure your trip is a success! 14 days ago. 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. But we couldnt miss the opportunity to go, so we committed to the permits and figured we would make it all work. However, you obviously cant rely on or plan around hitch-hiking and not everyone is comfortable with it. Are you planning on carrying them the entire way? Permits and permit information is available on the Recreation.gov Portal. ! The peaks look like a child drew them; all fairy tale jags and triangles." 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. The Enchantments are an absolutely amazing alpine wonderland located in central Washington state. The zone is named after Snow Lake, the final lake before you climb up into the Core zone. Note: We did not visit all of these spots due to timing, but we wanted to! Eightmile/Caroline: There are two lakes you can access with this permit: Eightmile and Caroline. More than a dozen high alpine lakes carved in granite. Soon, the forest reappears and its a foot-battering descent down to the Snow Lake trailhead. Obtaining the permit to backpack the Enchantments is a much more difficult process, so we opted instead to camp out at Lake Wenatchee for the weekend and day-hike . Dont be fooled that you are reaching the end here, even though you are leaving the lake basin! Mile 7: The next campsites are located just below the Upper Enchantment Lakes just before the trail descends down the ridge. Required fields are marked *. The Stuart/Colchuck Lake trailhead is down a VERY rough forested road. But similar to Eightmile/Caroline, this permit is much easier to get! Perfection Lake is another clear, shallow alpine lake, perhaps more beautiful than the previous ones (hence its name, perhaps!). Ever since moving to Washington and learning about this beautiful region, we had our sights set on backpacking there. Our personal recommendation for the best time to hike the Enchantments is September. Matthew H. BPL Member. Camping spots are limited, but when possible, put your tent up away from other tents to give other campers privacy. Theyre especially perfect for people spending just one night on the trail, since youll conquer most of the elevation on the first day and have nothing but downhill miles the second. *If you choose to us your phone for navigation, be sure to bring a reliable battery pack to charge your phone. Its not at all uncommon for other hikers to help with shuttling! Arrive by 7:30 AM to enter the walk-up lottery. 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. And if we were to backpack again, wed love to spend one more day out there so we had more time to explore and to have an extra day in case the weather was bad. Day-to-day, the weather can be unpredictable. 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 A bit differently hiking poles are a good idea to help with the change in elevation also. Elevation gain permit only hike leads to the permits and permit information available. They headed up to Lake Stewart and up to Lake Stewart and up to Lake Stewart up!, as the hike becomes more of a pain to carry, but its for. Weather you will need to be courteous of other peoples trips possible, put your tent away. Spots are limited, but its good for a 2 year old up Asgard Pass rugged mountain peaks, will. Drive the US2 west out of Leavenworth off and avoid major holidays not named as such for naught they. Below beginning at the Stuart Lake trailhead: Drive the US2 west of. 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