Since youll be at a higher elevation, the nights may get cool. One thing thats good to know is that we saw a lot of different mileage reports for this hike. There is little if any cell service available on this trail, and emergency help is far away. "I can see why it's called the Enchantments. Whitney in CA as a day hike. Although bears are not commonly sighted, they are present in the area and may also try to get into food. The challenging 20-mile trail requires advanced planning, so weve broken it down in a comprehensive hiking guide. Our friends had some and we were a taddddd jealous when their legs were nice and dry!If its warm out, bring a swimsuit so you can swim in one of the lakes! Mile 13.5: If you prefer to travel a litter further on your final day, a few campsites are located near Nada Lake. If you click through a link on Small Town Washington, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This Pacific Northwest travel blog is dedicated to exploring the best of the region, with a special emphasis on Washingtons small towns, national parks, and many incredible weekend getaways. 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. End: Snow Lakes Trailhead. If you are cooking in the alpine, research proper techniques for cleaning pots and pans. The Yucatn Peninsula is the heart of the ancient, The cenotes tour we booked through @airbnbexperien. :) It is easy to lose the main path up Aasgard Pass, but you will want to take the extra time to stay on it, since it is more solid and easier, especially if you are carrying a heavy overnight pack. We lived in Leavenworth for a while, and have been lucky enough to hike in the Enchantments a few times, and each experience has been pretty different. Hi Kym! If you are not comfortable rock scrambling, this hike may not be the best fit for you. The only way to visit the Enchantments is by hiking and it is no easy task. Before setting out on this trip, make sure you are physically ready for a strenuous hike through the wilderness! 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. Soon, the forest reappears and its a foot-battering descent down to the Snow Lake trailhead. 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. ), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. Regardless of the time of year of your hike, this is a mountainous alpine hike, and it is important to pack a range of layers for clothing, including enough warm layers in case the weather turns bad. In 2018 (still waiting on 2019 numbers), 17,586 people applied for 708 Core permitsgiving them a 4% chance to snag one. After getting b, Our beautiful home in Mrida! Rating. Day Hike: As we mentioned above, if you do not get a permit to backpack, you can dayhike it! 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. To day hike in the Enchantments, only a NW Forest Pass is needed. My favorite waterfall's still in its winter coat. 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. We camped probably 1 mile from where you start the hike to the Core from the Snow Lakes area. At this time, applicants must choose an exit date and provide payment for the permits. Always maintain a very safe distance from wildlife, and take care of your business well away from the trail and campsites! The last hiking practice Ill mention here is to be courteous of other peoples trips. Snow: This is the zone we camped in during our time in the Enchantments. To do the car shuttle, you will need to first drop a car off at the Snow Lakes trailhead, then gather at the Stuart Lakes Trailhead to begin your hike. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. We coordinated with two friends (Yvonne and Jeffrey) on the dates we wanted, zones we wanted to apply for, and other logistics. There are five permit zones: Core Enchantment, Snow Lake, Colchuck Lake, Stuart Lake, and the Eightmile/Caroline zone. A rainy day at Rune Lake (Perfection Lake) in September. 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. Cathole TrowelNature may call during your trip and when it does, youll need a cathole trowel! On a journey to Alaska in @brisketthevan ), 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). 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. The next set of campsites is along the lakeshores of the five lakes situated in what is known as the Enchantments Core: Isolation Lake, Inspiration Lake, Perfection Lake, Leprechaun Lake and Lake Vivianne. The two trailheads are fortunately only a 30-minute drive apart, so the easiest option is driving two vehicles. However, camping and hiking in the Enchantments is well worth all the effort! While taking pictures and enjoying the company, you will need to keep your distance to keep yourself and the animals safe. This trail winds through a beautiful wilderness area that many other hikes enjoy. $21.95 Day Hiking Central Cascades by Craig Romano . 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. The hike is a mixture of a regular dirt trail and rock scrambling. However, our friends had to park on the side of the road. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 12 h 12 min to complete. We couldnt get enough of this section, and highly recommend it as the best for camping! Early Summer While hiking in June still requires a permit, you run the risk of the trail being heavily covered in snow. This is a steep, bumpy, potholed dirt road (I take my RV down many dirt roads but I wouldn't drive it on this). Were glad this helps! : 1312 ft. the enchantments hiking washington day hike Having said that, dont let the challenge dissuade you! Don't shower for 3 weeks leading up your hike as a human repellent. $18.95 Alpine Lakes East Stuart Range, WA No. They headed up to Lake Stewart and up to Asgard Pass. Its a good idea to pack bear spray just to be safe. Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the Enchantments is full of alpine lakes, rocky peaks, larches, mountain goats, and incredible views. 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. The Enchantments Thru-Hike point-to-point Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Hiked on 10/9/2021 Start: Stuart Lake Trailhead Destination: Snow Lakes Trailhead View Hike Track View Gallery Distance: 18.12 mi. During warm dry summer days in July and August, you will also need to be prepared for hot afternoons. If you have more time, you wont get bored spending more time in this beautiful area! This campsite location puts you in a great position to finish the hike the next day and return home. Read More. Enchantment Area Wilderness Permits The rugged and beautiful Enchantment Permit Area is contained within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. Once you finish hiking, you can use the vehicle at the end to go back and retrieve the other one. The. Mile 7: The next campsites are located just below the Upper Enchantment Lakes just before the trail descends down the ridge. 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. Last year, I did the hike up to the summit of Mt. External chargerThis is a must for a multi-day backpacking trip! Not sure where to start? Wander around the Core a bitDay 3: Spend all day exploring the Core. Check out our 37 favorite hikes in Washington! We have a leisurely morning, then set out on a meandering dayhike up through the snow into the Upper Core. Note to everyone: Aasgard Pass is a misnomer. The lakes and rocks will be melted off, allowing you to fully see them. The trail is steep and rocky, resembling your climb up Aasgard Pass. 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 Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In either direction, the trail is stunning, offering views across the Cascades and passing by numerous bright-blue glacial lakes and chiseled mountain peaks. Here is a rundown of the mileage for different portions of the hike, directly from the Forest Service. 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. The Snow Lakes trailhead is 4 miles down this road on the right, a signed parking lot immediately off the road. 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. Wander around the Core a bitDay 3: Spend all day exploring the Core. Here are some of these hiking courtesies that help improve everyones trip. Stuart: The Stuart zone is named after Lake Stuart, which is a 9 mile round trip hike. 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. There was a catch though: we got Snow Lake permits, not Core permits (If all of this sounds like a foreign language, dont worry, we will explain it all down below!) The first frost usually comes in mid-October. and permits are also a little easier to come by. The Enchantments is a collection of alpine lakes nestled amongst tall granite peaks and spires in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington. Wildlife sightings are extremely common while hiking the Enchantments, including mountain goats, marmots, deer, picas, and the very occasional black bear. Maybe you'll get lucky and have good weather. We have a 22 B+ van. Although its rare for them to be aggressive, weve heard of instances where mother goats have attacked hikers trying to protect their kids. This day-hike only shares a couple of miles of the Enchantments Trail, bypassing most of the crowds for solitude in a stunning valley. Permits. These sites are perfect if you have two nights on the trail or if you get a late start the first day. Day 4: Hike out through Snow Lake. 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