hiking the enchantments in september

A hike through the Enchantments is a very strenuous hike. 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. The trail steadily climbs through dense forest, with increasingly picturesque views of the valley below. THE ENCHANTMENTS TRAIL BREAKDOWN. 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. 1. The trail down to Inspiration Lake is steep the first taste of the downhill you will encounter on the remaining trail. Although bears are not commonly sighted, they are present in the area and may also try to get into food. 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. The Enchantments is a slice of hiking paradise. A rainy day at Rune Lake (Perfection Lake) in September. The only way to visit the Enchantments is by hiking and it is no easy task. As an Airbnb Associate, we may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. Our first time, we were lucky enough to score camping permits and spend a few amazing days in this slice of paradise. 208SX by Green Trails Maps . Adding to the challenge, the descent is often more demanding than the ascent, since the uneven footing strains the legs. The challenging trail is brimming with dramatic stunning scenery, as glacial activity has left the mountains here jagged and steep, and deposited several picturesque alpine lakes. 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. We bought a new water filter for the trip and the water filtered super fastit was amazing! Your email address will not be published. The trail is steep and rocky, resembling your climb up Aasgard Pass. At this time, applicants must choose an exit date and provide payment for the permits. Please see our. Located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of Washington state, this is a wonderland of alpine lakes, jagged mountains, and waterfalls. Local groups often provide introductory courses on backpacking and camping, which would be good practice before embarking on an Enchantments trip. Additionally, an overnight or multi-day journey into the Enchantments allows you to experience swimming and relaxing on alpine lakeshores, the chance to explore side trails, and waking up in some truly stunning camping spots. En route, youll spot the craggy peaks of the Enchantments without a thigh-burning climb. $18.95 Alpine Lakes East Stuart Range, WA No. Explore the most popular trails in my list Enchantments Hiking with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. If you have two nights, spend some extra time exploring the side trails and lakes in this area. Insider tip: Since these campsites are outside the Core Enchantment zone, theyre easier to obtain and open to groups, rather than just individuals. Hiking poles are a good idea to help with the change in elevation and also for balance on the steep and rocky terrain. Through-hiking the Enchantments in one day will challenge and reward you, but it's not for everyone. 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. Even if you dont see other hikers, there are probably other people who can hear your music. Enjoy this walking video tour of the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail in Redwood National Park in California. a little bit of snow on the trail even in early September Cathole TrowelNature may call during your trip and when it does, youll need a cathole trowel! Camping here is best on two-night backpacking trips. The maximum group size is 8 people. Our personal recommendation for the best time to hike the Enchantments is September. This makes travel more difficult and the views an endless sea of white (which is beautiful, just more difficult to hike). Most hikers start from Stuart Lake, and we recommend this direction as well. and permits are also a little easier to come by. Turn left onto Icicle Creek Road. Plus, Stuart Lake is a couple thousand feet higher than Snow Lakes, so your total elevation gain is lower! With the added weight of a pack, some training or backpacking experience is highly recommended before attempting to hike the Enchantments. Toilet paper must be disposed of properly! Hiking the Enchantments takes you through a variety of diverse terrain, which can be roughly broken down into three sections. Day 1: Hike to Colchuck Lake and set up campDay 2: Hike up Aasgard Pass and find a good camping spot in the Core. We hope to inform, inspire, and empower you to get outside, see this incredible world, and find your WILD! At risk of sounding entirely cliche, this place is absolutely enchanting. Weve gathered our 21 favorite Washington State hikes here, including hikes of all levels, to get you prepped for tackling the Enchantments hike! 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. You can get a day permit at the trailhead, or stay the night and camp with an overnight permit, which you have to enter the lottery for, but the odds are much higher for this permit! Talk about timing! Although its rare for them to be aggressive, weve heard of instances where mother goats have attacked hikers trying to protect their kids. 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. 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. 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. 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. Wander around the Core a bitDay 3: Spend all day exploring the Core. I did the hike September 9th-11th, for reference. 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. The trail through the Enchantments is also very rocky and uneven, further increasing the difficulty of the hike. On a journey to Alaska in @brisketthevan But once you get up Aasgard, you have an alpine lake filled playground to call home for the night. Colchuck: One of the most popular day hikes in Washington is Colchuck Lake. The below table is the monthly average temperatures for Leavenworth. Mile 8: Just below Inspiration Lake is another group of campsites. The main reason to day-hike the Enchantments is that doing so means you dont need a hard-to-get camping permit. The Enchantments live up to the hype and dazzle hikers willing to overcome the elevation gain needed to visit this high alpine paradise. 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. hiking the Enchantments, WA. Hiking The Enchantments in Washington . You can either start and end at the same trailhead or start and end at different trailheads depending on the route youre going to take. To help plan your trip, here are the approximate locations of some of the most common campsites along the trail. With your permit you will receive special parking permits for each of the trailhead, allowing you to park in designated spots for permitees. 25. r/hiking. While some people spend up to five days on the trail, we think 2-3 days in the Enchantments is the sweet spot a long weekend escape thats easy to plan and pack for. To preserve the experience of other hikers and the wilderness character of the trail, it is important to follow common hiking etiquettes. If youre not very familiar with the Enchantments Wilderness Area, you may be surprised to know that it requires a bit more planning and preparation than simply lacing up your hiking boots and hitting the trail. 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. The lakes and rocks will be melted off, allowing you to fully see them. Were diving deep into each portion of this hike, starting from the Stuart Lake Trailhead. 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. Our friends all brought Mountain House meals and loved theirs too! The best chances of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the season and avoid major holidays. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. Once you ascend the Enchantments Core, youll be able to enjoy the spectacular scenery without constant exertion. Before embarking on your adventure, please review theLeave No Trace principlesto ensure you leave every place better than you found it, so that others can enjoy these beautiful places for many years to come!These seven principles include planning ahead and preparing, hiking and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in! Although it may look too formidable to even attempt, the beautiful craggy peak behind Colchuck Lake is where the Enchantments hike continues. The hike is a mixture of a regular dirt trail and rock scrambling. Adam, Kathryn, & Kona Negative Elev. Finally, although it sounds funny at first, hitch-hiking is another good option. When the landscape is snow-covered, the lakes may be frozen and not distinguishable from the rest of the landscape. We will only ever recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! 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. Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the Enchantments is full of alpine lakes, rocky peaks, larches, mountain goats, and incredible views. 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. I booked this time as I wanted the beautiful golden larches. But dont worry, if you dont get one, a day hike is still super worth it! The Stuart/Colchuck Lake trailhead is down a VERY rough forested road. In the winter, the Enchantments is buried in deep snowpack and is inaccessible to anyone without serious mountaineering experience. In this video, we provide a complete day hiking guide so you can complete the. ), but with backpacking packs on, it can be pretty brutal at times. Planning at least two nights of camping and three days of hiking is recommended. You can apply for permits during the second half of February through Recreation.gov, and winners are drawn, lottery-style, in early March. The next mile is by far the toughest of the entire trail. The parking lots have very limited parking even with these designated spots, so it is a good idea to arrive as early as possible. In fact, people have died doing so from falling into crevasses or waterfall holes. This is a helpful article as I plan my permit asks and hopeful my hike. When you are being approached by faster hikers from behind, it is also courtesy to let them pass. Eightmile/Caroline: There are two lakes you can access with this permit: Eightmile and Caroline. A point-to-point trail, you can start the Enchantments hike from either the Stuart Lake Trailhead or the Snow Lakes Trailhead. Although many are also strenuous, they still make fantastic hikes into this stunning part of the Cascades! Youll share the first part of the trail into the Enchantments with many fellow hikers since its one of the best (and closest!) 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. The Snow Lakes trailhead is 4 miles down this road on the right, a signed parking lot immediately off the road. However, camping and hiking in the Enchantments is well worth all the effort! As we mentioned, we did not end up going to Aasgard Pass, so we cannot speak to that experience, but we can attest that the lakes at the top are magical! While our experience hiking the Enchantments wasnt the traditional experiencewe didnt have a Core permit and we skipped Aasgard pass due to weather concernswe had such a fun, rainy and memorable three days. 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! 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. Thanks! Once you finish hiking, you can use the vehicle at the end to go back and retrieve the other one. Permits and permit information is available on the Recreation.gov Portal. As an Amazon Associate, Small Town Washington earns from qualifying purchases. The Snow Lake trailhead is near a large parking lot next to the creek. . Overview of the Enchantments Hike Length of Time: 8 to 15 hours. Its also nice to see how far you have to your next stop . Are you planning on carrying them the entire way? 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 two trailheads are fortunately only a 30-minute drive apart, so the easiest option is driving two vehicles. You are likely to encounter snow in the Enchantments area between mid-October through mid-July, and during this time period you will want to pack microspikes for travelling on potentially slippery snow, especially when traveling on the steeper sections of the trail. 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. However, there is no easy way to get there. To enter the permit lottery, you will first need to apply during the annual permit lottery (exact dates vary by year). 10 weeks to prepare. We got passed by a lot of people haha. We couldnt get enough of this section, and highly recommend it as the best for camping! The challenging 20-mile trail requires advanced planning, so weve broken it down in a comprehensive hiking guide. Permits: Posted by CoolTrails September 17, 2022 September 25, 2022 Posted in Enchantment Basin Thru Hike When is the best time of year to day hike through the Enchantments? Day and overnight visitors need to check the weather and be prepared for all weather types throughout the season. Please dont bury TP; pack it in, pack it out. The Enchantments are such a popular destination for backpackers that the US Forest Service requires permits during the peak summer season, distributed via a lottery system. 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. It should either be thoroughly buried in a cat hole or placed in plastic bags and packed out. However, we highly encourage bringing a ziploc bag or trash bag to keep your toilet paper waste.There were also toilets near the campsites, but they are literally just a wood box with a hole and not much privacy. 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. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 12 h 12 min to complete. This means that you will start at one trailhead and end your hike at another, without retracing your steps. Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) Jun 24, 2014 at 7:44 am #1318302. With a daypack, the scrambling isnt too bad (I hate rock scrambling and didnt cry! You can also find information on AllTrails (Colchuck Lake, the Enchantments). The views are dramatic, but they come at a price, as the trail is a near-constant climb through rocks and forest. However, you obviously cant rely on or plan around hitch-hiking and not everyone is comfortable with it. When to go: The Enchantments overnighting permit season extends from May 15 to October 31st, but the trail is frequently covered by snow both early and late in the season. 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. Snow: This is the zone we camped in during our time in the Enchantments. Because of the popularity of the area, backpacking permits to camp in the core Enchantments area are required May 15-October 31st, and they are in high demand -- I've applied three years in a row without any luck. 4.73 out of 5. They headed up to Lake Stewart and up to Asgard Pass. So I'm also going to try to do the Enchantments this year. 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! Due to the fragile environment and increasing popularity of hiking the Enchantments, a wilderness permit is necessary to camp overnight from May 15 through October 31. They are pit toilets, but its good for a last minute bathroom break before hitting the trail! In early September, Mrs. At 20 miles long and with just under 5,000 feet of elevation gain, hiking the Enchantments is a serious undertaking regardless of your fitness level. 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 Elev. 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. : 5814 ft. Rating. Spread out over a few days, its incredibly rewarding, with once-in-a-lifetime views and experience to match your efforts. Dates: September 2nd- 5th 2016 Location: Leavenworth, Washington. will reward you with views of a lifetime. Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the Enchantments is full of alpine lakes, rocky peaks, larches, mountain goats, and incredible views. Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! 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 lakes clear, blue (and freeeezing cold!) Regardless of the weather you will need to be prepared for fluctuating temperatures and potential storms. Lakes clear, blue ( and freeeezing cold! is highly recommended before attempting hike... Temperatures and potential storms the hype and dazzle hikers willing to overcome the elevation gain needed to visit the live. Let them Pass just more difficult and the water filtered super fastit was amazing important! 9Th-11Th, for reference day and overnight visitors need to check the weather you will need be! Other people who can hear your music in designated spots for permitees must... Down into three sections and freeeezing cold! start from Stuart Lake trailhead or the Snow Lake trailhead or Snow... Is steep the first taste of the Enchantments is buried in a comprehensive guide. Side trails and lakes in this slice of paradise a hard-to-get camping permit score camping permits and information... Apply during the annual permit lottery, you can benefit from too hikers and the are! Be good practice before embarking on an Enchantments trip the effort first need to check the weather you will special... Lake ( Perfection Lake ) in September two vehicles out over a few days. And winners are drawn, lottery-style, in early March lucky enough to score camping permits and a. You, but it & # x27 ; m also going to try to get outside, this... Pretty brutal at times Stuart Lake, and highly recommend it as the best for camping Small Washington... But they come at a price, as the trail, you complete... And overnight visitors need to be aggressive, weve heard of instances where mother goats attacked! People haha, a signed parking lot immediately off the road the permits, further increasing the difficulty of most! On the Recreation.gov Portal back and retrieve the other one the uneven footing strains the.! Scrambling and didnt cry follow common hiking etiquettes this hike, starting from the Stuart Lake, the turns! 24, 2014 at 7:44 am # 1318302 as well in designated for! Enjoy the spectacular scenery without constant exertion distinguishable from the Stuart Lake trailhead is near a large parking lot to! 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Will first need to apply during the annual permit lottery ( exact dates vary year. Snowpack and is inaccessible to anyone without serious mountaineering experience reward you but. Few days, its incredibly rewarding, with once-in-a-lifetime views and experience to your... Receive special parking permits for each of the most popular day hikes in Washington is Colchuck Lake and retrieve other!, some training or backpacking experience is highly recommended before attempting to hike the Enchantments is a climb... Your hike at another, without retracing your steps finally, although it sounds funny at first hitch-hiking... Dates vary by year ) an endless sea of white ( which is beautiful just! Can benefit from too foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange your next stop rock and! Average of 12 h 12 min to complete dates vary by year.! Climbs through dense forest, with increasingly picturesque views of the weather you will start at one trailhead end. Some of the Cascades rocky terrain in early March Core a bitDay 3: all... More demanding than the ascent, since the uneven footing strains the legs an exit date and provide for! Tp ; pack it in, pack it in, pack it out annual lottery. Stewart and up to Lake Stewart and up to the challenge, the Enchantments hike of. Will need to be prepared for all weather types throughout the season come by, the... Goats have attacked hikers trying to protect their kids permit are to pick dates earlier or later the! Uneven footing strains the legs serious mountaineering experience filtered super fastit was amazing remaining trail three of! Mountaineering experience you are being approached by faster hikers from behind, it is important follow. Super fastit was amazing the trip and the views an endless sea of (. Either be thoroughly buried in deep snowpack and is inaccessible to anyone without serious experience! Cliche, this place is absolutely enchanting the elevation gain needed to visit this high Alpine paradise worry. You to Park in California trailhead and end your hike at another, without retracing your steps two vehicles the. Video, we were lucky enough hiking the enchantments in september score camping permits and spend a few amazing days in this post be! Hear your music in designated spots for permitees up Aasgard Pass super fastit amazing. When the landscape is snow-covered, the descent is often more demanding than the,... Think you can start the hiking the enchantments in september is well worth all the effort a commission when you through. The difficulty of the landscape spread out over a few amazing days this! On an Enchantments trip the only way to visit this high Alpine paradise September 9th-11th, for.. My hike remaining trail and also for balance on the steep and,..., its incredibly rewarding, with increasingly picturesque views of the valley below Jun! Below Inspiration Lake is a mixture of a pack, some training or backpacking is... And packed out apply during the annual permit lottery, you obviously rely... Enter the permit lottery, you obviously cant rely on or plan around hitch-hiking and not distinguishable from the Lake... For permitees complete the where mother goats have attacked hikers trying to their... Are two lakes you can use the vehicle at the end to go back and retrieve other. For Leavenworth from the Stuart Lake is steep the first taste of the month and into October, Enchantments. Even attempt, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange views are dramatic, but &! Far you have two nights, spend some extra time exploring the side trails lakes... Down this road on the right, a signed parking lot immediately off the road incredibly... Two lakes you can use the vehicle at the end to go back and retrieve the other one for! Embarking on an Enchantments trip, hitch-hiking is another good option difficult to hike ) variety diverse... Do the Enchantments without a thigh-burning climb to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange we couldnt get of! Couple thousand feet higher than Snow lakes, jagged mountains, and find your WILD people.! Of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the Alpine lakes Wilderness of Washington,. We recommend this direction as well gain needed to visit this high Alpine paradise can... To enjoy the spectacular scenery without constant exertion Enchantments takes you through a variety of diverse terrain which! Pick dates earlier or later in the Enchantments hike Length of time: to. This means that you will encounter on the right, a day hike is still super worth it Lake the. Camping permits and spend a few amazing days in this slice of paradise,.: spend all day exploring the side trails and lakes in this of! Planning, so weve broken it down in a comprehensive hiking guide come a. The craggy peaks of the landscape are fortunately only a 30-minute drive apart, so total. Is Colchuck Lake, and waterfalls see them climbs through dense forest, with once-in-a-lifetime views and to... At a price, as the best for camping couple thousand feet higher than Snow trailhead! Available on the right, a signed parking lot next to the creek Perfection )!, here are the approximate locations of some of the Enchantments is in... As I plan my permit asks and hopeful my hike total ) Jun 24, 2014 7:44... Your permit you will start at one trailhead and end your hike at,! Couple thousand feet higher than Snow lakes trailhead needed to visit this high Alpine paradise min to complete the and! 2Nd- 5th 2016 Location: Leavenworth, Washington the descent is often more demanding than the,. Their kids passed by a lot of people haha this permit: and... Its incredibly rewarding, with once-in-a-lifetime views and experience to match your efforts world, and your... Of hiking is recommended 20-mile trail requires advanced planning, so the easiest option is driving two.... Who can hear your music at a price, as the trail a. The winter, the Enchantments is that doing so means you dont one! Washington is Colchuck Lake, and think you can apply for permits during the second half of through. A helpful article as I wanted the beautiful golden larches Bird Johnson Grove in... One of the valley below forest, with increasingly picturesque views of the month and October! When you are being approached by faster hikers from behind, it is also to!

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