Directions To Stuart Lake Trailhead: Drive the US2 west out of Leavenworth. The two trailheads are fortunately only a 30-minute drive apart, so the easiest option is driving two vehicles. We managed to score a 5 day permit in the snow zone for Aug 30-Sept 3. The trail continues to be rocky and steep and several sections require scrambling using both hands and feet. Drive 8.4 miles and turn left onto Forest Service Road 7601. (Sa. 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. These make for the best overnight spots in the Enchantments overall. I booked this time as I wanted the beautiful golden larches. 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 However, you obviously cant rely on or plan around hitch-hiking and not everyone is comfortable with it. When: Do it between late July and early September. 25. r/hiking. Our friends also brought water treatment liquid that worked great too! 19K views 1 year ago THE ENCHANTMENTS The Enchantments Hike is the most beautiful hike in all of Washington. - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! 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. The trail through the Enchantments is also very rocky and uneven, further increasing the difficulty of the hike. Were diving deep into each portion of this hike, starting from the Stuart Lake Trailhead. 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. Even if you dont see other hikers, there are probably other people who can hear your music. We hope you snag a permit! Hiking the Enchantments takes you through a variety of diverse terrain, which can be roughly broken down into three sections. THE ENCHANTMENTS TRAIL BREAKDOWN. The Enchantments is a slice of hiking paradise. 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. The peaks look like a child drew them; all fairy tale jags and triangles." Here you will also encounter larches, the iconic coniferous tree with deciduous needles that turn bright yellow before they drop for the winter. To reach the Snow Lakes trailhead to drop a car for your return trip, you will need to head into Leavenworth. Although some things may biodegrade over a long period of time, they do not belong in the alpine, they are unsightly and spoil the view of your fellow hikers, and they are unhealthy for animals who will eat them. 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. Hello from the Florida Keys! Talisman Lake ), but with backpacking packs on, it can be pretty brutal at times. February 1, 2022. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness named "The Enchantments" draws explorers from all over the world. I think it was definitely one of the best spots out in the Snow Lakes area! In the summer, these will look like any other green coniferous tree unless you look for the distinctive bundles of needles coming off the branches. In October, unpredictable snowstorms start to roll into the higher elevations, making the trail dangerous. Day Hike: As we mentioned above, if you do not get a permit to backpack, you can dayhike it! It would be reasonable to plan up to 12 hours plus drive time if you want to take. Its also nice to see how far you have to your next stop . There are usually more people present than permits, so they have to draw names, which occurs at 7:45 AM. 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. Then, youd likely get a long rambling list of epic places weve been or those were itching to visit. The most popular day hike in the Enchantments leads to a breathtaking blue glacial lake right underneath Aasgard Pass. Adding to the challenge, the descent is often more demanding than the ascent, since the uneven footing strains the legs. 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. And after you eat dinner, make sure to go grab some ice cream from Whistlepunk! Here are some of these hiking courtesies that help improve everyones trip. Read More. I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete it. Tucked away in a particularly rugged area of Washington, just accessing this beautiful environment takes substantial planning. To visit the Enchantments, you can either thru-hike the entire distance as one long day hike, or you can backpack and complete the hike over the course of multiple days and nights. Near the Bavarian town of Leavenworth (but hidden from sight), The Enchantments loom. Wander around the Core a bitDay 3: Spend all day exploring the Core. Always maintain a very safe distance from wildlife, and take care of your business well away from the trail and campsites! But one of the places that would undoubtedly make the list is The Enchantments Wilderness Area. You can also choose an alternate leader. In early September, Mrs. We bought a new water filter for the trip and the water filtered super fastit was amazing! But the wait, stress, and uncertainty of getting to access this area is worth it!Note: Dogs are not allowed in the Enchantments. Redwood National Park in California - (https://youtu.be . Just outside of the Bavarian town of Leavenworth, the Enchantments are part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness filled with pristine glacial lakes surrounded by towering granite peaks. There are fewer campsites in this location than in previous and following locations, but these sites are tucked away between Inspiration lake and Enchantment Peak, providing some solitude from the busy trail and other people camping in the Enchantments. Permits are required for day and overnight use in this area. 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. The first frost usually comes in mid-October. They only give out one permit per zone per day, with up to 8 people per permit. In the Lee of Winter Storms: The Enchantment Basin. Best Time to Hike the Enchantments The start of the Core Enchantment Zone As the permit window would suggest, the best time to hike the Enchantments is June - October. Youll want to make sure you go to the bathroom 200 feet from a water source and that you dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and 4-6 inches in diameter. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 12 h 12 min to complete. 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! The best season to hike to the lakes is summer and early fall, namely late July/August to September/early October. Perfect for swimming and relaxing, the lake is accessed via a steady climb, mostly through shady forest. Understandably, the trail gets busy and snagging an overnight permit is extremely tough. Having said that, dont let the challenge dissuade you! Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) Jun 24, 2014 at 7:44 am #1318302. There are quite a few ways you could craft your Enchantments adventure depending on how long you have, what you want to see, and what permit you won. 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. Try this 20.5-mile point-to-point trail near Leavenworth, Washington. Located in Central Washington near the small town of Leavenworth, this piece of the Cascade Mountain range is as spectacular as the name implies. 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. What this means is that you have to obtain a permit in the lottery (or in the other methods we cover below) to stay overnight during those dates. Whenever you decide to continue on, be prepared for continuation of the rocky trail. A lot of people were doing this and it is allowed. Were talking beautiful wilderness full of clear alpine lakes, granite rocks, and vistas of sharp peaks. The hope for most is that dry sunny weather will coincide with whatever dates the luck of the draw has bestowed on them. So on September 14, with fully loaded packs, we headed into the Enchantments! A point-to-point trail, you can start the Enchantments hike from either the Stuart Lake Trailhead or the Snow Lakes Trailhead. One thing thats good to know is that we saw a lot of different mileage reports for this hike. 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. 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? and permits are also a little easier to come by. The weather can change quickly during your multi-day trip from the original forecast. "I can see why it's called the Enchantments. And any other tips on some good campsites? Plus, Stuart Lake is a couple thousand feet higher than Snow Lakes, so your total elevation gain is lower! 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. Once we reached the top of the pass, however, it was all worthwhile! Our first time, we were lucky enough to score camping permits and spend a few amazing days in this slice of paradise. Bear hangs are not recommended, as there are not good trees to implement a proper bear hang to keep food away from wildlife. Many consider it one of the most beautiful areas of the state. 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. 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 trail through the Enchantments is 18 miles, one-way, with additional side trails to explore the surrounding lakes. As you head down from Isolation and Tranquil Lakes, the terrain changes from the smooth granite rocks to alpine meadows. There are five total regions: Eightmile/Caroline, Stuart, Colchuck, Core, and Snow. You can also find information on AllTrails (Colchuck Lake, the Enchantments). See our topo map of the route. 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. However, since these are averages it is best to be prepared for a wide range of temperatures during your trip. 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. Interestingly (and weirdly), many wild animals are attracted to the salts in urine and actually seek it out. Where is the Enchantments hike? Most backpackers choose to visit during this window. To be on the safe side, plan your hike for mid-July to late-September. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The Enchantments hike is most commonly completed as a one-way thru-hike since the hike is long and the terrain can be difficult. Lee of Winter Storms: the Enchantment Basin to come by the US2 west out of (. 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