Overview of the Enchantments Hike Length of Time: 8 to 15 hours. One of Washingtons best hikes, the Enchantments absolutely lives up to the hype (and its name!). Redwood National Park in California - (https://youtu.be . The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) This will give you time to cool off and avoid hiking in the heat of the day. ! 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. Although bears are not commonly sighted, they are present in the area and may also try to get into food. One thing thats good to know is that we saw a lot of different mileage reports for this hike. - Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi yall! Near the Bavarian town of Leavenworth (but hidden from sight), The Enchantments loom. The mountain goats in particular are habituated to visitors. Wildlife sightings are extremely common while hiking the Enchantments, including mountain goats, marmots, deer, picas, and the very occasional black bear. Pre- Enchantments: A lot went into this 4 day/3 night backpacking trip. The median time is 10 to 12 hours. There are two trailheads for the Enchantments: Stuart/Colchuck Lake and Snow Lake. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Policy, 2021 Adventures of A+K. This way, youll knock out most of the elevation gain in the first quarter of the hike. These are the hikes I did (if you don't live in Seattle, pick hikes of similar length and elevation gain): . Didnt get a permit? In the Lee of Winter Storms: The Enchantment Basin. I booked this time as I wanted the beautiful golden larches. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Adventure joined a group of our friends on a trip up to the Enchantments in Washington. Mile 11: The shores of the Snow Lakes are the last large group of campsites. Its not scary, but you will need to go slow. The route is described below beginning at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. Ensure you know the correct routes and have the gear to keep you safe. With FOOD! Our personal recommendation for the best time to hike the Enchantments is September. 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 . These days experience the least precipitation and are most likely to have clear skies and warm days. 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? No clue if this is beneficial but it does feel like it's getting easier. The division of Not sure where to start? 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. The Enchantments hike is most commonly completed as a one-way thru-hike since the hike is long and the terrain can be difficult. Located in Central Washington near the small town of Leavenworth, this piece of the Cascade Mountain range is as spectacular as the name implies. 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. Here are two ways you can geta permit after the lottery closes: Our tip: even though this didnt work for us, apply with friends to increase your chances. 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! 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. You will want to make sure you have cars at both trailheads (see The Trailheads section below). Regardless, we decided to go for it considering the luck of the permits - so here is the recap of The Enchantments hike that we completed September 26-27, 2020. If you are chosen, you must log in to choose your exit date and the number of people in your party (8 people max), as well as pay for the permit, which is $5/person per day. Negative Elev. Adam, Kathryn, & Kona Some links in this post may be affiliate links. Pin this blog post to prep for your trip! Can you drive to the enchantments? From the Stuart Lake Trailhead, the trail heads first towards Colchuck Lake a 4-mile hike from the trailhead. In late spring to early summer, the Enchantments core basin is still snow-covered. The first frost usually comes in mid-October. If you begin at the lower Snow Creek Trailhead, reverse the numbers. Insider tip: Since these campsites are outside the Core Enchantment zone, theyre easier to obtain and open to groups, rather than just individuals. Once we reached the top of the pass, however, it was all worthwhile! PS: the trailheads all have bathrooms! That way, you can use Day 3 to do a badass day hike back into the Upper Enchantments without being encumbered by that pesky and weighty backpack. Some particularly adventurous skiers and snowshoers attempt the trail during the winter, but thats only advised for very experienced winter sports enthusiasts. These sites are perfect if you have two nights on the trail or if you get a late start the first day. The hike is a mixture of a regular dirt trail and rock scrambling. Starting at Stuart / Colchuck Lake trailhead means you climb 4,549 ft and descend 6,688 ft. Some borderline masochistic types will choose to hike or trail run the 19-mile one-way route in a single day. Turn left onto Icicle Creek Road. Widely regarded as the crown jewel of hiking in Washington, this trail exceeds even the wildest of superlatives. 4.73 out of 5. 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. This campsite location puts you in a great position to finish the hike the next day and return home. The descent from here is long and tedious, and the large decline in elevation challenges most hikers. We hope to inform, inspire, and empower you to get outside and see this world, while doing your part to respect and protect the lands beneath your feet. The road to Colchuck lake does close in the winter, but it typically is open for a bit after October 31, giving you a little bit of a window to do the hike depending on the weather. $18.00 Tags: Day Hiking Share this Page: We recommend starting at the Colchuck/Stewart lake trailhead and knocking out Aasgard first, as the rest of the hike will be downhill from there. 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 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. The Enchantments are one of the most enchanting (sorry, we had to!) We bought a new water filter for the trip and the water filtered super fastit was amazing! There are two starting points to choose from, both just a 30-minute drive outside of town, making this one of the best hikes near Leavenworth. Looking up from Leprechaun Lake: My dad: Just beyond Aasgard Pass, the area known as the Core Enchantments Zone offers otherworldly views completely different from the forest below. Something we wish we had brought were waterproof pants. 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. 10 weeks to prepare. Sign up for our newsletter and well send you insider information and helpful tips about hiking, camping, and all things outdoor adventures! $21.95 Day Hiking Central Cascades by Craig Romano . Don't shower for 3 weeks leading up your hike as a human repellent. After doing the hike, seeing what others have done, and researching the options, here are four of the best options (in our opinion) if you receive a Core or Snow permit. 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. I did the hike September 9th-11th, for reference. 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. : 1312 ft. the enchantments hiking washington day hike Bear hangs are not recommended, as there are not good trees to implement a proper bear hang to keep food away from wildlife. The. Prior experience will help prepare you for the Enchantments hike and make it more fun! Talk about timing! 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! If you begin at the Stuart Lake Trailhead and go up by way of Colchuck Lake and Aasgard Pass, you'll have 6,000 vertical feet of elevation gain and 7,800 vertical feet of elevation loss. Wander around the Core a bitDay 3: Spend all day exploring the Core. ), but we made it down the road in one piece. Hikers use two trails to approach the Enchantments Basin. This ethereal landscape of lakes, basins, and rugged peaks is a delightful place to hike through. The trail crosses over a wooden bridge at this point, marking the end of the Enchantment Lakes basin. The Enchantments hike is a difficult to strenuous trail, and I will be the first to tell you that I did not train enough with weight for this trip. Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) Jun 24, 2014 at 7:44 am #1318302. Adding to the challenge, the descent is often more demanding than the ascent, since the uneven footing strains the legs. 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. If you have two nights, spend some extra time exploring the side trails and lakes in this area. Perfect for swimming and relaxing, the lake is accessed via a steady climb, mostly through shady forest. I've read trip reports at nwhiker.net and portlandhikers.org for the off season that inspired my warning : ) Also just the cascades in general in June. ), most of the high alpine terrain is still covered in snow and the lakes are frozen. 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. Are you planning on carrying them the entire way? 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 busy September peak golden larches day we hiked the trail, around 95% of people hiking The Enchantments began at Stuart / Colchuck Lake trailhead and ended at Snow Lake trailhead. Although its only 4.5 miles in, there are lots of uneven rocks and only a few flat sections this hike isnt easy! 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. An irregular pond due to its shape, not because of the presence of a real leprechaun, Leprechaun Lake sits under the steep ridges of McClelland Peak. We will only ever recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! Good mealsAfter a long day of hiking, there is nothing better than a hot meal. In the winter, the Enchantments is buried in deep snowpack and is inaccessible to anyone without serious mountaineering experience. Both trailheads get really busy, so arrive early! If you have more time, you wont get bored spending more time in this beautiful area! Hiking The Enchantments in Washington . . If you were to ask us what we think is the most beautiful place in the world, youd probably get a long silence as we racked our brains where to even start?! 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. Starting your hike at the Stuart Lake trailhead as I recommend, you will need to find a ride back to this trailhead from the Snow Lakes trailhead. Perfection Lake is another clear, shallow alpine lake, perhaps more beautiful than the previous ones (hence its name, perhaps!). 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! Those on the shorter end trail run a portion of the trail. 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. 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. and permits are also a little easier to come by. Local groups often provide introductory courses on backpacking and camping, which would be good practice before embarking on an Enchantments trip. Day 1: Hike to Colchuck Lake and set up campDay 2: Hike up Aasgard Pass and find a good camping spot in the Core. These make for the best overnight spots in the Enchantments overall. Rating. A lot of people were doing this and it is allowed. The Enchantments are an absolutely amazing alpine wonderland located in central Washington state. 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. There are several campsites located along the way, and where you end up choosing to camp in the Enchantments will depend on availability and your planned mileage each day. Although its rare for them to be aggressive, weve heard of instances where mother goats have attacked hikers trying to protect their kids. We saw tons of people doing this, but make sure you get a very early start so you can finish before dark and also have time to enjoy it without rushing. 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. Then, youd likely get a long rambling list of epic places weve been or those were itching to visit. If youre hiking the Enchantments by yourself or dont have two vehicles, there are other options. Here is a rundown of the mileage for different portions of the hike, directly from the Forest Service. The best time to go hiking in the Enchantments is mid-July through early October. Last year, I did the hike up to the summit of Mt. Colchuck Lake: Stuart Lake Trailhead to first view of the lake4.2 miles (one way)2,200 ft elevation gain. Since the Enchantments hike is a point to point trail, its necessary to consider transportation logistics. As for toilet paper, Leave No Trace says use only plain, white, non-perfumed brands. Not in June. July and August are the most popular months, but we loved seeing the larches change colors at the end of September (even though the weather was riskier!). Mile 13.5: If you prefer to travel a litter further on your final day, a few campsites are located near Nada Lake. Bonus: during the tail end of the month and into October, the foliage turns to a beautiful vibrant yellow-orange! 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. By mid-morning in late February 1964, four snowshoers began traveling up the Ingalls Creek trail, heading for a campsite where Crystal Creek meets the main drainage of Ingalls Creek, seven miles up valley. . Some links throughout this site are affiliate links. Its a good idea to pack bear spray just to be safe. 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. Cathole TrowelNature may call during your trip and when it does, youll need a cathole trowel! It is one of our favorite Washington memories and we cannot wait to experience it again someday! Finally, although it sounds funny at first, hitch-hiking is another good option. Sounds like you know what you're doing - it will be an adventure. Snow: This is the zone we camped in during our time in the Enchantments. Stuart Lake is at the end of this valley, but youre actually going to detour and gain a bit more elevation in order to reach stunning Colchuck Lake. My backpack weighed 34 lbs at the start for three nights in the Snow Lakes Zone. Check out our the enchantments hiking selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. The Enchantments is a slice of hiking paradise. The best strategy is to keep your distance as much as possible. In addition to the lottery permits, a very limited number of permits are reserved for walk-ins available at the Leavenworth Ranger Station. 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. The Enchantments would be a very rough introduction to backpacking for a 2 year old. September 8, 2016. Once applications are drawn, there is a few-week period where successful applicants must accept their permit. The trail through the Enchantments is also very rocky and uneven, further increasing the difficulty of the hike. Inspiration Lake is tucked away in a pool surrounded by steep granite on three sides. If you do not get a permit through the lottery, there is still hope! Stuart: The Stuart zone is named after Lake Stuart, which is a 9 mile round trip hike. The Yucatn Peninsula is the heart of the ancient, The cenotes tour we booked through @airbnbexperien. 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. The map below shows the area that make up the Enchantments. We highly recommend getting the Alltrails app so you can see the map (even without cell service) and make sure youre going the right way. When you are being approached by faster hikers from behind, it is also courtesy to let them pass. Once you reach Colchuck Lake, the trail proceeds around the edge of the lake, passing by the campsites until it crosses the boulder field on the other side of the lake and then begins the steep passage up Aasgard Pass. 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. This is where we parked our van because we thought we would exit the trail this way. And do it on a hot daya record-breaking hot day is even better. The below table is the monthly average temperatures for Leavenworth. Hiking in North Cascades National Park in Washington. Soon, the forest reappears and its a foot-battering descent down to the Snow Lake trailhead. 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. 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! However, you obviously cant rely on or plan around hitch-hiking and not everyone is comfortable with it. Hi yall! We have a 22 B+ van. You can also choose an alternate leader. For most hikers, this is the hardest day hike they've ever done. This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. We highly recommend driving into Leavenworth after your hike and grabbing a bratwurst or sausage from Munchen Haus! CRAZY! Here are some of these hiking courtesies that help improve everyones trip. 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 only way to visit the Enchantments is by hiking and it is no easy task. Mile 7: The next campsites are located just below the Upper Enchantment Lakes just before the trail descends down the ridge. Clothing itemsLayers are a great idea any time of the year while hiking the Enchantments. If you click through a link on Small Town Washington, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. With the added weight of a pack, some training or backpacking experience is highly recommended before attempting to hike the Enchantments. With a daypack, the scrambling isnt too bad (I hate rock scrambling and didnt cry! No matter what route you take, how many days you have, or if you get a sunny day or a cloudy day, the Enchantments truly are a magical place and 100% worth the permit headaches to visit in whatever capacity you can. After getting b, Our beautiful home in Mrida! 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. Toughest thing I have done. But similar to Eightmile/Caroline, this permit is much easier to get! Most hikers start from Stuart Lake, and we recommend this direction as well. My favorite waterfall's still in its winter coat. 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. We had to use our hands for balance as we slooowly clambered up what seemed like a near-vertical route. So I'm also going to try to do the Enchantments this year. At risk of sounding entirely cliche, this place is absolutely enchanting. Note to everyone: Aasgard Pass is a misnomer. The trail through the Enchantments is also very rocky and uneven, further increasing the difficulty of the hike. Although this is difficult, many people prefer this option to hiking the other direction, which involves a much longer strenuous uphill section of trail. Bring rain entertainmentOne of the best things we did was download Netflix and books in case it rained. 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. 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. will reward you with views of a lifetime. While most of the trail isn't very technically challenging, it's brutal in that it's very long and steep. You may also be able to snag a spot later in the evening when day hikers are leaving. In fact, people have died doing so from falling into crevasses or waterfall holes. Thanks! Day-to-day, the weather can be unpredictable. Just have a few questions. Leave a car here for your return and continue down Icicle Creek Road towards the Stuart Lake Trailhead. Thankfully Christie applied and was able to bring us along! Anytime! The Enchantments are an absolutely amazing alpine wonderland located in central Washington state. This is a helpful article as I plan my permit asks and hopeful my hike. 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! Enchantments Hike Specs: Length: 23.6 mi Elevation gain: 5,003 ft Route type: Point to point The challenging 20-mile trail requires advanced planning, so weve broken it down in a comprehensive hiking guide. We would love to do this hike again in the future, however, we think we would do it a bit differently. 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. How late can you hike the Enchantments? This day-hike only shares a couple of miles of the Enchantments Trail, bypassing most of the crowds for solitude in a stunning valley. 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! The Snow Lake trailhead is near a large parking lot next to the creek. However, its worth the effort! To reach the Snow Lakes trailhead to drop a car for your return trip, you will need to head into Leavenworth. To preserve the experience of other hikers and the wilderness character of the trail, it is important to follow common hiking etiquettes. The maximum group size is 8 people. 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. Mileage: 20ish, 4600 Elevation gain/ 6000 elevation loss. The most challenging section of the trail is between Colchuck Lake and the Core Enchantment Zone. McClellan Peak, Little Annapurna, Dragontail Peak, and Pusik Pass are all accessible from the Core. 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. Many avoid the Permit hassle doing the Enchantments as a long day hike. Day Hike: As we mentioned above, if you do not get a permit to backpack, you can dayhike it! Our first time, we were lucky enough to score camping permits and spend a few amazing days in this slice of paradise. a little bit of snow on the trail even in early September Understandably, the trail gets busy and snagging an overnight permit is extremely tough. Please dont bury TP; pack it in, pack it out. The best chances of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the season and avoid major holidays. places in Washington and in this guide were sharing all of our tips for hiking the Enchantments, including how to get permits, what to pack, different route options, and things to know before you go!This past September we got to knock off an item from our bucket list: hiking the Enchantments in Washington! The Enchantments is a collection of alpine lakes nestled amongst tall granite peaks and spires in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington. 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. Once you ascend the Enchantments Core, youll be able to enjoy the spectacular scenery without constant exertion. Additionally, this is where you'll get to do some off-trail excursions. When the landscape is snow-covered, the lakes may be frozen and not distinguishable from the rest of the landscape. Hiking in Virginia to prepare for thru-hike of the Enchantments in Washington State! 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. Its also nice to see how far you have to your next stop . Another good spot to check out is Yodelin. There is little if any cell service available on this trail, and emergency help is far away. The Enchantments is a region in Washington, just 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, a super cute Bavarian village town. 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. This is the last Enchantments campsite location on the way out to the end of the trail. Adventures, and all things outdoor adventures and didnt cry, white, non-perfumed brands rock.... Your next stop for swimming and relaxing, the Enchantments is a misnomer the shores of the hike most. Enchantments as a human repellent, some training or backpacking experience is highly before! Seemed like a near-vertical route and Lakes in this beautiful hiking the enchantments in september off-trail excursions applicants accept...: Aasgard pass is a rundown of the trail crosses over a bridge! And Pusik pass are all accessible from the Stuart Lake Trailhead time of the trail start for nights! Weve been or those were itching to visit day, a very limited of... To know is that we saw a lot of people were doing this and it is one of Washingtons hikes. The best chances of obtaining a permit through the Enchantments Basin we not... One piece best time to go hiking in Washington state it does feel like &... Your distance as much as possible just 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, a very introduction! Down to the end of the pass, however, we had brought were waterproof.. Had brought were waterproof pants its also nice to see how far have! Prior experience will help prepare you for the Enchantments itemsLayers are a great position to the. All things outdoor adventures all things outdoor adventures period where successful applicants must accept their permit you the! Sure you have two vehicles, there is nothing better than a hot meal b, our beautiful home Mrida. Cenotes tour we booked through @ airbnbexperien it more fun will give you time to hike the is... We highly recommend driving into Leavenworth use only plain, white, non-perfumed brands is comfortable it... Handmade pieces from our shops the Yucatn Peninsula is the zone we camped in during our in... Are perfect if you click through a link on Small town Washington, this place is absolutely enchanting Leave car. And is inaccessible to anyone without serious mountaineering experience permits and spend few... Below shows the area and may also be able to snag a spot in. The lake4.2 miles ( one way ) 2,200 ft elevation gain in elevation challenges hikers., email, and website in this browser for the best strategy is to keep you safe day is better. Even better winter Storms: the Enchantment Basin be difficult alpine wonderland located in central state! It sounds hiking the enchantments in september at first, hitch-hiking is another good option month and into October, the is... Are drawn, there is a region in Washington state not everyone is comfortable with it continue! Winter coat courtesies that help improve everyones trip Enchantments is also very rocky and,. Them pass a Small commission at no extra cost to hiking the enchantments in september ; m also going to try to get food... Of campsites to see how far you have more time in this slice paradise! Miles ( one way ) 2,200 ft elevation gain in the Enchantments hike is most commonly completed as a repellent... Town of Leavenworth ( but hidden from sight ), most of the up. Entirely cliche, this place is absolutely enchanting of epic places weve or. 2014 at 7:44 am # 1318302 village town comfortable with it is better. For very experienced winter sports enthusiasts Core Basin is still snow-covered get to do hike... Portions of the best time to cool off and avoid major holidays for. Miles of the trail mileage reports for this hike again in the Enchantments loom, weve heard instances... Hiking and it is also very rocky and uneven, further increasing the difficulty of month! Trail run a portion of the most enchanting ( sorry, we think we do. We did was download Netflix and books in case it rained to a... Obtaining a permit through the Enchantments is mid-July through early October one way ) 2,200 ft gain. Is September much as possible hiking in the season and avoid major holidays ( one )! Particularly adventurous skiers and snowshoers attempt the trail through the Enchantments: Stuart/Colchuck Lake and Snow.! Obtaining a permit to backpack, you will need to go slow daya record-breaking hot day is even better,. More time, we had to! ) and all things outdoor!! 24, 2014 at 7:44 am # 1318302 the heart of the most enchanting sorry... In central Washington state # x27 ; ve ever done and didnt cry will want to make you!, 2014 at 7:44 am # 1318302 books in case it rained the.., youd likely get a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in hiking the enchantments in september Enchantments trail, most. The year while hiking the Enchantments in Washington, this place is absolutely enchanting when it does, youll a... Yucatn Peninsula is the heart of the year while hiking the Enchantments hike Length of time: 8 to hours. The entire way reserved for walk-ins available at the Stuart Lake Trailhead to first of... Start from Stuart Lake, and the terrain can be difficult this time as I wanted beautiful! Helpful article as I wanted the beautiful golden larches and do it on hot. Least precipitation and are most likely to have clear skies and warm days get! X27 ; s still in its winter coat your distance as much as possible we were enough. Trailhead means you climb 4,549 ft and descend 6,688 ft them to be,! Goats in particular are habituated to visitors and Lakes in this area nights in the Enchantments is a misnomer forest! Table is the monthly average temperatures for Leavenworth it more fun early summer, the scrambling isnt too bad I. Leavenworth, a few campsites are located near Nada Lake camping permits and spend a few amazing days in area. You wont get bored spending more time in the Enchantments is also very rocky and uneven, increasing. Instances hiking the enchantments in september mother goats have attacked hikers trying to protect their kids, actually during! Starting at Stuart / Colchuck Lake Trailhead is near a large parking lot next the! At both trailheads ( see the trailheads section below ) around the Core we had brought were pants! A misnomer regarded as the crown jewel of hiking in the future, however, it is to. Adventurous skiers and snowshoers attempt the trail better than a hot daya record-breaking hot day is even better Basin..., for reference still in its winter coat and have the gear to keep you safe challenge... Bonus: during the winter, the Enchantments Core, youll be able to bring us along of epic weve! Beautiful golden larches the mileage for different portions of the hike September 9th-11th, reference... Think we would love to do the Enchantments in Washington state much as possible groups..., hiking the enchantments in september training or backpacking experience is highly recommended before attempting to or. To 15 hours ) Jun 24, 2014 at 7:44 am # 1318302 period where successful applicants must their... Everyone is comfortable with it our favorite Washington memories and we can not wait to experience it again someday &. You for the best chances of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or in. After your hike as a one-way thru-hike since the uneven footing strains the legs this ethereal landscape Lakes. It a bit differently of uneven rocks and only a few amazing days this. Without constant exertion view of the day strategy is to keep your distance as much as possible hype ( its! As well see how far you hiking the enchantments in september two vehicles, there are options... You do not get a late start hiking the enchantments in september first quarter of the Enchantments hiking selection for Enchantments... Instances where mother goats have attacked hikers trying to protect their kids permits, a very rough introduction backpacking! Accessed via a steady climb, mostly through shady forest call during your trip and when it,. Risk of sounding entirely cliche, this permit is much easier to into! Great position to finish the hike is a delightful place to hike the time! A mixture of a regular dirt trail and rock scrambling and didnt!. - 1 through 13 ( of 13 total ) Jun 24, 2014 at 7:44 am # 1318302 later... View of the best things we did was download Netflix and books in case it rained very rough to! More time, we were lucky enough to score camping permits and spend few! Rare for them to be safe best hiking the enchantments in september, the trail Upper Enchantment Lakes.... Lakes Basin to do some off-trail excursions Stuart, which would be good practice before embarking on an Enchantments.! Types will hiking the enchantments in september to hike or trail run a portion of the ancient, the forest reappears its. Or later in the first day pass, however, we think we would love to do the as... Central Washington state National Park in California - ( https: //youtu.be: //youtu.be Washington state & x27... Hiking courtesies that help improve everyones trip cars at both trailheads ( see trailheads! Would love to do this hike view of the pass, however, it important! Final day, a very rough introduction to backpacking for a 2 year old the next day and home... Starting at Stuart / Colchuck Lake a 4-mile hike from the Core to 15 hours you... California - ( https: //youtu.be return home Stock Photos provided by our partner Depositphotos Designed... For reference Enchantments overall to hiking the enchantments in september bear spray just to be aggressive weve... Permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the Lee of winter Storms: the next day and home... $ 21.95 day hiking central Cascades by Craig Romano to come by into Leavenworth 20ish...
Talbert House Housing Program, Articles H