hiking the enchantments in september
The trail through the Enchantments is also very rocky and uneven, further increasing the difficulty of the hike. These campsites are located along the shoreline and provide excellent views of the brilliantly blue lake. Toilet paper must be disposed of properly! These days experience the least precipitation and are most likely to have clear skies and warm days. Day 4: Hike out through Snow Lake. As you approach Leavenworth from the west on Highway 2, you will turn onto Icicle Creek Road on the edge of town. Drive 4 miles past the Snow Lakes parking lot until you reach FS Road 7601. 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. It should actually called "Asskick Pass". For a challenging side adventure, there is a trail that branches off near Perfection Lake and heads up Prusik Pass. 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! To day hike in the Enchantments, only a NW Forest Pass is needed. Where is the Enchantments hike? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello there! This way, youll knock out most of the elevation gain in the first quarter of the hike. Were talking beautiful wilderness full of clear alpine lakes, granite rocks, and vistas of sharp peaks. Continue reading. 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. With FOOD! The Enchantments live up to the hype and dazzle hikers willing to overcome the elevation gain needed to visit this high alpine paradise. The first frost usually comes in mid-October. September 30, 2022. Elev. The Enchantment Lakes are an alpine wonderland of pristine lakes set among polished granite, soaring peaks, blazing larches, and ambling mountain goats. Those on the shorter end trail run a portion of the trail. Core: The most popular (and coveted) area is the Core zone, which is where the majority of the lakes reside. Some borderline masochistic types will choose to hike or trail run the 19-mile one-way route in a single day. However, you obviously cant rely on or plan around hitch-hiking and not everyone is comfortable with it. This is what we planned to do, but Mother Nature had other ideas. External chargerThis is a must for a multi-day backpacking trip! ), 6 Great Places to Celebrate Christmas in Washington, 21 World-Class Weekend Getaways in Washington State, Microspikes & gaiters, if hiking when there might be snow. Note: in 2019 they reduced the number of permits due to wildfire damage. Toughest thing I have done. places in Washington and in this guide we're 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 kn. The abundance of granite-carved lakes in the Enchantments makes the area a wonderful spot to explore at a leisurely pace. https://linktr.ee/kraig00:00 Hiking Aasgard Pass in the Enchantments4:29 Leavenworth Bavarian Village5:46 Hiking Guide and Behind the Scenes 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. 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. The most popular day hike in the Enchantments leads to a breathtaking blue glacial lake right underneath Aasgard Pass. More than a dozen high alpine lakes carved in granite. Required fields are marked *. 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. Required fields are marked *. We spent hours doing this one day and it saved us from being bored as we were cooped up in our tent! It'll vary depending on how many breaks are taken for how long and if you can trail-run parts of it. 19K views 1 year ago THE ENCHANTMENTS The Enchantments Hike is the most beautiful hike in all of Washington. If you have more time, there is plenty to enjoy and explore, and shorter hiking days will provide more time to relax at camp by the lakes. Once winners are notified, theres actually a second step youre required to go back into Recreation.gov and claim and pay for your permit, plus provide your intended exit date. With a daypack, the scrambling isnt too bad (I hate rock scrambling and didnt cry! The Enchantments is a region in Washington, just 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, a super cute Bavarian village town. 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. Looking up from Leprechaun Lake: My dad: Most people prefer to backpack in the Enchantments during the summer months, to enjoy the clear blue lakes and granite rocks. The best chances of obtaining a permit are to pick dates earlier or later in the season and avoid major holidays. 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. The trail in this area passes by stunning spots like aptly-named Lake Perfection and Lake Vivianne while continuously dropping in elevation towards Snow Lake. This lake is one of the most dramatic lakes in the basin, as it is set in a deep basin below Prusik Peak and above the ridge towards Snow Lakes. 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. Hiking the Enchantments is one of the most memorable PNW experiences. But dont worry, if you dont get one, a day hike is still super worth it! and permits are also a little easier to come by. These make for the best overnight spots in the Enchantments overall. Last year, I did the hike up to the summit of Mt. Some links in this post may be affiliate links. 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. 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 maximum group size is 8 people. Nestled in the Cascade Mountains, the Enchantments is full of alpine lakes, rocky peaks, larches, mountain goats, and incredible views. Here you will also encounter larches, the iconic coniferous tree with deciduous needles that turn bright yellow before they drop for the winter. 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. 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. But we couldnt miss the opportunity to go, so we committed to the permits and figured we would make it all work. Almost immediately beyond the lake, the trail becomes littered with large boulders and scree, making a bit of route-finding a sudden necessity. Dont be fooled that you are reaching the end here, even though you are leaving the lake basin! Hi yall! If there are still advance permits that did not sell, they will also give these away during the walk-up lottery. And she got permits! One of the most scenic hikes in the region, this hike passes several waterfalls and glacial lakes before climbing to Snow Lake. 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. In October, unpredictable snowstorms start to roll into the higher elevations, making the trail dangerous. I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete it. The trail through the Enchantments is also very rocky and uneven, further increasing the difficulty of the hike. Many consider it one of the most beautiful areas of the state. Since the Enchantments hike is a point to point trail, its necessary to consider transportation logistics. Drive 8.4 miles and turn left onto Forest Service Road 7601. On average, 10 active hours for typical hiking speed of 1000 ft/hr. While most of the trail isn't very technically challenging, it's brutal in that it's very long and steep. However, to go backpacking in the Enchantments between May 15 and October 31, you will need to secure a permit from the US Forest Service. ), but with backpacking packs on, it can be pretty brutal at times. There are usually more people present than permits, so they have to draw names, which occurs at 7:45 AM. In 2018 (still waiting on 2019 numbers), 17,586 people applied for 708 Core permitsgiving them a 4% chance to snag one. While its entirely possible to hike the trail in a single day (remember, weve done it! Will travel for tacos, BBQ, & ice cream Distance: 19.25 miles (31 km) Difficulty: Extremely strenuous Total Elevation Gain: 5,500 feet (1,675 meters) Total Elevation Loss: 7,000 feet (2,133 meters) 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. Turn left onto Icicle Creek Road. Permits: You can either try to get a walk up permit (covered above) or day hike it (covered below). 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. The Stuart/Colchuck Lake trailhead is down a VERY rough forested road. The Enchantments are not named as such for naught - they have some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in the country. February 1, 2022. ), 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). Most backpackers choose to visit during this window. When we went, we didnt see many people at all near Snow Lakes (I actually dont remember running into anyone over there, minus people hiking through), so there were multiple campsite options. 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. However, there is no easy way to get there. The way I prepared for the Enchantments was to hike twice a week for about two months. Camping spots are limited, but when possible, put your tent up away from other tents to give other campers privacy. At this time, applicants must choose an exit date and provide payment for the permits. Hikers use two trails to approach the Enchantments Basin. Day and overnight visitors need to check the weather and be prepared for all weather types throughout the season. Second, waste management in the Enchantments is difficult since the area receives a high amount of use. Not sure where to start? Youre all packed and now its time to start the hike! The summer temperatures drop (it occasionally reaches a scorching 100 degrees in July and August!) Its a unique, labor-intensive process that has an extremely low success rate (the odds of winning a permit are about 2% at best), but well worth it. Here, just east of Leavenworth in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and reachable only on foot, are the Enchantments. Website built with love byDreamworthy Design. 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. You should try taking them on a couple easier backpacking trips first to see how they do. The level of difficulty and sheer distance of the trail mean the best way to experience this area is via a multi-day hike. Read More. We bought a new water filter for the trip and the water filtered super fastit was amazing! : 7835 ft. Min. To get to this zone, you have to climb up the infamous Aasgard Pass, a steep and rocky area directly to the left of Dragontail peak, which gains 2,000 ft elevation gain in of a mileouch.This portion of the hike requires scrambling and boulder fields and is extremely difficult and even dangerous in the wrong weather conditions, so please keep that in mind when deciding if you are going to tackle the Core zone. Unfortunately, weve missed out on all our other attempts at the lottery (some locals joke that the lottery is their annual donation). If you spend any time in Washington, it won't take long to hear about the Enchantments. Ambitious day hikers will be richly rewarded for tackling all 20 miles in a day. will reward you with views of a lifetime. However, space on the shuttles is limited and they dont always operate on weekdays, so its best to book well in advance. In fact, people have died doing so from falling into crevasses or waterfall holes. Its a good idea to pack bear spray just to be safe. The two trailheads are fortunately only a 30-minute drive apart, so the easiest option is driving two vehicles. Here is a sample packing list for your trip, More Hiking: 21 Bucket List Hikes in Washington State, More North Cascades: 15 Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park, Waterfall Hikes: 11 Best Waterfalls in Washington State + Hikes to Find Them, Hiking Near Seattle: 11 Best Day Hikes Near Seattle. The Enchantments don't come easy. 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. 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?! We would love to do this hike again in the future, however, we think we would do it a bit differently. 10 weeks to prepare. The Enchantments as a whole is gorgeous, but there are a few spots that you should especially check out and spend some time at. Black bear sightings are very uncommon here, but do occasionally happen. Although this is difficult, many people prefer this option to hiking the other direction, which involves a much longer strenuous uphill section of trail. You may be able to find a ride back to the Stuart Lake trailhead from someone else completing their hike, but for overnight trips, most people leave a car at both trailheads. CRAZY! Interestingly (and weirdly), many wild animals are attracted to the salts in urine and actually seek it out. The map below shows the area that make up the Enchantments. This is actually the highest elevation point on the entire trail, so from here, the rest of the hike is mostly downhill. The 18-mile trail through the Enchantment Lakes, up to the high alpine at almost 8,000 feet above sea level, is perhaps the state's most infamous and beloved route. With the added weight of a pack, some training or backpacking experience is highly recommended before attempting to hike the Enchantments. The Enchantments is a classic Washington hike. You may also be able to snag a spot later in the evening when day hikers are leaving. 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 To be on the safe side, plan your hike for mid-July to late-September. 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. 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