The Enchantments is a region in Washington, just 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth, a super cute Bavarian village town. Don't shower for 3 weeks leading up your hike as a human repellent. All Rights Reserved. The Enchantments don't come easy. You can either try to get a walk up permit (covered above) or day hike it (covered below). Once we reached the top of the pass, however, it was all worthwhile! In October, unpredictable snowstorms start to roll into the higher elevations, making the trail dangerous. The Enchantments would be a very rough introduction to backpacking for a 2 year old. When: Do it between late July and early September. Hiking The Enchantments in Washington . Day Hike: As we mentioned above, if you do not get a permit to backpack, you can dayhike it! See some of our recommended stops below! Youll pass through dense forests, blankets of wildflowers, and high-elevation mountain passes to reach an otherworldly tree-less environment filled only with ancient rocks molded by wind and water. The way I prepared for the Enchantments was to hike twice a week for about two months. In February I put in the permit application for the enchantments as I heard everyone talking about it. Youll share the first part of the trail into the Enchantments with many fellow hikers since its one of the best (and closest!) ), 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. This is actually the highest elevation point on the entire trail, so from here, the rest of the hike is mostly downhill. 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. You can apply for permits during the second half of February through Recreation.gov, and winners are drawn, lottery-style, in early March. Always maintain a very safe distance from wildlife, and take care of your business well away from the trail and campsites! We will only ever recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! The trailheads for both are located off Icicle Creek Road. Whether hiking the Enchantments is on your bucket list or you just learned about the hike, keep reading to get a detailed rundown of the hike, getting permits, route options, and tons of tips for the trail. Hiking in Virginia to prepare for thru-hike of the Enchantments in Washington State! If you have two nights, spend some extra time exploring the side trails and lakes in this area. Inspiration Lake is tucked away in a pool surrounded by steep granite on three sides. However, weve seen young children complete it, so it could make a great family excursion! We would love to do this hike again in the future, however, we think we would do it a bit differently. There are five total regions: Eightmile/Caroline, Stuart, Colchuck, Core, and Snow. living on the road in ourself-converted sprinter van! One of the most scenic hikes in the region, this hike passes several waterfalls and glacial lakes before climbing to Snow Lake. 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 Camping spots are limited, but when possible, put your tent up away from other tents to give other campers privacy. Note: Winners are drawn at random, so it makes absolutely no difference when you apply, as long as its within the application period. 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. After you get notified that you won the Enchantments lottery, youll want to figure out your route and how many days you want. The sights are spectacular, with views of surrounding peaks and Colchuck Lake dwarfed into a gleaming blue jewel far below. This campsite location puts you in a great position to finish the hike the next day and return home. 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. Mile 11: The shores of the Snow Lakes are the last large group of campsites. I had done no training barring weekly hikes in LA and it took me 20 hours to complete it. Snow: This is the zone we camped in during our time in the Enchantments. Not in June. There is little if any cell service available on this trail, and emergency help is far away. Once applications are drawn, there is a few-week period where successful applicants must accept their permit. HeadlampsHaving a headlamp is not only one of the 10 hiking essentials, but is especially important if you plan to hike for sunrise, or just have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. 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. $18.95 Alpine Lakes East Stuart Range, WA No. Once you ascend the Enchantments Core, youll be able to enjoy the spectacular scenery without constant exertion. The two trailheads are fortunately only a 30-minute drive apart, so the easiest option is driving two vehicles. The maximum group size is 8 people. I've been trying to prep by putting some weights in my backpack and hiking up and down the hills by my house. To avoid these food thieves when camping or hiking through, youll want to keep your food in an animal-proof container. The summer temperatures drop (it occasionally reaches a scorching 100 degrees in July and August!) 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 permits for the Enchantments area are divided into zones. 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. Overview of the Enchantments Hike Length of Time: 8 to 15 hours. The parking lots have very limited parking even with these designated spots, so it is a good idea to arrive as early as possible. For a challenging side adventure, there is a trail that branches off near Perfection Lake and heads up Prusik Pass. Near the Bavarian town of Leavenworth (but hidden from sight), The Enchantments loom. "I can see why it's called the Enchantments. 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. These days experience the least precipitation and are most likely to have clear skies and warm days. Was the road to Stuart Lake Trailhead scary or just extremely bumpy? If you begin at the lower Snow Creek Trailhead, reverse the numbers. Pre- Enchantments: A lot went into this 4 day/3 night backpacking trip. The Enchantments is a slice of hiking paradise. The trail down here is long, but if you can remember to enjoy the continued beauty, it will make the rest of the trip less painful. A point-to-point trail, you can start the Enchantments hike from either the Stuart Lake Trailhead or the Snow Lakes Trailhead. This is what we planned to do, but Mother Nature had other ideas. This area is called Aasgard Pass, and it's a lung-straining 2,000-ft climb in just under a mile. Prusik Peak over Lake Viviane. The Enchantments live up to the hype and dazzle hikers willing to overcome the elevation gain needed to visit this high alpine paradise. At one end, the hike begins at the Stuart Lake Trailhead. ), 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). 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. Anytime! October 11, 2021. There are two trailheads for the Enchantments: Stuart/Colchuck Lake and Snow Lake. In early September, Mrs. Mid-July through early October is the best season for hiking the Enchantments. 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. 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) . The elevation gain and loss are large, meaning that you will be working hard at most points during your hike. Matthew H. BPL Member. To enter the permit lottery, you will first need to apply during the annual permit lottery (exact dates vary by year). The trail down to Inspiration Lake is steep the first taste of the downhill you will encounter on the remaining trail. That is awesome! All rights reserved. Most backpackers choose to visit during this window. 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. Mileage: 20ish, 4600 Elevation gain/ 6000 elevation loss. This was our base camp from where we would climb the steep Crystal Creek valley and . We camped probably 1 mile from where you start the hike to the Core from the Snow Lakes area. Its not scary, but you will need to go slow. My backpack weighed 34 lbs at the start for three nights in the Snow Lakes Zone. The best season to hike to the lakes is summer and early fall, namely late July/August to September/early October. When to Hike The Enchantments. 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. 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! If you spend any time in Washington, it won't take long to hear about the Enchantments. This is the route we did. Maybe you'll get lucky and have good weather. Toughest thing I have done. Additionally, this is where you'll get to do some off-trail excursions. Each campsite listed has a wilderness toilet for your use and to preserve the natural beauty of the area. Top 10 Hiking 100 Classic Hikes: Washington, 3rd Ed. 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