Billed as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beautiful settings, this stunning Alpine Lakes Wilderness region is a must for avid hikers.
Visit The Enchantments to trek the strenuous through-hike in one day or backpack for several nights. Whatever your hiking style or level of fitness, this glorious alpine region is worth the effort to enjoy it. Start at either end of the 18-mile (29-kilometer) hike outside Leavenworth, Washington, eventually making your way to a 7,000-foot (2,000-meter) plateau in a beautiful setting of alpine meadows, brilliantly blue lakes, larches and granite peaks.
Begin your Enchantments hike at the Stuart Lake/Colchuck Lake trailhead or the Snow Lakes trailhead. Arrange a car shuttle or key exchange within your party if you’re doing the day hike. Shuttle services based in Leavenworth can drop you at the Stuart Lake trailhead, allowing you to park in the Snow Lakes lot and spend the day hiking back to your car.
From Stuart Lake, hike first to Colchuck Lake. Look ahead to rugged Aasgard Pass, the most strenuous ascent in The Enchantments. The hike requires the ability to climb steep trails with a day pack or full backpack. You’ll gain approximately 1,900 feet (580 meters) in less than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers). If you climb Aasgard near the beginning of the hike, most of the rest of the trek is downhill.
Reach your reward at the top of Aasgard Pass, the Upper Enchantments. Look for mountain goats among the lunar-like landscape of rock, snow and ice. Take time for a snack and to fill your water bottle at Tranquil Lake or Isolation Lake. From here, continue to the Middle Enchantments, Prusik Peak, the Lower Enchantments and serene Lake Viviane.
Secure a day-hiking permit or enter the lottery if you’d like to backpack overnight in The Enchantments. Because of the region’s popularity, getting a backpacking permit can be difficult. Consider the day hike if you’re in town for a limited amount of time.
From Leavenworth, travel to the Lake Stuart/Colchuck Lake trailhead via Icicle Creek Road, then Eightmile Road. Park along Icicle Creek Road for the Snow Lakes trailhead to the Enchantments.