Hiking the Enchantments trail
The hardest day hike I have done
If you are hiker, the Enchantments is a destination that belongs at the top of your list. Turquoise alpine lakes, jagged mountain peaks, wildflowers, goats — it has everything. I will try to capture the day (July 29 2022) as it happened, my plan, learnings and some memories in this post.
THE ROUTE
- Distance: 22 miles (30km), point-to-point
- Duration: 16 hours
- Location: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 11 miles southwest of Leavenworth
- Elevation gain: Total 11k elevation change 4,954 ascent, 6700 descent
- Difficulty: Challenging/Very Strenuous
- Highest Elevation: 7,844 feet
- Number of steps: 58,000
Hike to Colchuck Lake
My friend Aleks and I departed early from Seattle at 2AM to drive the Snow-lakes trailhead and took the loop connector to stuart lake trailhead. Got the back country day pass filled out at the station and began the hike at 5:30AM. We reached Colchuck lake at 7:40AM. Felt like a good start to get there early and enjoy the lake only with a handful of people around.
Aasgard Pass
From Colchuck lake pictured above to the Asgard pass base it took 1 hour to arrive. When you get to the far end of the lake, you’ll come out of the trees and enter a boulder area.
When you stare up at the Aasgard pass, it looks hard. And it is definitely even harder than it looks. Not only is it steep, but loose dirt and scree make it slippery and even more exhausting.
Almost immediately beyond the lake, the trail becomes littered with large boulders and scree, making a bit of route-finding a sudden necessity.
The next mile is by far the toughest of the entire trail. With over 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than a single mile in distance, the climb challenges both stamina and determination.
We had to use our hands for balance as we slooowly clambered up what seemed like a near-vertical route. The increasingly jaw-dropping views are the only distraction from the heart-pumping exertion.
Once we reached the top of the pass, however, it was all worthwhile! The sights are spectacular, with views of surrounding peaks and Colchuck Lake dwarfed into a gleaming blue jewel far below. This is actually the highest elevation point on the entire trail, so from here, the rest of the hike is mostly downhill.
WILDLIFE ON THE TRAIL
Mountain goats are the most prevalent wildlife you’ll encounter.
Core Enchantments/Descent to Snow and Nada Lakes
Just beyond Aasgard Pass, the area known as the Core Enchantments Zone offers otherworldly views completely different from the forest below. Nearly devoid of vegetation, the landscape has been molded by ancient glacial activity, with countless sparkling blue lakes dotting the dramatic rock formations.
Isolation lake is one of the larger lakes that you will come across
The trail in this area passes by stunning spots like aptly-named Lake Inspiration, Lake Perfection, Lake Leprechaun and Lake Vivianne while continuously dropping in elevation towards Snow Lake. Soon, the forest reappears and it’s a foot-battering descent down to the Snow Lake trailhead.
The trail down from the Core Enchantments to the Snow Lakes is difficult, simply because of the number of obstacles along the trail. And the final five mile stretch to the car is a beast.
Tips
- Begin at the Colchuck/Stuart Lakes trailhead
- Get a loop connector to get from trailhead to trailhead when you only have one vehicle
- BRING A BUG SPRAY! (they actually bite through your apparel)
- Tackling Aasgard Pass: This requires more mental strength than physical. Try doing it before the sun hits the pass to save energy.
- Hiking poles definitely help.
- Keep following the rock cairns, and try to build one to help fellow hikers :)
- Know your route — come prepared and do your research ahead of time.
- Take it in!
Closing thoughts:
IMO, the Enchantments Hike is the most beautiful hike in Washington. It is not to be taken lightly as it can take anywhere between 10 and 18 hours to finish depending on your fitness level and hiking style. Spanning 22 miles with an elevation change of 11,000 feet throughout, this was by far the hardest day hike I’ve ever done so far in my hiking journey. However, it was also the most rewarding! We’ve never seen so many lakes and jagged mountain peaks all in the same day hike before. The enchantments trail lived up to its name and gave us one of the most memorable days of our life.
