Enchantment Lakes Thru-Hike, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, WA
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www.outdoorproject.com MADE BY: Brian Haber CONTRIBUTOR: Brad Lane LAST UPDATED: 09.06.16 © The Outdoor Project LLC NOTE: Content specified is from time of PDF creation. Please check website for up-to-date information or for changes. Maps are illustrative in nature and should be used for reference only. Enchantment Lakes Thru-Hike, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, WA Adventure Description by Brad Lane | 08.13.14 Hiking through the stunning basins, lakes, and peaks known collectively as the Enchantments is to experience the Alpine Lakes Wilderness at its best. Because it is one of the most scenic areas in the Washington Cascades, many decide to take their time hiking this demanding route; thru-hiking is also an option, however, for those who wish to push their limits. A thru- hike covers a course of terrain that could easily be done in three or four days in one difficult day. Both the schedule and pace are strenuous, but the thru-hike option carries the significant advantage of not requiring a permit, which can be difficult to obtain. There are two points of entry to start this day hike, and if you plan on doing it in one go, you'll need to set a shuttle in the morning or the night before, or you can arrange a shuttle with Leavenworth Shuttle + Taxi. Call 509.548.7433 for details. If you begin the crescent-shaped trek at the 1,300-foot Snow Lakes Trailhead you will gain approximately 6,500 feet of elevation over the 10+ miles to 7,840-foot Aasgard Pass, the highest point on the route. If you decide to start at the Michael Sawiel | 10.10.14 3,450-foot Stuart Lake/Colchuck Lake Trailhead instead, you climb less overall, but the steep ascent up to Aasgard Pass will test you physically. Highlights Expect to see a lot on this trail. With over eight gigantic alpine lakes, it is difficult not to linger as you make your way through DIFFICULTY: Very Difficult the core section. Along the trail, watch for wildflowers and TRAILHEAD ELEV.: 1,300 ft (396 m) mountains goats. With enough scenic views to fill up your NET ELEV. GAIN: 6,500 ft (1,981 m) camera's memory card, be sure you are ready for this day-long adventure. TOTAL DISTANCE: 17.60 mi (28.32 km) TRAIL TYPE: One-way/Shuttle Permits + Camping TRAIL USES: Hiking PREFERABLE SEASON(S): Spring, Summer, Fall Should you want to spend the night, note that you will need a special overnight permit. Protected by the Alpine Lakes DOGS ALLOWED: No Wilderness, the Forest Service has instituted a permit lottery CONGESTION: High for all overnight camping from May 15 through October 31 for CLOSEST METROPOLITAN AREA: Seattle, WA the following five distinct camping zones (from east to west): TIME TO GET THERE: 2:14 hours Snow Zone ROAD CONDITION: Paved Core Enchantment Zone (also permits camping in any other DAY-USE/PARKING PASS REQ'D: NW Forest Pass zone) Colchuck Zone Stuart Zone Eightmile/Caroline Zone Application for the lottery takes place in February and March. However, the Wenatchee River Ranger Station in Leavenworth reserves a limited quantity for day-of application, and these are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. For this backpacking trip a permit for either the Snow or Core Enchanment Zone will be necessary, with the latter being most www.outdoorproject.com MADE BY: Brian Haber CONTRIBUTOR: Brad Lane LAST UPDATED: 09.06.16 © The Outdoor Project LLC NOTE: Content specified is from time of PDF creation. Please check website for up-to-date information or for changes. Maps are illustrative in nature and should be used for reference only. desirable. To mitigate detrimental human impact to the area there are further Rules and Regulations that have been established and should be well understood, including no campfires above 5,000 feet. Whether you are hiking the Enchantments over several days or on a thru-hike, be sure to come prepared. For more information you can contact the Wenatchee River Ranger Station at 509.548.2550. Getting there (from Seattle, WA): From Seattle, take I-5 N Take exit 168B to merge onto WA-520 E toward Bellevue/Kirkland In 6.7 miles take the Interstate 405 N exit toward Everett Merge onto I-405 N Take exit 23 for Washington 522 E toward Wenatchee/Woodinville/US 2 In 8 miles merge onto WA-522 E Exit onto US-2 E toward Wenatchee Continue onto Stevens Ave Once in Leavenworth, at the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto US-2 and continue for approximately 74 miles Turn right onto Icicle Rd and continue for approximately 4.2 miles and trailhead will be on your left. NORTH T TCHEE ES R (to trailhead) (to 5.2 M M 5.2 2.0 mi. ADA Accessibility 60 min. One Mile Grid ENA Distance Marker Peak W NF 76) Trail EL 6,885 ( D R Creek Snow Snow Lakes Lakes Snow K ENLARGE E Wall Creek Snow Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) zone snow re C E NATIONAL FO NATIONAL cl I Toketie Creek Toketie C Footbridge OKANOGAN- I Horseback Horseback Riding Cliff JumpingCliff Hot Springs Convenience / Grocery Store to EL 5,806 1.0 mi. 30 min. Nada Lake 1.3 M 1.3 Lower Snow Lake Snow EL 5,415 Lake Toketie Toketie 0.5 mi. Stuart Range Stuart 15 min. Group Camping Cabin Special Destination Potable Water RE 0 0 O C zone hantment Upper Edward Pk Edward EL 7,300 in natureandshouldbeusedforreferenceonly. website forup-to-dateinformationorchanges.Mapsareillustrative NOTE: LAST UPDATED: MADE BY: www.outdoorproject.com Snow Lake Snow EL 5,420 nc E T Content specifiedisfromtimeofPDFcreation.Pleasecheck Rat Creek Rat TCHEE ES Mesa Lake BrianHaber R 09.06.16 ©TheOutdoorProjectLLC The Temple EL 8,292 ENA W Showers Campground Backcountry Campsite RV Campsite 3.7 M Earle Lake AN- CONTRIBUTOR: Temple Lake Temple Prusik Pk EL 8,040 NATIONAL FO NATIONAL EL 6,695 Shield Lake McClellan Pk EL 8,364 OKANOG BradLane Lake EL 6,875 Lake Viviane Lake Leprechaun Leprechaun Vista / Viewpoint Waterfall Boat Ramp Swimming NESS R NF 76) ( E D D EL 7,401 R Coney Lake Coney K Lake IL E Cannon Mtn EL 8,638 Perfection Perfection Gnome Tarn Prusik Pass re Creek Crystal C Lake Crystal E EL 7,130 cl 1.7 M 1.7 I C Inspiration Lake Inspiration I K Picnic Area Picnic StationRanger Historic Landmark to Picnic Shelter Picnic C Alpine Wilderness, Lakes WA E U CH Glacier zon ol Snow Creek C ALPINE LAKES W NF 7601 NF EL 8,364 EL 7,700 2.5 M 2.5 Isolation Lake Footbridge Little Annapurna Mountaineer Creek Mountaineer EL 3,520 Trailhead Parking Restrooms Toilet Vault Trail Colchuck Trail Lake 1.6 M Lake Colchuck EL 7,840 Stuart Lake Lake Stuart EL 5,570 Dragontail Pk Dragontail EL 8,840 Footbridge Aasgard Pass Aasgard Eightmile Creek Eightmile X4 Lake Trail Lake Eightmile Glacier Colchuck 1.6 M / Creek ONE L Z Porcupine I T RT NE I EL 8,705 A Little Eightmile Lake ar U ghtm EL 6,991 U I T Colchuck Pk zone rol E S S Permit Zone Boundary Trail (unmaintained) Trail Paved (major) Rd Trail (minor) Trail (minor) Paved Rd Forest Rd (major) Forest Rd (minor) Trail (major) Trail ca E K EL 7,080 Trail L EL 8,453 Argonaut Pk Argonaut to A T Lake Eightmile- Trout Creek Trout EL 4,641 Eightmile Enchantment Lakes, ENLARGE ENLARGE ENLARGE ENLARGE ENLARGE ENLARGE ENLARGE.