Enchantment Lakes Thru-Hike, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, WA

Home , Aasgard Pass, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Colchuck Lake, Little Annapurna, Nada Lake, Snow Lakes

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. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Trail (major) Vista / ADA Cliff Jumping Trail (minor) Trailhead Picnic Area Viewpoint Campground Group Camping Accessibility Trail (unmaintained) Backcountry Parking Picnic Shelter Waterfall Cabin Hot Springs Distance Marker Paved Rd (major) Campsite Paved Rd (minor) Special Horseback Forest Rd (major) Restrooms Ranger Station Boat Ramp RV Campsite Destination Riding Peak Forest Rd (minor) Historic Potable Water Convenience / Permit Zone Boundary Vault Toilet Landmark Swimming Showers Grocery Store One Mile Grid

eightmil / caroline zone to icicle Creek rd (NF 76) okanogan-wenatchee to icicle Creek rd (NF 76) Eightmile NF 7601 in natureandshouldbeusedforreferenceonly. website forup-to-dateinformationorchanges.Mapsareillustrative NOTE: LAST UPDATED: MADE BY: www.outdoorproject.com Lake Trail EL 3,520 national forest Eightmile- Content specifiedisfromtimeofPDFcreation.Pleasecheck Trout Creek Eightmile Creek 5.2 M

Trail Snow Creek Wall BrianHaber Little (to trailhead)

Rat Creek Toketie Creek EL 4,641 Edward Pk EL 7,300 CONTRIBUTOR: Mountaineer Creek

2.5 M ENLARGE ENLARGEENLARGE Snow Creek

EL 7,080 BradLane Footbridge Toketie StuartTrail Lake Lake Coney Lake Mesa Lake Footbridge Stuart EL 7,401 zone Earle Lake Colchuck Trail Core Snow Lakes Footbridge zone Cannon Mtn Enchantment EL 8,638 zone Colchuck snow Lake Trail 1.6 M zone Shield Lake x4 alpine lakes WILDERNESS EL 6,695 Nada Lake

toat l ke s uart 1.3 M Colchuck Lake EL 5,806 EL 5,570 EL 6,991 The Temple Prusik Pass Prusik Pk EL 8,292 EL 6,885 1.6 M EL 8,040 Gnome Tarn Lower Temple Lake Snow Lake Aasgard Pass EL 5,415 Inspiration Lake Upper EL 7,840 Lake Viviane Snow Lake EL 7,130 3.7 M Colchuck EL 5,420 Glacier Perfection Leprechaun Colchuck Pk Isolation Lake okanogan-wenatchee EL 7,700 Lake Lake EL 8,705 Dragontail Pk 1.7 M EL 6,875 national forest Crystal EL 8,840 Lake Snow Creek Argonaut Pk Glacier McClellan Pk Stuart Range EL 8,453 Little Annapurna EL 8,364 PorcupineCreek EL 8,364

Crystal Creek

0 0.5 mi. 1.0 mi. 2.0 mi. Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WA Enchantment Lakes, 0 15 min. 30 min. 60 min. NORTH