Washington’s Enchantment Lakes are a truly magical sight to see. They reside in an area where immense granite peaks, majestic mountain goats, and crystal clear alpine lakes are hidden around every corner. If you haven’t had a chance to experience this captivating place, put it on the top of your list.
Here’s a quick guide to help maximize your enjoyment while backpacking Washington’s stunning Enchantment Lakes.
Highlights
- Incredible Views
- Pristine High Alpine Lakes
- Mountain Goats
- Jagged Granite Peaks
- Well Maintained Trails
- Stunning Beauty
Lowlights
- Popular Area
- Big Climbs
- Permit Planning
- No Campfires
- Seasonal Bugs & Snow
Permits
The Enchantment Lakes are among the most well-traveled sites in the Northwest, and for good reason. Because of their popularity, there is a strict permit process in place to limit impact and keep the area pristine for many years to come.
Permits need to be obtained for all overnight camping trips from May 15th to October 31th. Permit applications are not necessary for day hikes and trips outside of that timeframe – day hikers can just fill out the free permit form at the trailhead.
Overnight permits for the May 15th through October 31st timeframe are awarded in a permit lottery, which takes place during February & March every year. A three or four night stay is generally considered a good amount of time to see the entire area.
When you apply for a permit you’ll put in your top three choices of 5 different camping zones. The Core Enchantments Zone permit is the best because it will allow you to camp in any of the permit zones.
The Snow Lakes and Colchuck Lakes zones are the next most popular option because they are adjacent to the Core Zone. Obtaining one of those two permits will allow hikers to day trip up into the Core Zone and return to their camps at Colchuck Lake or Snow Lake.
The permit process sounds like a terrible hassle, but it’s really not that bad. If you get picked for a permit, you simply print it out and bring it with you on the trail.
APPLY FOR PERMITS HERE
ADDITIONAL PERMIT INFO HERE
PERMIT RULES & REGULATIONS HERE
Best Time To Travel
The Permit timeframe, May 15th – October 31st, is a good time to travel to this area.
August is the most popular travel month and Thursdays through Sundays tend to be the most popular travel days. For that reason, weekend trips in August will be the most difficult permits to secure.
It’s likely that there will be snow on the trail – especially in the Core Zone – during May, Juneand possibly July. Late autumn is a good time to see the larch trees change color in this area, but be prepared for the possibility of late season snowstorms.
Difficulty
This trip has a high difficulty rating. Difficulty will obviously depend on your experience level, your fitness level, and how heavy your pack is.
If you want to travel to the Core Enchantment Zone (which you do), you will have a big climb to get there no matter what. Sodo yourself a favor and pack light. For lightweight hiking tips and gear recommendations, check out my Lightweight Basics Video Series and Gear Guide.
Distance
The entire trail from the Stuart Lake trailhead to the Snow Lakes trailhead is about 19 miles.
Some hikers leave a car at both trailheads and hike from one end to the other. If this is your goal, the most popular route is to hike from the Stuart Lake Trailhead (Colchuck Zone) to the Snow Lakes Trailhead (Snow Zone) due to the elevation profile of the area.
Another popular option is to setup a base camp at Upper Snow Lake or Colchuck Lake. Then you can take a steep day hike up into the Core Zone and return back to your camp at night.
Elevation
The Core Enchantments zone is where the real jaw-dropping beauty happens. To get to the Core Zone you’re going have a big climb no matter how you slice it.
Aasgard Pass (7841 ft) – the highest point on the trail – is roughly 6,500 feet above the Snow Lakes Trailhead and 4,400 feet above the Stuart Lake Trailhead. Entering from the Snow Lakes trailhead will provide a more gradual ascent. Entering from the Stuart Lake trailhead will provide a very steep (but shorter) ascent from Colchuck Lake up to Aasgard Pass.
Regulations
This is my personal summary of the regulations for this area. Please visit the forest service’s Enchantment Lakes Regulations Page for the official rules.
- No campfires are allowed in this area
- Camp only in established campsites
- Keep your distance from wildlife – goats can be aggressive
- Don’t feed any wildlife
- Use the backcountry toilets provided
- Pee on rocks and in cracks – goats crave salts
Maps & Guidebooks
Green Trails Enchantments Map 209s
100 Hikes in Washington’s Alpine Lakes
Backpacking Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Backpacking Washington
Navigation
If the trails are free of snow, navigation should be easy along the well maintained trails in this area. Some trails in the Core Enchantment Zone are slightly tough to follow because of all the granite, but if you look out for rock cairns you’ll be good to go.
Water
Water is plentiful along this trail and is generally easily accessible. Carry plenty of water to get from one source to the next and a lightweight water purifier. My current favorite is the SteriPEN Ultra.
Food Storage
There aren’t any specific food storage regulations in this area, but you should make sure to protect your food. There are bears in these woods, but you’re far more likely to be harassed by nighttime rodents and goats looking to get an easy meal. Do not feed any wildlife – voluntarily or involuntary. Protect your food.
Learn how to hang a proper bear bag or carry a food storage container. Bear Canisters and Ursacks are the most effective and easy storage methods.
Backpacking Gear
We prefer lightweight backpacking because it’s more comfortable and it allows us to cover more ground with less effort. For recommendations on our favorite lightweight backpacking equipment, check out the CleverHiker Gear Guide and Top Picks page.
What To Pack
TENT: We used the MSR Hubba Hubba NX tent on this trip. We love its combination of low weight and livability and that’s why it’s one of our top picks on our best lightweight backpacking tents list.
BACKPACK: We used Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60 backpacks on this trek. They’re lightweight, convenient, comfortable, and make our list of the best lightweight backpacking packs.
SLEEPING BAG: We used the Western Mountaineering UltraLite and Feathered Friends Swallow Nano 20 on this backpacking trip. They are both lightweight, incredibly warm, and make our list of the best backpacking sleeping bags.
SLEEPING PAD: We both used the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite sleeping pad on this trip. They’re light, comfortable, warm, and make our list of the best backpacking sleeping pads.
COOKING SYSTEM: We used the BRS Stove, Snow Peak Mini Solo Cookset, and Snow Peak Folding Spoon on this trek, all of which make our top picks gear list and best lightweight stove list.
WATER PURIFIER: We used the SteriPEN Ultra as our main purification method on this trip. It’s lightweight, works fast, and doesn’t require any pumping/squeezing or chemicals. Check out our best water purifiers list for our other top recommendations.
SHOES OR BOOTS: We wore Saucony Peregrine 7 trail runners (Men’s and Women’s) on this trail and they were excellent. If you prefer boots, make sure they’re lightweight and break them in really well before your trip. Here’s why we prefer hiking in trail running shoes: 5 Reasons to Ditch Your Hiking Boots.
HEADLAMP: A small headlamp like the Petzl Actik is an affordable, bright, and lightweight option.
FOOD: When backpacking in the Enchantments you’ll have to carry in all your food. For some suggestions on common backpacking food options, check out our backpacking food video.
FOOD STORAGE: For this trip, we brought an Ursack, to keep the critters out of our food. There are no food storage requirements for this area, but you should always store your food properly in the backcountry. Bear canisters and Ursacks are the most effective storage methods and the easiest to use.
CLOTHING:
Here are some of our favorite hiking/backpacking clothing items from our Top Gear list.
- 1 Rain jacket shell – Patagonia M10 / Rab Kinetic Plus
- 1 Pair rain pants – Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic
- 1 Down jacket – Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody
- 1 Fleece jacket – Extra warmth under your down jacket that will be warmer when damp and better to hike in.
- 1 Pair hiking pants or running tights
- 1 Pair hiking shorts – Nike dri fit running shorts
- 1-2 Hiking t-shirts – Nike dri fit t-shirts
- 1 Long-sleeve shirt – Nike dri fit quarter zip
- 1-3 Pair underwear – ExOfficio boxer briefs or ExOfficio women’s briefs
- 2-3 Pair socks (add thin sock liners if using boots) – Balega running socks for warm weather & SmartWool mountaineer socks for snow.
- 1 Pair long john bottoms – long john top optional for nighttime use.
- 1 Warm hat
- 1 Sun hat
- 1 Pair gloves or mittens
MAP &COMPASS: We brought the Green Trails Enchantments Map 209s and found it to be incredibly helpful and necessary. In addition, we always hike with a compass.
FIRST-AID KIT: Always bring a small personalized first aid kit. We used the .5 Ultralight Kit and added extras, like painkillers and personal medications.
SUN PROTECTION: Sunglasses (polarized recommended), sunscreen, and spf lip balm are an absolute must.
POCKET KNIFE: We brought along a small Swiss Army Knife, which came in handy here and there.
OTHER ITEMS:
- SMALL TOWEL: the Nano pack towel is great.
- CASH and ID
- PERMITS
- PERSONAL TOILETRIES
- HAND SANITIZER: Always apply after using a bathroom and before eating.
- WET WIPES: These can be useful for cleaning up after hiking.
- INSECT REPELLANT: At higher elevations insects weren’t a problem for us at all. For lower elevations, a 1oz bottle of DEET will do the trick.
- CAMERA: The Sony RX100 is our go-to camera for lightweight backpacking.
Getting There
The Enchantments are just outside of Leavenworth, Washington. The drive time from Seattle is about 2.5 hours and the drive time from Portland is about 5 hours. From Seattle you’ll take highway 2 to Leavenworth and from Portland you’ll follow 97 to Leavenworth.
Icicle Creek Road is on the western edge of the small town and the Snow Lakes Trailhead is about a ten minute drive once you make the turn onto Icicle Creek. For the Stuart Lake Trailhead (an additional 15 minute drive), continue down Icicle Creek until you hit road 7601. Take a left on 7601 and follow it past the first trailhead (Eightmile Trailhead) to the Stuart Lake Trailhead.
If you only have one car and you’re looking for a shuttle service, check out Loop Connector.
Additional Resources
Washington Trail Association Enchantments Guide
EveryTrail Enchantments Guide
