Thru-hiking the Enchantments
The Enchantments are located within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington and has one of the most competitive lottery permits in the US! Only about 2% of people are lucky enough to score an overnight permit to spend the night in the Core Zone of the Enchantments. So, when we were tired of loosing the lottery year after year, we decided to day hike through the Enchantments. Here is our guide on this long, but epic day!
This hike is for experienced hikers only, do not under estimate the intensity of this hike. Be well prepared with water, food, and endurance training
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Permits
America Beautiful Pass (Annual National Parks Pass)
If you have this you do NOT need a National Forest Pass
Travel
Fly into Seattle International Airport
Transportation
Rent a car from airport and depending on what time your flight lands either stay In Seattle for the night or drive to Leavenworth and stay the night
Trail Aspects
Length: 18 miles (we clocked 21 miles)
Elevation gain: 4790ft
If you thru-hike this, you need to reserve a shuttle to take you back to your car at the entry point or if you have two cars you can drop each car at each trailhead
Trail Route Options
Two key notes about trail
Aasgard Pass: a 1 mile, 2300 ft elevation gain section of the trail from Colchuck Lake to the Core Zone. It is essentially rock scrambling the entire stretch. Takes on average 3 hours to go up and 3 hours to go down.
Snow Lake Zone: a 9ish mile section of unrelenting decline hiking
Route Options
1. Stuart Lake Trailhead > Snow Lake Trailhead (Through Hike)
Pros: Going up Aasgard Pass instead of down
Cons: Snow lake Zone, have to reserve a shuttle
2. Snow Lake Trailhead > Stuart Lake Trailhead (Through Hike)
Pros: Going up Snow Lake Zone, instead of decline
Cons: Going down Aasgard Pass (Hard if you have bad knees/unstable), have to take a shuttle
3. Stuart Lake > Snow Lakes > Stuart Lake (Out and back)
Pros: No Snow Lake Zone, don’t have to worry about a shuttle, get to see the Core Zone and Colchuck lake twice
Cons: Have to go up and down Aasgard Pass
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Travel Day
Fly into Seattle Airport and drive to Leavenworth
Stay the night in Leavenworth
Day 2
Start hike of your choice from route options above
Bring your backpacking stove and cook a full lunch once you
get to the Core Zone (you will NEED the calories)
Shuttle back to your car if needed
Stay night in Leavenworth
Day 3
Explore the town of Leavenworth (Iconic Hallmark movie town)
Stay the night in Leavenworth
Day 4
Fly out of Seattle Airport back home
Packing List
Here is a packing list specifically for thru-hiking and camping the Enchantments. If you’re looking for an all inclusive packing list or gear guide, click here!
