If you’ve been researching Washington state it’s likely that you’ve come across information about The Enchantments. I had the opportunity to through-hike the enchantments two years ago and have been dying to go back ever since. If you’re questioning whether or not it’s worth it, read this blog post!
Driving Logistics For The Enchantments
One of the most difficult aspects of backpacking or through hiking the Enchantments is figuring out the driving logistics. This is a through hike, so you will end up 19 miles away from where you started. One really important thing to keep in mind are parking passes! Check the trailhead before you leave your car and make sure that you have the appropriate passes. This is a very busy hike, so it’s likely that rangers are ticketing if you park illegally. To start the hike, you will need to set up some sort of a shuttle to get you back to the trailhead that you started from, and there are a few ways to do this.
- Set up a shuttle the night before you leave with a friend. If you are doing this hike with a couple of people, meet at the trailhead you will be ending at (my suggestion is to end at the Snow Lakes trial head) and get everyone into one vehicle and drive up to the top. This can be annoying if you are trying to carpool to this trail, but the alternative is paying for someone to do the shuttle for you.
- Book a shuttle service. Continue reading below for more information on shuttle services in Leavenworth.
- Ask for help in a Facebook Group. There are so many Washington State Hiking/Backpacking Facebook Groups. Join a few of those, and share the dates you will be doing your hike and ask if anyone else is looking to set up a shuttle. If you’re going in the busy season, odds are you’ll be able to link up with another group and set up a shuttle for free.
Enchantments Shuttle Services:
When it comes go booking a shuttle service for the Enchantments, you have two options. Both offer the same service and have good reviews. Here are a few key points about these two businesses.
- $25/ person.
- They drive you from the Snow Lakes Trailhead up to the Colchuck Lake Trailhead.
- Shuttle services only run from Friday – Sunday. They do make exceptions for weekday shuttles, but there is an extra fee.
- They offer cancelations, but you must cancel 48 hours in advance.
- $60.00 for 1 passenger or $30.00 per person for 2 or more passengers.
- They offer multiple trip options giving you the choice of starting at Snow Lakes Trailhead or Colchuck lake Trailhead.
- They offer shuttles Monday – Sunday their hours are below.
- Monday – Friday5:00 AM * 5:45 AM * 7:30 AM * 8:15 AMSaturday & Sunday5:00 AM * 5:45 AM * 6:45 AM * 7:30 AM * 8:15 AM
- There are no cancelations once the shuttle service is booked.
Hiking Details
Many people opt to do this as a backpacking trip, but in order to do that you have to apply for permits early in February and hope you are chosen. If you don’t manage to snag a backpacking permit, not all hope is lost! You can through-hike the enchantments but it is no easy task. Below are the important facts:
Mileage: 19 miles
Elevation Gain: 4500 feet of elevation gain
Like I said, this is no easy hike. When I did it we started around 4:30am and finished close to 8pm. We took our time and stopped for food and coffee many times along the trail. I have heard many stories of people finishing it faster than we did, but I enjoyed the slow pace that we kept.
For current trail reports and more, visit Washington Trails Association here!
The Enchantments Hiking Route
There are technically two ways that you can hike this trail, but I am going to discuss starting at the Colchuck Lake Trailhead and finishing at the Snow Lakes trail head. This route has less elevation gain and is generally considered the route to take. The elevation gain is still no joke! The hike up to Colchuck Lake is just the start of your day, for more information on the Colchuck Lake hike check out my blog post on it here. From there you climb Aasgards pass, hike above the tree line for spectacular views, and then slowly climb back down and through the forests and lakes until you reach your car.
Why I Loved Hiking the Enchantments in Leavenworth
Completing The Enchantments feels like a major life accomplishment. The trail is hard and offers views that still stay unmatched in my mind. The challenge of getting up Aasgards pass is something that I think everyone should experience, and the lakes that wait at the top of the pass are incredible. It can be the middle of summer and you’ll find snow along the trail, flowers blooming, and goats wandering by.
What to Pack For the Enchantments Through Hike
Packing for this hike is no joke. You want to be prepared, but not overly prepared. I was very careful to not pack so much that I would be weighed down during the steep climb, but enough to keep me sustained during the rest of the trek. Below is a list of some items I would recommend bringing with you on your hike.
- • Comfortable hiking backpack
- • Hiking poles
- • 32 oz water bottle
- • Gravity water filter
- • Sawyer mini water filtration system
- • Backpacking stove
- • Instant coffee
- • Electrolyte packs
- • Merino wool hiking socks – I brought three extras on the hike
- • Sunscreen
Conclusion
- If you’re on the fence about whether or not you want to do this trail as a day hike, I think you should go for it. It is hard to describe the beauty of the lakes and views that you will get to see, and the difficulty adds a level of excitement. Come prepared with plenty of gear and you’ll have a great time!
For information on Leavenworth, Washington visit my blog here!