Knowing that I’d be spending two mid-summer weeks in central Washington along the eastern slopes of the cascades, I wanted to seize the opportunity for a mountain hike. I quickly learned of The Enchantments, a popular camping and hiking destination within the Cascade Mountain Range with jaw-dropping vistas and aqua-colored alpine lakes, and knew I had to go. The highly coveted camping permits are typically booked well in advance. As a day hiker, one can enter from either the Stuart Lake trailhead at the west end of the trail or the Snow Falls trailhead farther east and hike up to a lake or two before heading back. Or one can thru-hike the entire trail, which is about 23 miles, and thus get a proper fill of glacial lakes.
Luckily there are a few shuttle services based out of nearby Leavenworth, so I was able to book a 6am shuttle which picked me up from the Snow Lakes trailhead and shuttled us down to Stuart Lake. Most people completing the thru-hike choose this west to east direction, as most of the elevation gain is early in the hike when still fresh and while the air is cooler.
The first striking landmark on this route is Colchuck Lake, which is about 4 miles in, with a gradual 2435 ft of elevation gain. Colchuck offers everything one seeks from an alpine lake – turquoise color, mirror-like reflections, looming mountain peaks – but its relative ease of access compared to the more remote lakes makes it feel less special.
Shortly after rounding the southern end of Colchuck Lake and after scrambling over a field of boulders, the steep climb up Aasgard Pass begins. The elevation gain here is about 2250 ft in less than a mile over fairly technical terrain, so this is the true test of the hike. I loved this section of the hike, as I like being challenged physically by intense incline while also having to be mentally focused to ensure safe footing on rocky terrain.
The next section of the hike passes by many beautiful alpine lakes and the landscape transitions from drier and more open into more dense and lush surroundings farther east. After passing through the amazing core of the Enchantments and then the thunderous Snow Falls emptying into the last of the lakes, the final several miles of the thru-hike are less inspiring. But that extra distance and effort are part of what makes this place feel special.
