Hiking The Enchantments Trail in 24 Stunning Photos
The Enchantments was a bucket-list hike for me and all the hype was not overdone, even in the slightest bit.
While it is a very tough hike, it was the first strenuous hike I’ve done that I instantly wanted to do again, unlike hiking Half Dome or Rim to Rim.
In addition, getting to camp overnight at Perfection Lake was a dream. The cotton-candy sunset over Prusik Peak with only mountain goats as our neighbors is an image carved into my memory that even time can’t take away.
Colchuck Lake along The Enchantments
We backpacked the trail in mid-August of 2023 and it was the perfect time of year to be on the trail. There was very little snow, no bugs and the daily high was 65F and the low was 40F.
The Enchantments Trail Stats
Distance - 18.0 miles (point to point)
Elevation Gain - 4,790 ft
Difficulty - Strenuous
Location - Leavenworth, WA
Permit - if you plan to hike the entire 18 miles in one day you do not need a permit. Camping overnight along the trail you must enter the lottery by February 28th for a permit.
Hiking The Enchantments
The Enchantments trail is a point to point hike, meaning you start and end at a different location.
Because of this, most people choose to start at Stuart Lake Trailhead and end at Snow Lakes Trailhead. This is also the route we chose to take.
We (very luckily) won a permit to camp overnight in the famous Core Lakes Zone of The Enchantments Traverse. Nothing changes about the route of this hike whether you backpack or hike this trail in one day.
Parking for The Enchantments
The major benefit of ending the hike at Snow Lakes Trailhead is the parking area is right of the main road and way more accessible than Stuart Lake Trailhead.
View of Snow Lakes Trailhead parking
We arrived at the parking lot the evening before we started our hike so we could secure a parking spot and easily wake up in time for our shuttle bus at 5am to Stuart Lake trailhead.
Start of The Enchantments - Stuart Lake Trailhead
The journey technically starts at 5am to get on the shuttle bus (we had to schedule this in advance) that took us on a 15-20 minute drive up to Stuart Lake Trailhead. This is a very bumpy and windy road, and I’m glad we didn’t drag our van down this rough road.
Start of The Enchantments - Stuart Trailhead
The trail starts out very gradual within the dense forest and along the Mountainer Creek.
As we climbed the treeline, 3.5 miles on the trail and about 2,100 feet of elevation gain, we got our first glimpse of the most stunning alpine lake.
Colchuck Lake - The Enchantments
Colchuck Lake - The Enchantments
This photo is not edited at all to give you the most authentic depiction of Colchuck Lake being nothing short of perfection.
The way the morning light casts a mirror of the towering granite peaks on the calm surface of the turquoise-blue water is an artist’s dream to paint.
Bouldering around Colchuck Lake
It’s about a mile to get around the lake and to the base of the famously dreadful Aasgard Pass.
The Journey up Aasgard Pass
The hardest part of The Enchantments traverse is getting up Aasgard Pass. You have to boulder and scramble 2,300 feet in only a mile.
It usually takes day hikers about 1.5 hours and backpackers 2.5 hours (given the extra weight they’re carrying).
Mountain goats on Aasgard Pass
The views as you climb Aasgard Pass are nothing short of spectacular as you lookout over Colchuck Lake.
There are also mountain goat throughout the trail effortlessly ascending the pass, making you feel like you’re the most out of shape hiker to ever exist.
I’m still smiling, so only halfway up Aasgard Pass.
We followed the cairns to stay on trail and it became more of a game to see how many cairns we could get to before needing a break. At first it was 10, then 7, then 5, and closer to the top I could only make it to 2-3 before needing a rest.
This was the hardest pass I’ve ever climbed with 30 pounds on my back and to say I almost gave up a few times is an understatement.
Thankfully my car was at the end of the trail and forced me to keep going, one (very slow) step at a time.
Almost to the summit of Aasgard Pass
Previous hikers warn that there are a couple of “false summits” along Aasgard Pass which makes it very confusing to know when it’s almost over and even more of a mental challenge. But once you see this very small alpine lake on your right, you’re less than 100 steps to the summit!
Celebrating at the top of Aasgard Pass
I cannot begin to describe the feeling of joy that overwhelmed me once we reached the summit of Aasgard. I felt like I should have been given a lifetime achievement award or even just an ice cold beer for the multiple self-inflicted mental breakdowns that it took to get me there.
Part 2: It’s all Downhill!
I was shocked once I looked down the other side of the pass, it was one breathtakingly beautiful alpine lake after another.
Not to mention, it was all downhill here from here!
Getting to walk out on this snow-packed alpine lake was definitely a highlight as I’ve never seen snow look pink against deep blue water. This is also the only snow we encountered on the trail in mid-August.
Inspiration Lake - The Enchantments
First look of Inspiration Lake
After Colchuck Lake, I’d say Inspiration Lake is the second most beautiful alpine lake in The Enchantments.
Hiking down to Inspiration Lake
While we only had to go downhill, it’s still a very rocky and difficult terrain and at points I felt like we were going just as slow down as we were going up.
Perfection Campsite in The Enchantments
Perfection Lake - The Enchantments
Just under 2 miles from Aasgard Pass and right after Inspiration Lake, we chose to camp at none other than Perfection Lake. We set up camp and I went down faster to the water than a fat kid on a seesaw.
This rock in the middle of the water became my happy place/wading zone.
Perfection Lake is very shallow along the shore, therefore not as freezing cold as the others, making it the best lake for swimming.
Campsite at Perfection Lake
I think we chose the best spot to camp as you’ll see with these next views of the most ethereal sunset we were gifted for our one night in this fairytale of a land.
Sunset over Prusik Peak
Sunset over Perfection Lake
Cozy tent view of Prusik Peak
I cannot get over how magical this sunset was. It was only us and the resident mountain goats. We all laid there silently (with a comfortable distance between) in awe of the cotton-candy painted sky and majestic Mother Earth.
I remember the winds being loud and strong over the night, but I was so tired from the intense day of hiking that not much could keep me awake.
Day 2 - 10 miles to finish the Hike
We woke up early the next morning as we still had 10 miles left to finish the hike and go pick up our dog.
Leprauchan Lake also had great camping
Once again, the alpine lakes just kept coming one after another and I wish I could have swam in every single one as they all looked like a dream.
Looking down at Lake Viviane
Since Aasgard Pass, we were still mainly using cairns as a guide for the trail and the steepest sections where right after the gorgeous Lake Viviane.
Snow Lakes in The Enchantments
Steep sections going down towards Snow Lakes
The mile going from Lake Viviane to Upper Snow Lake was the sketchiest and steepest downhill part of the trail for us, but we took it slow and managed no rolled ankles or tumbles.
If Colchuck Lake was a 10 out of 10, I’d give Upper Snow Lake a 9 out of 10. It has a waterfall that plunges into the lake and the camp spots around the lake are prestine.
Nada Lake, The Enchantments
Once past the last alpine lake, Nada Lake, it’s what seems to be 5 miles of never ending switchbacks to end the hike at Snow Lakes Trailhead.
Everyone warns you about the false summit of Aasgard, but no one tells you about the false finish of seeing your car in the parking lot but still being 2-3 miles away. Don’t say I didn’t warn you though.
Finishing The Enchantments
I still think The Enchantments is my favorite hike I’ve ever done and I’ll probably submit a permit to backpack here every year. Next time I would camp more than one night along the trail because backpacking it in 2 days is not only difficult but just too short of time here.
I hope these photos inspired you to hike this beautiful trail!
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