August 18, 2023 - Even by the standards of Washington State's Cascade Range, the Enchantments are spectacular. A traverse takes you through fragrant pine forest, past clear mountain lakes to an alpine plateau, well sprinkled with more lakes and surrounded by sharp granite peaks. You continue to an upper plateau – tundra, streams, more lakes and mountains, culminating in a barren landscape of rock and tarns, almost devoid of any green. Then the view down onto a perfect jade teardrop lake below and a descent past the lake to one more delightful valley and a fine forest trail out. The hike is 17 miles from one trailhead to the other, then there are several miles of road to complete the loop. The Mountaineers Creek trailhead is about 2000 feet higher than the Snow Creek start. To reach Aasgard Pass (at 7800') above the cliffs hemming in Colchuck Lake you climb a loose, primitive footpath a steep 2200 feet in three-quarters of a mile before dropping down 6800 feet to the Stuart's Lake TH. Ranked as #8 in Backpacker Magazine's "America's Hardest Dayhikes".

DIRECTIONS to Stuart/Colchuck TH: From Leavenworth, WA, follow US-2 West for 0.8 mile, then turn left onto Icicle Road for about 8.5 miles. Turn left on Forest Road 7600,then stay right on Forest Road 7601. Follow Forest Road 7601 for about 4 miles to the trailhead.

Senior Pass in windshield on hangtag. Complete the mandatory (FREE) wilderness permit at the trailhead. Arrive parking lot before 0500. Start EARLY: Twilight 0530, Sunrise 0600.

Bug spray.

TH to Colchuck Lake: 4.25M / 2200' - go left at the trail split toward Colchuck Lake, not Stuart Lake. Run into boulder field after bridge - turn right and stay on trail.

Around aquamarine Colchuck Lake to start of Aasgard Pass: 1.25M

Aasgard/Colchuck Pass

Aasgard Pass: 1.25M / 2000' past a small lake on top

Core Enchantments: 3M / 1000' - slowly descend; follow cairns

Descent to Snow Lakes: 1.5M

Snow Lake and Nada Lake: 2.5M

Nada Lake to Snow Lakes TH: 4M