Traverse · Alpine Lakes Wilderness · Leavenworth
The Enchantments
18 mi one way4,500 ft gainHardDay hike: Free self-issueOvernight: Lottery
Get alerts for this hikePermits and reservations
Day hikeFree self-issue
Fill out a free day-use wilderness permit at the trailhead kiosk. No reservation.
OvernightLottery
Every overnight stay May 15 to Oct 31 needs an Enchantment Permit Area permit: $6 to apply, then $5 per person per day.
Permit calendar
Lottery opensFeb 15
Lottery closesMar 1 · results mid-March
Unclaimed permits releaseApr 1, 7 AM PT
Permit season and daily lotteryMay 15 to Oct 31
Enchantment Permit Area rules from the Forest Service and Recreation.gov. Always confirm with the land manager before you go.
About the trail
Distance18 miOne way, point to point
Elevation gain4,500 ftMost of it on Aasgard Pass
Elevation loss5,280+ ftSnow Lakes descent alone
High point7,800 ftTop of Aasgard Pass
Overview
A point-to-point traverse of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Start at the Stuart Lake trailhead, pass Colchuck Lake, climb steep Aasgard Pass into a high granite basin of alpine lakes, then make the long descent past the Snow Lakes to the Snow Lakes trailhead on Icicle Creek Road. The access road closes roughly November to May, so the season is short.
Tips from hikers
From route notes and trip reports
- Go Stuart Lake to Snow Lakes. It saves about 2,600 ft of climbing versus the reverse.
- Aasgard Pass is the crux. About 1,900 ft in under a mile. Follow the cairns, stay left of the larch grove, and avoid the runoff gully.
- Save your knees for the end. The Snow Lakes descent drops over a mile and hits harder than the climb.
- Skip the second car. Park at Snow Lakes and take the Loop Connector Shuttle to the start.
- Give goats space. Mountain goats approach hikers for salt.
- Know the rules. No dogs and no campfires, including twig-burning stoves.
What you need
Parking and passes
Forest Service trailhead: display a Northwest Forest Pass or an interagency pass (America the Beautiful).
Buy a Northwest Forest PassGetting there
The hike starts at Stuart Lake Trailhead. Save directions offline before you leave, since mountain roads often lose cell service.