Please note, you need a permit to enter the Enchantments and please tread lightly as the area is very fragile. More information on permits can be found here:
Wenatchee National Forest: Enchantment Area Permits[om_gmap zoom=”11″ lat=”47.528967″ lng=”-120.820599″ ]

Getting there:

Drive Highway 2 to Leavenworth and turn south onto Icicle Road. Follow the road approximately 4.5 miles to the Snow Lake Trailhead on your left. For the Colchuck Trailhead, continue on another 3 miles until you reach FR 7601. Turn left and head up 3.5 miles to the road’s end and the trailhead.

NW Forest Pass required

Quite possibly the most popular of all areas in Washington, the Enchantments are well worth the effort it takes to hike in. There are two different access routes, a vast expanse of area to explore, and the opportunity to thru-hike or make a multiple day trip. This is a place I will definitely be returning to.

September 26, 2009: Day 1

I hiked in through the Colchuck Lake trail and had to slog up Aasgard Pass – 2300 vertical feet in less than one mile.

Aasgard across Colchuck Lake

Looking up Aasgard Pass

Dragontail Peak

Annapurna

Monolith

Mama and kid

Camp over Perfection

Prusik Peak over Perfection Lake

Shoe shot over Perfection

Fishin’

Okay, that trout was at least 13 inches. Stupid thing got off my hook when I pulled it out of the lake.

Lunch! By the way, I caught one first cast out. I caught my limit in about 15 minutes.

Scotch at sunset

Moons over McClellan

Sunset on Prusik

September 27, 2009: Day 2

I had camped at Perfection Lake the first night, and in the morning made a quick little jaunt up to Prusik Pass to check out the view.

Sunrise on Prusik

Boneses!

On the way up Prusik Pass, looking back toward Perfection Lake. Little Annapurna in the background

McClellan, Perfection, and Little Annapurna from the top of Prusik Pass

Prusik Peak, up close and personal

Looking down toward Shield Lake from Prusik Pass

Lens Flare!

McClellan and Little Annapurna

Looking back up toward the Upper Enchantments

Sun reflecting in Temple Lake

Viviane and Leprechaun

The Upper Enchantments

Art shot!

Art shot over Viviane

Looking down toward camp over Perfection

Climbers on Prusik

Ice

Ice

Ice

Baby

Gnome Tarn

Leprechaun Lake and McClellan Peak

Over Viviane and down toward Snow Lakes

Rock on

Big rocks on the ridge above Perfection

Prusik Pass in the saddle in the center and the ridgeline I hopped down

Shoe shot over Perfection

Trail around Perfection

After the morning exploration, I did some fishing and then packed up camp to move back into the Upper Enchantments. Found a nice spot near a tarn at the base of Little Annapurna and pitched the tent. Next up, I set off to conquer Little A.

My chipmunk friend

‘Sup dood

I named him Fred

Number 2

Inspiration Lake on the way back up to the Upper Enchantments

Larches and Inspiration

Oh Billy!

Apparently the goats like licking the rocks. Seems they get the salt from them. Someone must have peed there.

Camp number two. Near a tarn at the base of Little Annapurna

Lens flare and Little A

On the way up Little A

Already at 8000 feet and another 500 to go

Looking west toward Aasgard from about halfway up Little A

Shoe shot and McClellan

On the top of Little Annapurna, natural rock walls

I have conquered!

Baker and Glacier

Shoe shot and Ingalls Creek

8500 feet and FiveFingers

Hey Brad, I found your pebble

Spires

Damn, I really need to clean my camera

Stuart

Northeast toward the Temple

Sun over Annapurna

Peaks through Aasgard

My tarn, my camp, my Temple

Sunset over Dragontail

Larch and Moon

Scotch and a cigar at sunset

Dragontail reflections

Next time, I’m camping up here.

See that little patch of sand on the left? It’s just big enough to fit a tent

Sunset from the tent

Enchantments-Full — The Enchantments from the top of Annapurna

September 28, 2009: Day 3

The next morning I woke up early enough to catch the sunrise. After a copious amount of picture taking, I packed up camp and made my way back up to Aasgard, down to Colchuck, and back to the Jeep.