Can you hike the Enchantments in one day?

Yes. I did the through-hike in one day in August 2020: 21.4 miles from the Stuart Lake Trailhead over Aasgard Pass and through the Core to the Snow Lakes Trailhead, in about 11 hours. For a day hike you only need a free day-use permit you fill out at the trailhead.

Do you need a permit for the Enchantments?

For a day hike, a free self-issued day-use permit at the trailhead, plus a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful pass for your car. To camp anywhere in the Enchantment Permit Area from May 15 to October 31, you need an overnight permit from the lottery on Recreation.gov.

How does the Enchantments lottery work?

The advanced lottery is open on Recreation.gov from February 15 through March 1, with results around March 15. Unclaimed dates go back on April 1, and a daily lottery lets you apply the day before your start date, from within 1 mile of the ranger station in Leavenworth. The Forest Service says typically fewer than 10% of advanced lottery applicants win a permit.

How hard is Aasgard Pass?

Hard. It climbs about 2,200 ft (670 m) in 1.3 miles on loose rock and boulders to about 7,840 ft (2,390 m); it took me 82 minutes. The Forest Service says it's especially hazardous with snow on it. The whole day is about 4,630 ft up and 6,740 ft down on my GPS.

How do you get between the Enchantments trailheads?

It's point to point, not a loop. I left my car at the Snow Lakes Trailhead and took a shuttle van up to the Stuart Lake Trailhead. In 2026 two companies run it early in the morning: the Loop Connector Shuttle ($27 a passenger) and Leavenworth Shuttle & Taxi ($60 for one, $30 each for two or more).

Can you bring a dog to the Enchantments?

No. Dogs and all pets are prohibited in the Enchantment Permit Area, for day hikes too, except service animals.

The The Enchantments film: Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington · 1 day · 21 miles

The Enchantments Hiking Guide

A one-day through-hike in Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

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Look inside

Real pages from the guide. Tap one to see it big.

A day page
A day map and elevation profile
At a glance
Permits: day hike or overnight

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The route

My GPS recording of the route on a relief map. The black dot is the start; the red dot is the finish. The full GPX files and the day maps come with the guide.

At a glance

Days: 1 day
Distance: 21 miles
Climbing: About 4,630 ft (1,410 m) up
Permit: Day hike: free, self-issued at the trailhead
Route: Stuart Lake Trailhead to Snow Lakes Trailhead

What's inside

My day, section by section. Distance, height and the time I reached each part of the route, from the trailhead to Aasgard Pass, through the Core and down the long descent, with where to turn back.
My GPX file. My own recording of the whole through-hike, with waypoints for both trailheads, Aasgard Pass and the main lakes, ready for AllTrails, Gaia GPS, Garmin or Organic Maps.
Permits, explained. The free self-issued day-use permit, the February lottery and the daily lottery for overnight trips, the zones, the fees and the rules, checked October 1, 2026.
Getting there. Leavenworth and the two trailheads, the roads and the parking, and the shuttle services between the trailheads, with 2026 prices.
Maps and profile. A map of the whole route with its elevation profile, a close-up of Aasgard Pass and the Core, and an overview with Leavenworth and the roads.
Before you go and a trip sheet. One page of year-to-year checks and a printable one-page summary of the day.

About this trip

In August 2020 I hiked the Enchantments in one day, alone: 21 miles from the Stuart Lake Trailhead, up to Colchuck Lake, over Aasgard Pass, through the Core Enchantments and down past the Snow Lakes to the Snow Lakes Trailhead outside Leavenworth. This short guide has my GPS file, maps with an elevation profile, my times for every part of the route, and the parts an 11-minute film couldn't cover: the free day-use permit, the overnight lottery, the shuttle between the trailheads and the parking.

Watch the film on YouTube (355K views).

Gear for this route

Paid links: I earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This was a day hike in 2020, so I didn't need to bring that much. Here's what I carried, what I'd take now, and what I filmed with.

What I carried in 2020

From my film.

Packmy Hyperlite packIt flattens pretty easily, so I used it as a day pack. I was thinking about getting a proper trail-running vest, like a Salomon, because I wanted to do more day hikes like this, and it's better to have a smaller, tighter pack.
WaterKatadyn BeFree AC · 1L AmazonMy 1-liter filter bottle. Lakes and streams all along the route, so I refilled it.
Foodjerky, cashews, nut butter and a Clif bar

What I'd take now

For a day hike here, from my current kit.

Day packHyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35 Hyperlite
Warm layerPATH Projects Lomond Hoodie PATH Projects
Rain shellArc’teryx Beta AR Jacket Arc’teryx
HeadlampNitecore NU20 Classic AmazonIt's a long day.
Sun hoodiePATH Projects Pyrenees T19 Hoodie PATH ProjectsSun protection on the open granite.
SunglassesGoodr OG Sunglasses Amazon
ShoesOboz Katabatic LT Low GTX AmazonYou want good grip on granite. I wore them on Alta Via 1: lightweight and stable, and no blisters.
MicrospikesYatta Life Ice Spikes AmazonIf there's snow on Aasgard, and the skills to use them.
PolesBlack Diamond Alpine Carbon Z Poles AmazonFor Aasgard Pass and the long way down.
NavigationAllTrails+ AllTrails · 30% offLoad my GPX file and download offline maps before you leave Leavenworth. Offline maps need the paid plan.

Filming kit

What I filmed this trip with in 2020. My setup is much smaller now (below). No drones here: it's wilderness (see Permits: day hike or overnight).

CameraSony a6600 AmazonI shot the whole video on it.
LensSony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS Amazon
MicRode VideoMic NTG Amazon
Tripoda tripodIt's always funny when people on the trail see me setting up my tripod, walking past the camera and coming back to it.

What I film with now

Since September 2026 I film with a smaller setup: the Pocket 4 and the Mic 3 on the trail.

CameraDJI Osmo Pocket 4 Amazon
MicDJI Mic 3 · 1 TX + 1 RX AmazonIt pairs with the Pocket 4.
TripodSmallRig Carbon Fiber Tripod Amazon

Everything I carry now: my gear page.

The Day 1, Stuart Lake Trailhead to Snow Lakes Trailhead page from the The Enchantments Hiking Guide

Free sample + packing list

Try Day 1 free, plus my packing list

Stuart Lake Trailhead to Snow Lakes Trailhead

The whole day page from the guide as a PDF, plus my hut-to-hut packing list: the 35 things I carry, with a note on each. The PDF opens right away and both come by email. You'll also get my emails about new guides and trips, a few a year.

The details

Format: A 35-page PDF sized for a phone (A5, prints fine too) and a GPX file, in one zip download.
Edition: 2027 season edition, updated October 2026.
Delivery: Instant. After you pay you get a private download link. Bookmark it to download again on any device.
Payment: Secure checkout through Stripe, in your own currency. Tax is included in the price, except in the US and Canada, where any sales tax is added at checkout.
Refunds: Not useful? Email me within 30 days for a refund: kraig@kraigadams.com.
Questions: Email kraig@kraigadams.com.

Questions

Can you hike the Enchantments in one day?: Yes. I did the through-hike in one day in August 2020: 21.4 miles from the Stuart Lake Trailhead over Aasgard Pass and through the Core to the Snow Lakes Trailhead, in about 11 hours. For a day hike you only need a free day-use permit you fill out at the trailhead.
Do you need a permit for the Enchantments?: For a day hike, a free self-issued day-use permit at the trailhead, plus a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful pass for your car. To camp anywhere in the Enchantment Permit Area from May 15 to October 31, you need an overnight permit from the lottery on Recreation.gov.
How does the Enchantments lottery work?: The advanced lottery is open on Recreation.gov from February 15 through March 1, with results around March 15. Unclaimed dates go back on April 1, and a daily lottery lets you apply the day before your start date, from within 1 mile of the ranger station in Leavenworth. The Forest Service says typically fewer than 10% of advanced lottery applicants win a permit.
How hard is Aasgard Pass?: Hard. It climbs about 2,200 ft (670 m) in 1.3 miles on loose rock and boulders to about 7,840 ft (2,390 m); it took me 82 minutes. The Forest Service says it's especially hazardous with snow on it. The whole day is about 4,630 ft up and 6,740 ft down on my GPS.
How do you get between the Enchantments trailheads?: It's point to point, not a loop. I left my car at the Snow Lakes Trailhead and took a shuttle van up to the Stuart Lake Trailhead. In 2026 two companies run it early in the morning: the Loop Connector Shuttle ($27 a passenger) and Leavenworth Shuttle & Taxi ($60 for one, $30 each for two or more).
Can you bring a dog to the Enchantments?: No. Dogs and all pets are prohibited in the Enchantment Permit Area, for day hikes too, except service animals.

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