Kraig Adams

Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington · 1 day · 21 miles · day hike

The Enchantments Hiking Guide

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.

$19Watch the film
The cover of the The Enchantments Hiking Guide

What's inside

Look inside

At a glance page from the The Enchantments Hiking Guide
At a glance
A day page page from the The Enchantments Hiking Guide
A day page
A day map and elevation profile page from the The Enchantments Hiking Guide
A day map and elevation profile
Permits: day hike or overnight page from the The Enchantments Hiking Guide
Permits: day hike or overnight

The details

Format
A 26-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. The price is in US dollars, and sales tax or VAT is added where it applies.
Questions
Email kraig@kraigadams.com.
$19

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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