How long does the Enchantments traverse take?

Plan on 10-14 hours moving for most fit hikers, with 12 hours being a realistic average for the full 29 km point-to-point. Strong parties occasionally do it in 8-9, but plenty of capable hikers finish in the dark, so start before sunrise.

Which direction should we hike the Enchantments?

Stuart Lake trailhead to Snow Lakes trailhead, descending. The reverse means climbing the Snow Lakes switchbacks for hours through forest before seeing anything alpine, and ascending Aasgard from the wrong side is a slog.

Do day hikers need a permit for the Enchantments?

No lottery permit is required to day-hike the traverse, but you'll need a Northwest Forest Pass (or interagency equivalent) at the trailheads. Overnight stays in the core zone are by February lottery only.

How hard is Aasgard Pass really?

It's the crux of the day — roughly 700 meters of steep, loose, cairned scrambling with a few class 2 moves around waterfalls. Not technical, but route-finding matters in cloud, and snow lingers on it well into July.

When do the larches turn gold in the Enchantments?

Typically late September into the first week of October, though exact peak shifts year to year. That window is also the busiest for permits and the most exposed to early-season storms, so check the forecast hard before committing.

How do we handle the car shuttle between trailheads?

The two trailheads are about 13 km apart by road. Most parties pre-position a second vehicle the night before, book a paid shuttle out of Leavenworth, or hitch — hitching works often enough but isn't something we'd bank on after a 12-hour day.

Is the traverse doable without microspikes in summer?

From mid-August through mid-October most years, yes — Aasgard is usually dry rock and dirt by then. Earlier or later, we'd carry microspikes minimum and an ice axe if snow is reported on the headwall or upper basin.

Sunlit jagged peaks with snow patches reflected in an alpine lake ringed by granite boulders at golden hour, the Enchantments.

hiking · expert

The Enchantments (through-hike)

Distance: 29.00 km
Elevation: 1400 m
Duration: 12.0 h
Season: Jul–Oct (permit lottery)

Mia here. The Enchantments traverse is the kind of day that resets your sense of what your legs can do. Twenty-nine kilometers, 1,400 meters of climbing, and roughly twelve hours moving through alpine granite, larch basins, and mountain goats that have absolutely seen humans before. People talk about it like a pilgrimage. It mostly earns that.

The trail

Most parties tackle this as a one-way push from the Stuart Lake trailhead to Snow Lakes, descending. Going the other direction means climbing Snow Lakes' switchbacks for hours before you've seen anything good, and your knees will thank you for the standard direction. You'll want a car shuttle or a ride sorted before you start.

The first stretch climbs steadily through forest along Mountain Stream toward Colchuck Lake. Colchuck itself is the warm-up view — turquoise water, Dragontail and Colchuck Peak above it. Then comes Aasgard Pass: a steep, loose, route-finding-required scramble up the headwall on the lake's south side. It's not technical, but it is genuinely the hardest 700 meters of the day, with cairns, snow patches lingering well into summer, and a few class 2 moves around waterfalls.

Top out and you're in the Upper Enchantments — bare granite slabs, tarns, Prusik Peak's fin to the north, larch trees that turn gold in late September. The trail through the basin is tread-and-cairn, easy to lose in poor visibility. From there it descends through the Middle and Lower Enchantments, past Lake Vivianne and Leprechaun Lake, then drops hard down switchbacks to Snow Lakes and a long, hot, late-day grind back to the Icicle Creek trailhead.

When to go

Late July through early October is the realistic window. July still holds snow on Aasgard and across the upper basin — bring traction and an axe if you're going early. August is dry, hot on the Snow Lakes descent, and bug-light up high. Late September into the first week of October is larch season; it's also the most contested permit window and the most exposed to a sudden storm.

Day-hiking the traverse is allowed without an overnight permit, but you're committing to a full alpine day. Start before sunrise. Plenty of strong hikers don't finish before dark.

What to know before you go

Overnight permits are awarded by lottery (applications in February via recreation.gov). Day hikers don't need one, but you do need a Northwest Forest Pass or equivalent at the trailheads.
Car shuttle. Stuart Lake TH and Snow Lakes TH are about 13 km apart by road. Pre-position a vehicle, arrange a shuttle service out of Leavenworth, or hitch (common but not guaranteed).
Aasgard Pass is the crux for navigation and footing. In low cloud, route-finding gets real. Don't drift skier's right onto the cliff bands.
Water is abundant up high — lakes and streams everywhere through the basin. The Snow Lakes descent is dry once you leave the lakes; tank up before dropping.
Goats are habituated and will follow you for salt. Pee on rock well off trail.
Cell service is nonexistent except occasional bars high on the granite.

What to bring

This is an alpine day, not a forest walk. Layers for sub-freezing dawn at altitude and 30°C afternoon at Snow Lakes. Real traction (microspikes minimum) if you're going before mid-August or after mid-October. Trekking poles save your knees on the Snow Lakes descent — that drop is brutal late in the day. Headlamp with fresh batteries, because finishing in the dark is normal. Two to three liters of water capacity, electrolytes, and more food than you think you need; twelve hours of moving burns through calories. A paper map or downloaded GPX, plus a compass, in case the basin socks in.

Variations

Shorter: Stuart Lake TH out-and-back to Colchuck Lake skips Aasgard entirely and gives you the best lake view for roughly a third of the effort. Around 13 km round trip.
Overnight (lottery permitting): Two or three nights camped in the Core Enchantments zone turns this from an endurance day into the trip people remember. Worth applying every February even if your odds are slim.
Harder add-on: Strong scramblers tag Little Annapurna (class 2) from the upper basin for a Stuart Range panorama. Add a couple of hours and don't underestimate the loose talus on descent.

Gear pack

Gear for this trail

What we carry above 9,000 ft from July to September. Built around quick-clearing afternoon storms and 35°F nights.

Osprey Atmos AG 65
Big-day load with structure
$340Amazon
MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2P
Three-season shelter, gets through alpine wind
$550Amazon
NEMO Disco 15
Down bag rated to ~-9°C — alpine nights bite
$290Amazon
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT
Lightweight insulated pad
$240Amazon
Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
Synthetic puffy keeps insulating when wet
$239Amazon
Jetboil Flash Cooking System
Hot dinner in a 35°F dusk = mood saver
$130Amazon
Garmin inReach Mini 2
Cell dies above treeline; this still works
$400Amazon
Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp
For the descent that took longer than planned
$55Amazon

As an Amazon Associate (and partner of REI / Backcountry / others), Pack Your Tent earns from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you.

Common questions

How long does the Enchantments traverse take?: Plan on 10-14 hours moving for most fit hikers, with 12 hours being a realistic average for the full 29 km point-to-point. Strong parties occasionally do it in 8-9, but plenty of capable hikers finish in the dark, so start before sunrise.
Which direction should we hike the Enchantments?: Stuart Lake trailhead to Snow Lakes trailhead, descending. The reverse means climbing the Snow Lakes switchbacks for hours through forest before seeing anything alpine, and ascending Aasgard from the wrong side is a slog.
Do day hikers need a permit for the Enchantments?: No lottery permit is required to day-hike the traverse, but you'll need a Northwest Forest Pass (or interagency equivalent) at the trailheads. Overnight stays in the core zone are by February lottery only.
How hard is Aasgard Pass really?: It's the crux of the day — roughly 700 meters of steep, loose, cairned scrambling with a few class 2 moves around waterfalls. Not technical, but route-finding matters in cloud, and snow lingers on it well into July.
When do the larches turn gold in the Enchantments?: Typically late September into the first week of October, though exact peak shifts year to year. That window is also the busiest for permits and the most exposed to early-season storms, so check the forecast hard before committing.
How do we handle the car shuttle between trailheads?: The two trailheads are about 13 km apart by road. Most parties pre-position a second vehicle the night before, book a paid shuttle out of Leavenworth, or hitch — hitching works often enough but isn't something we'd bank on after a 12-hour day.
Is the traverse doable without microspikes in summer?: From mid-August through mid-October most years, yes — Aasgard is usually dry rock and dirt by then. Earlier or later, we'd carry microspikes minimum and an ice axe if snow is reported on the headwall or upper basin.