Leavenworth, Washington
The Enchantments
Golden larches over impossibly blue granite basins.
Closures & alerts
Checking official closures and alerts…
Straight from the managing agency, but postings lag. Always call or check the park page the week you go.
Strenuous
Difficulty
18 mi
Distance
4,500 ft
Elevation
21 h
Drive time
Late Sep – Oct
Best season
Trail map
Trail to take
The Enchantments — 18 mi · Strenuous
The map loads automatically. Open Trailforks below for trail names and difficulty ratings.
Overview
Aasgard Pass is 2,000 feet of boulder in under a mile. On the other side is the best alpine basin in the lower 48, especially the week the larches turn.
Permits: Core Zone overnight permits by February lottery. Through-hike allowed without permit.
Where to get your permit
- Enchantments permit lottery
February lottery for Core Zone overnights.
Fees, lottery dates and quotas change every season — confirm on the agency page before you plan around them.
Where to camp or stay
Popular sites open on a booking window months ahead and sell out fast.
Highlights
Aasgard Pass
Larch season
Mountain goats at Inspiration Lake
Prusik Peak
Suggested itinerary
Day 1
Colchuck and Aasgard
Climb to Colchuck Lake, grind up Aasgard, camp in the Core.
Day 2
Down Snow Lakes
Long descent past Snow Lakes to the lower trailhead shuttle.
Packing list
Checked against your gear closet — 5 items to sort out.
- Microspikes
- Warm 20F bag
- Windproof shell
- Gloves
- Headlamp
Add gear for this trip
Suggestions shift with the trip length, activities and the forecast above.
4 L
Per person, per day
2.5 L
Heaviest carry
5.5 lb
Water weight (2.2 lb/L)
5.5 lb
Gear 0.0 lb + water
- Sources unconfirmed — this assumes one mid-day refill. Check conditions before you go.
Food plan
- High-calorie breakfast
- Hot dinner both nights
- Emergency bars
Weather & conditions
Next few days
National Weather Service
Alerts & notices
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
Forest Service · Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest — Alpine Lakes
- • Core Zone overnight permits by lottery, mid-July through mid-October.
- • Aasgard Pass holds snow and ice into July — traction advised.
Land-manager notices are curated; the Forest Service and Park Service don't publish an open alerts feed, so confirm on the official page before you drive.
Nearby camping
Gear recommendations
Know before you go. Routes, distances, elevation and conditions shown here are estimates and may be inaccurate or out of date. Trail conditions change, and closures happen. Check with the managing land agency, carry a topographic map and compass or GPS, tell someone your plans, and know your limits — you're responsible for your own safety in the outdoors.