Last updated September 25, 2026
The Enchantments 2026: Permits, Aasgard Pass & the Complete Hike
The Enchantments combine turquoise alpine lakes, bare granite, golden larches and some of Washington’s most demanding nontechnical hiking. The classic one-day traverse climbs from the Stuart Lake Trailhead past Colchuck Lake and over 7,800-foot Aasgard Pass, crosses the Core Enchantments, then descends past Snow Lakes to Icicle Creek. The scenery is extraordinary. The permit system, steep terrain and long descent mean the planning needs to be equally serious.
How Hard Is the Enchantments Hike?
The classic Enchantments thru-hike is a very strenuous, approximately 18.5-mile point-to-point route with roughly 4,845 feet of elevation gain when traveled from the Stuart Lake side toward Snow Lakes. The crux is Aasgard Pass, which climbs roughly 1,900 feet in less than a mile to about 7,800 feet. After the Core, hikers still face a long, rocky descent past Lake Viviane and Snow Lakes.
Strong hikers commonly complete the traverse in one long day. Backpacking is physically easier day to day but requires a highly competitive overnight permit. A separate Colchuck Lake day hike is the most accessible way to see part of the landscape without crossing Aasgard Pass.
Overnight camping in the Enchantment Permit Area requires a permit from May 15 through October 31. The 2026 advanced lottery ran February 15–March 1, results were released March 17, and successful applicants had to confirm by March 31. Remaining opportunities can come from returned advance inventory and the location-based daily lottery.
The Forest Service specifically warns that Aasgard is inappropriate for hikers who are not prepared for steep snow travel. Hidden streams, holes and waterfalls can remain beneath snow, and fatal accidents have occurred during glissades. Early-season snow changes this route dramatically.
You Do Not Have to Win the Core Lottery to Hike the Enchantments
The overnight Core permit gets the attention, but there are several legitimate ways to experience this landscape depending on fitness, permit luck and available time.
One-Day Thru-Hike
Start at Stuart Lake, climb past Colchuck and Aasgard Pass, cross the full Core, then descend to Snow Lakes Trailhead. No overnight lottery permit is needed, but day users still need the required free self-issued permit and parking pass.
Overnight Core Trip
A Core permit allows camping across the permit zones and gives time to explore lakes, larches and side objectives without compressing the entire basin into one exhausting day.
Colchuck Lake
WTA lists Colchuck Lake at roughly 8 miles round trip with about 2,280 feet of gain. You get a spectacular view directly toward Dragontail Peak and Aasgard Pass without committing to the traverse.
The permit does not determine whether you can see the Enchantments.
The overnight lottery determines where you may camp during the quota season. Strong hikers can legally complete the entire traverse as a day hike, while Colchuck offers a shorter day objective. Choose based on fitness and terrain experience, not just permit luck.
The Climb Is Short on the Map and Enormous on the Ground.
Aasgard rises about 1,900 feet in less than one mile from the Colchuck basin. Talus, route-finding and seasonal snow make this the defining physical and safety challenge of the standard traverse.
Photo: Buidhe / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0How the Enchantments Permit System Actually Works
The system is easier to understand once day use, overnight use and the five camping zones are separated.
Day Hiking
Day use is allowed throughout the permit area. Day visitors use a free self-issued wilderness permit available at the trailhead and must display a Northwest Forest Pass or accepted recreation pass where required for parking.
Overnight Hiking
Between May 15 and October 31, overnight users need an Enchantments permit assigned to a specific camping zone. Core Zone holders may camp in any of the five zones; other permits restrict camping to their assigned zone.
| 2026 permit milestone | Date / rule | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced lottery opens | February 15, 2026 | Applicants selected zone, entry date and group size. |
| Advanced lottery closes | March 1, 2026 | The main annual application window ended. |
| Results | March 17, 2026 | Applicants could view results in Recreation.gov. |
| Acceptance deadline | March 31, 2026 | Successful applicants had to confirm and pay. |
| Unclaimed inventory | April 1, 2026 | Unclaimed awards were scheduled to return to advance inventory. |
| Quota permit season | May 15–October 31 | Overnight camping requires a zone permit. |
| Daily lottery | During permit season | Apply from within the required geofence for the following day’s entry. |
This Is the Landscape the Permit System Is Designed to Protect.
The Core is a fragile alpine basin of granite, larches and linked lakes. Camping quotas, group-size limits and durable-surface rules exist because even a small amount of repeated damage accumulates quickly here.
Photo: Buidhe / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Enchantments Thru-Hike Map
The standard direction begins at Stuart Lake Trailhead, passes Colchuck Lake and Aasgard Pass, traverses the Core, descends past Lake Viviane and Upper Snow Lake, and finishes at Snow Lakes Trailhead.
The Enchantments Route, Step by Step
Mileage can vary slightly by GPS device and side trips. The meaningful route divisions are terrain-based rather than mile-marker based.
Stuart Lake Trailhead to Colchuck Lake
Begin on the Stuart Lake Trail and climb alongside Mountaineer Creek. At the signed junction, leave the Stuart Lake route and continue toward Colchuck. The trail becomes steeper before reaching one of the defining views of the entire hike: turquoise Colchuck Lake directly beneath Dragontail Peak.
Colchuck Lake Shore
Follow the lake toward its southern end. Travel becomes rougher as the route crosses boulders and moraine-like terrain beneath Colchuck Glacier. This is where the character of the hike changes from an established lake trail into a more rugged alpine route.
Climb Aasgard Pass
Aasgard gains roughly 1,900 feet in less than a mile. Cairns and faint tread help in dry conditions, but the route is steep and rocky. Seasonal snow can cover the terrain and hide dangerous water channels. Do not blindly follow tracks when conditions change.
Cross the Upper Core
The route enters the stark granite basin around Tranquil and Isolation lakes before moving toward the broader lake country of the Core. The landscape is open, exposed and surprisingly complex when cairns disappear among granite slabs.
Perfection, Inspiration & Leprechaun
This central section contains much of the classic Enchantments scenery: larches, polished granite, small alpine lakes and views toward Prusik Peak. Day hikers often lose time here because every bend encourages another stop.
Lake Viviane to Snow Lakes
The descent out of the Core is steep and rugged. Rock slabs, scrambling-style steps and tired legs make this section slower than the map suggests. Once the route reaches Upper Snow Lake, the trail becomes more obvious—but the day is far from over.
Snow Lakes to Icicle Creek
The final descent is long, repetitive and physically punishing after the alpine route above. WTA describes the sustained downhill as one of the most difficult parts of the day simply because it arrives after so much previous effort.
The Middle of the Traverse Is Why People Keep Entering the Lottery.
After the effort of Aasgard, the Core shifts into a chain of lakes, larches and granite towers beneath landmarks such as Prusik Peak.
Photo: Buidhe / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Thru-Hike in One Day or Backpack Overnight?
The scenery is the same. The physical experience, equipment and permit problem are not.
One-Day Traverse
Best for highly fit hikers comfortable with a very long day, steep talus, route-finding and thousands of feet of descent. The advantage is avoiding the overnight lottery and carrying a lighter pack.
The disadvantage is time pressure. A pre-dawn start, transportation plan and disciplined pace are essential.
Overnight Backpack
Best for hikers who want more time in the Core and are successful in obtaining the correct permit. Recreation.gov says visitors typically plan at least three or four days for a Core trip.
The tradeoff is carrying overnight equipment up steep terrain and competing for one of Washington’s most difficult wilderness permits.
Do not turn the day traverse into a consolation prize.
A one-day Enchantments traverse is a legitimate major objective in its own right. It should be chosen because your group is ready for an 18+ mile alpine day—not simply because the lottery failed.
The Core Does Not End When the Lakes Become Greener.
Lake Viviane marks the beginning of one of the route’s most consequential transitions: the steep descent from the upper basin toward Snow Lakes. Save energy for what comes after the postcard views.
Photo: Buidhe / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Best Season for the Enchantments
Snowpack—not the calendar—determines when Aasgard becomes a normal hiking objective rather than a steep-snow route.
Snow Travel Season
High snow can cover Aasgard, Core lakes and drainage channels. Hikers need the skills and equipment appropriate to current snow rather than assuming summer trail conditions.
Core Summer
The most straightforward season for snow-free travel in a normal year, but expect crowds, heat at lower elevations, limited parking and possible wildfire smoke.
Larches & Early Winter
Cooler weather and golden larches can make autumn spectacular. Shorter days, freezing nights and early snow can also turn conditions quickly.
Mountain Goats Are Wild Animals, Not Trail Companions.
Goats in the Enchantments are habituated to people and attracted to salt. Give them space, never feed them and follow Forest Service guidance about human waste and urine so hikers do not reinforce that behavior.
Photo via Wikimedia CommonsParking, Shuttle & Leavenworth
A point-to-point traverse requires solving transportation before sunrise. This is part of the hike, not an afterthought.
Stuart Lake Trailhead
The normal start for the thru-hike. Access is from Icicle Creek Road via Forest Service Road 7601. WTA notes that the dirt road can be rough and that parking is limited.
Parking is allowed only where signed, including the permitted side of FR 7601. Do not invent roadside parking when the lot is full.
Snow Lakes Trailhead
The normal finish is closer to Leavenworth on Icicle Creek Road. Leaving a vehicle here before taking a shuttle to Stuart allows you to finish directly at your car.
Trailhead Shuttle
Leavenworth Shuttle currently operates service between Snow Lakes and Stuart Lake trailheads. Current published departures begin early in the morning, and advance reservations are recommended.
Stay in Leavenworth
Leavenworth is the practical pre-hike base. A nearby hotel the night before makes an early shuttle or trailhead start substantially easier than driving from Seattle on the morning of the traverse.
How to Plan an Enchantments Hike
Use the permit decision first, then solve fitness, snow, transportation and weather in that order.
Choose day traverse, overnight trip or Colchuck Lake
These are three different objectives. Do not build a one-day traverse plan around overnight assumptions or vice versa.
Resolve permits before lodging and transportation
Overnight users need the correct zone. Day users should understand the self-issued permit and parking-pass requirements before arriving at the trailhead.
Train for steep climbing and prolonged descent
Aasgard gets the attention, but thousands of feet of downhill after Lake Viviane are often what expose insufficient preparation.
Check Aasgard snow conditions
Early-season snow can change the route from strenuous hiking into consequential steep-snow travel. Match equipment to actual conditions.
Lock in the point-to-point shuttle
Leave your finish vehicle at Snow Lakes, use two vehicles, or book a shuttle. Do not depend on improvising transportation after a 12-plus-hour mountain day.
Recheck weather, smoke and trail conditions
Check mountain weather, precipitation, freezing level, smoke, wildfire restrictions, snow and road conditions immediately before departure.
Enchantments Safety and Regulations
High use does not make this an easy trail. Recreation.gov describes the area as primitive, steep, rocky and remote.
Do Not Glissade Blindly
Snow can hide creeks, waterfalls and holes. The Forest Service specifically warns about fatal accidents associated with glissading into hidden terrain.
Maximum 8
Eight people is the maximum group size in the Enchantment Permit Area. Separate permits cannot be combined into a traveling group larger than eight.
No Dogs
Dogs and other pets are prohibited in the permit area, subject to applicable service-animal rules.
Major Fire Restrictions
Campfires are prohibited above 5,000 feet or within one-half mile of lakes, which covers most of the Enchantments. Wood-burning camp stoves are also prohibited under the permit rules.
Treat It
The permit guidance advises visitors to treat water by filtering, boiling or using an appropriate purification method.
Not Allowed
The Enchantment Permit Area is Wilderness. Motorized and mechanized equipment, including drones, is prohibited.
Reaching Snow Lakes Does Not Mean the Hike Is Almost Over.
The final trailhead is still thousands of vertical feet below. On a one-day traverse, nutrition, water and pacing need to account for this long eastern exit rather than treating the Core as the finish.
Photo: Buidhe / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Sources for the 2026 Enchantments Guide
Permit rules come from Recreation.gov and Forest Service materials. Washington Trails Association is used for route and trailhead context. Always recheck official conditions immediately before departure.
The Enchantments FAQ
Fast answers to the planning questions that determine whether this route fits your day, permit and experience.
How long is the Enchantments thru-hike?
The Forest Service gives the classic Enchantments Traverse at about 18.5 miles with roughly 4,845 feet of elevation gain. GPS totals vary somewhat depending on route choices and side trips.
Do you need a permit to day hike the Enchantments?
Day users do not need an overnight lottery permit, but they are required to obtain the free self-issued wilderness permit and comply with parking-pass requirements.
When do you need an overnight Enchantments permit?
Overnight quota permits are required from May 15 through October 31 in the Enchantment Permit Area.
When was the 2026 Enchantments lottery?
The 2026 advanced lottery application window ran from February 15 through March 1. Results were released March 17, with successful applicants required to confirm by March 31.
Can you still get a 2026 Enchantments permit after the lottery?
Potential opportunities include returned or unclaimed advance inventory and the daily lottery during the permit season. Availability is limited and should be checked directly on Recreation.gov.
Which direction should you hike the Enchantments?
Most thru-hikers start at Stuart Lake Trailhead and finish at Snow Lakes Trailhead. WTA notes that this direction reduces total climbing substantially compared with reversing the route.
How hard is Aasgard Pass?
Aasgard climbs roughly 1,900 feet in less than one mile and reaches about 7,800 feet. In dry summer conditions it is a very steep hiking and scrambling-style ascent; with snow it can become serious steep snow travel.
Are dogs allowed in the Enchantments?
Dogs and pets are prohibited in the Enchantment Permit Area, subject to applicable federal service-animal rules.
Can you have a campfire in the Enchantments?
Fires are prohibited above 5,000 feet or within one-half mile of any lake, covering most of the Enchantments. Wood-burning stoves are also prohibited under current rules.
Where should you stay before hiking the Enchantments?
Leavenworth is the most practical base because it is close to Icicle Creek Road, the ranger district office, Snow Lakes Trailhead and the access road to Stuart Lake Trailhead.
About this guide
Travis Ludlow leads Global Summit Guide’s mountain and hiking research. Safety review is by Dawson Ludlow. Permit rules, trail statistics and current planning information are checked against land-manager and established regional hiking sources. Read the Global Summit Guide editorial approach.
Win the Permit—or Build a Strong Day-Hike Plan.
The Core lottery creates one way to experience the Enchantments, not the only way. Match the objective to your fitness, solve transportation early, check Aasgard conditions and give the long Snow Lakes descent the respect it deserves.
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Global Summit Guide is an independent mountaineering resource founded in 2026. The team combines first-hand trekking and climbing experience with in-depth research and professional health and nutrition review to help climbers choose objectives, prepare properly, and stay safe.
Health, altitude, and nutrition content is reviewed by Taylor Ludlow (Registered Nurse) and Brigg Hoopes (Nutritionist).
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