Upper Snow Creek Falls via Snow Lakes Trail
17.6 mi
Distance
7 hrs 47 min
Time
terrain
6,486 ft
Elev Gain
Overview
This is a difficult one way trail in Core Enchantments Permit Area.
This trail goes by Nada Lake, Snow Lakes, Upper Snow Creek Falls, Dryad Pond, Viviane Falls, Pixie Pond, Leprechaun Lake, Sprite Lake, Perfection Lake, Brisingamen Lakelets, Lake Sigrun, Lake Olrun, Lake Reginleif, Tranquil Lake, Aasgard Pass, and Mist Pond.
Sights to See
Rate this Hike
★★★★★
This was the hardest and most grueling hike I have ever been on. I was digging deep mentally and physically to keep going. The reward was absolutely epic and well worth the pain. Whenever I do this again I will not go all the way to Stuart trail head and instead turn around at Lake Vivian or possibly Upper Snow Lake if full. Basically I didn’t feel the last 9 miles of downhill pain were worth the reward.
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Public Tracks
GW900-09sep2022-Enchantments Aasgard-kicker (Leavenworth WA)
Garmin Workout (run) #900 was a beautiful beast. So much time on trail that my Garmin died (Garmin Forerunner battery sucks). But consolidated tracking devices confirm some grand stats: 20.5-miles with 5400-feet of elevation gain.
GW900-09sep2022-Enchantments Aasgard-kicker (Leavenworth WA).
Thru-hike/run of the fabled Enchantments. The “peak” challenge was the 1.2-mile/2240-foot climb/scramble up and over Aasgard Pass. “This ‘shortcut’ to the Enchantments Core Zone refers only to mileage. As far as miles per hour goes, Aasgard may be one of the slowest hikes you attempt. Achieving the pass is a thigh-burning, chest-bursting, eye-popping endeavor that offers as many extraordinary views as beads of sweat that will fall from your brow as you ascend nearly 2000 feet in just three-quarters of a mile…At 7800 feet, it seems like you’re on top of the world.”
This truly was another memorable event that seemed destined not to happen. Consider…Car problems meant we had no vehicle available for a hotel over-night or car-drop at the start/finishing trailheads. Once we figured out and committed to a last-ditch plan, we departed at 0515 only to find highway closures and rerouting. After a 3-hour drive to the start we found access to the trailheads was denied by road/bridge closure. And no web reporting, signage or locals that knew anything about the closures (or detour routes). Also, recent local wildfires smoke was creating smoggy skies with acrid smell. But yet, at (muted, hazy) sunrise there we were – heading down trail to spend 10+hours living the dream. Overcoming all this denial and adversity to complete these adventures, makes them so much more appreciated. Not today adversity, not today. This was truly a special trail day in a magical place. The crazy compressed schedule – departing at 0515, getting home at 2000, actually worked to our serendipitous advantage. If we'd stuck to our original plan (day later), the adventure would have been cancelled by increasing wildfire threat/highway closures...
#thingshappenforareason
#garminbatterysucks
#wildfiressuck
The Enchantments Traverse
A stunning hike through the Enchantments outside of Leavenworth.
"In the Enchantments, nature has carved one of the magnificent places of this world--an alpine paradise of granite worn smooth by glaciers, larches manicured by wind and cold, and crystal blue lakes strung together by a creek that tumbles and thunders between them,” writes Paul Kriloff on []( This stunning mountain range cannot be summed up with superlatives—it must be seen to be believed.
The best way to experience this epic mountain range is here, on the Enchantments Traverse. This 18-mile point-to-point traverse climbs up and over the heart of the mountain range, affording you the opportunity to soak in the grandeur of the Enchantments.
The Traverse runs through the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and as you might guess—it passes by a stunning array of glacial-fed lakes. The crystal-blue water of theses rare gems may beckon you to take a swim, but be warned: the water is literally ice-cold!
While this route could theoretically be completed in one day, most people break it up into a short 2-3 backpacking trip coupled with a car shuttle between trailheads. On the other hand, fit trail runners often choose to run the entire route in one go.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
G-Family Enchantments
Night 1 Colchuck Lake - Mile 4.3
(4.3 miles 2,200 ft. Gain)
Night 2 Nada Lake - Mile 12.3
(8 Miles - 2200 ft. Climb in 1 mile to start, then 2800 ft. loss in 6 miles)
Finish Mile 18
(5.7 Miles - 3650 ft. Loss, all downhill)
The Enchantments: Aasgard to Snow Lakes
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/enchantment-lakes
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5527796420
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/colchuck-lake
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/aasgard-pass
Enchantments (9/20/19, 5:26:56AM)
Was really 19.3 miles and 4500 ft of elevation gain. I forgot to turn off the gps when I got to the car and added an additional 4.7 miles and 186 ft of elevation loss from driving
The Enchantments
Super long and difficult but incredibly beautiful day hike in The Enchantements.
Enchantments
Expected daylight: 12 hrs
--> Sunrise: 7am
--> Sunset: 7pm
Enchantments Thru Hike Track
Salomon, was having peroneal tendon pain on left foot
Trail Planner Map
Generated by AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/
Enchantments Thru Hike 9/21/24 6:09:01 AM
Laura Urbanelli and Conner Fox
