During the summer months, the weather can also be unpredictable and a thunderstorm may pop up at any given time. If you plan to camp at the top, know that you must obtain a permit between May 15 to October 31. Distance: 8 miles round trip, and it's a hard 8. I Top Tips For The Colchuck Lake Hike: Prepare for a quick elevation gain; Pace yourself – the trail is 8 miles long; The trail can get dusty in the summertime, so leave space between hikers Boat Trip around Lake Izabal, Rio Dulce, and Livingston, Skagit Valley Tulip Festival near Seattle, Washington. The trail to the lake is very popular during the summer hiking season. A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at this trailhead. Your email address will not be published. The first two miles are an easy hike through the forest next to Mountaineer Creek. The 8-9 mile roundtrip hike was tiresome, but well worth it. It’s a pristine alpine lake with soaring, jagged mountains above you, turquoise clear water below, and the added plus: water warm enough you can stomach swimming in. Are you visiting Leavenworth WA and looking for the perfect hike? After climbing a quick 1,100 ft from the valley base, you'll reach Colchuck Lake. The trail immediately crosses Mountaineer Creek again and then climbs steeply over sometimes rocky and washed-out trail. Copyright © 2021 EMBRACE SOMEPLACE | As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases. Distance: 4.25 miles Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet Average Time: 2 to 3 hours. 17 miles, 3850 feet of gain. Nestled between the two peaks it looks daunting from below. Tmber.com narrates a hike up to spectacular Colchuck Lake near Leavenworth, Washington. The parking lot gets full by 9am. Round trip time … Colchuck Peak is a prominent peak in the Stuart Range and a worthy goal with some very fine climbs on its northeast side, though it is often overlooked in favor of Dragontail Peak immediately to the east with its spectacular north face. #AasgardPTSD. No ads. I've heard it's a 9 mile round trip hike. Answer 1 of 12: Hello...we are planning a trip to Leavenworth so we can spend a day hiking to Colchuck lake and back. Follow the potholed dirt road 3.7 miles to the Stuart Lake trailhead. The best time to visit the area and hike the trail is during the summer months. Meander along the lake's west edge while taking in the awesome views of Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak rising from … It was, as you can suspect, an actual trail, made from dirt. I travel with my award-winning photographer of a husband, so the photos are good (I promise). Learn from my misadventure with the mosquitoes – taking one for the team. This lake is a real butt-kicker hike but an oh so worth-it destination. And all this is within relatively easy reach. The hike up to Colchuck lake seemed easy. High elevation, folks – use sunscreen and apply frequently. Colchuck Lake is a popular hike, and during the day, you’ll likely see some people driving up Icicle Creek Road. After our fourth time, Linna and I agreed that this will be the last time we hike this grueling twenty mile thru hike in the beautiful Enchantments in one day. On this blog I share two things: the joy of life in Portland and helpful information about national parks. My friends and I will be hiking the Colchuck Lake trail at the end of this month (for fall color). Any real difficulties for novice hikers? CHS Tacoma September Hike: Trip will initially open to Tacoma Branch Conditioning Hiking Students. If you’re unfamiliar with Leave No Trace, it’s a measure to be a good steward of the land. The Colchuck Lake trail via Stuart Lake Trail is rated as a difficult hike and is 7.7 miles. Hiking to Colchuck Lake. Total time 11 hours C2C. One of the most picturesque lakes you'll see in the area. The trail ends at a large granite face with a panorama of the lake. Camping on the lake is possible by permit only from May 15th to October 31st. Like most one day thru-hikers we started at Colchuck trailhead and descended down to Snows Lake trailhead. While the final ascent to the lake is steep and rough in places, Colchucks overall elevation gain of 2,300 feet makes its spectacular scenery accessible to hikers of almost any ability. This would be Michael’s first trip to Colchuck Lake, and I had not been since my first mid-week backpacking trip several years ago. ... Take the left trail (the right trail goes to Stuart Lake) and cross the creek. Colchuck Lake is one of the gateways into the Enchantments. The path to Colchuck Lake begins by following the Stuart Lake Trail, and the first section of the hike has plenty of shade. Stepping on the exposed tree roots actually harms the trees and causes them to degrade over time. We were definitely going at a medium pace, with a little bit of urgency to make it before sunrise! My name is Antonina and I’m glad to have you here. Even though it is a steady uphill climb to Colchuck Lake, this felt like one of the easiest and fastest sections of the hike. Cross the creek on a bridge and the next mile begins to ascend a little more steeply. Upon reaching the boulder field on the opposite side of the bridge, you will have to pay close attention to the path as it heads southwest (right) along the creek for a short distance. Colchuck Lake Trail begins at Stuart Lake trailhead and parking lot by Forest Service Road 7601, which can be reached from Icicle Creek Road. Continue for 3.8 miles to trailhead. I’m still undecided on which I would rather do and for the time being, I don’t really want to think about it. There are several high points with the western most being the true summit. For the first 1.7 miles, the hike is relatively easy with rolling hills and about 600 feet of elevation. The Stuart Lake is straight ahead, while the Colchuck Lake Trail #1599.1 breaks off to the left. In: PNW Hikes. This is the best review I’ve seen and your photos are stunning. At 2.2 miles take a left at the junction with the Colchuck Lake Trail #1599.1. ! From here It is a short walk around the lake and then the ascent begins. If 1% of people at Colchuck cut switchbacks, bring a dog, have a campfire by the lakeside (I've seen all three behaviors), 1,000 people on the trail = 10 people causing damage. 6-8 hours. Set in a granite bathtub beneath spiraling peaks adorned with shimmering strands of glacial ice, Colchuck ranks as one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in all of Washington. We arrived to the lot at 3am and it was 80% full. We did this as a day hike. Full Enchantments at Tmber.com. I hiked Lake Colchuck in the fall two years ago (September 23, 2018) and finally did Lake Stuart last Sunday (June 21, 2020). A note from the editor: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. Beautiful Colchuk Lake is located not far from the Alpine village of Leavenworth. After the bridge, the trail becomes steeper and rockier, a small taste of what's to come in the second half of the hike. Trip Day Hike - Colchuck Lake. Bring insect repellent during summer months and a light rain jacket regardless of the season. To reach the trailhead, turn onto Icicle Creek Road from US2. What’s next? The lake is visible from various parts of the trail—it is picture-perfect with deep blue waters and surrounding mountains. Elvin R. Joh… The reward at the top is a picturesque lake with dazzling blue green water and views over Dragontail and Colchuck Peak mountains. A magical day. Check out this post for my favorite day hike from Leavenworth! This won't cost you a dime, but it will help offset the cost of running this travel blog. It was amazing to have the trail and lake to ourselves - quite the opposite of the other seasons. Colchuck lake. The hike starts at the Stuart Lake trailhead and immediately takes you into a dense and beautiful forest. With two hours before sunrise and 4.5 miles to go – we started moving at a swift clip. We were trying to make it challenging for ourselves (we were also on a time crunch) but a nice leisure hike should take about 3-4 hours. 4.5 miles with 2,300 ft. elevation gain. As if Colchuck Lake alone werent enough of a draw, it is one of the two gateways to the Enchantments, and the trailhead also accesses Stuart Lake, an easier and equally awesome destination. Duration: Day Hike. Drive 8.4 miles and turn left onto Forest Service Road 7601. Step over roots whenever possible. Once I reached the rock field, I chose the easiest way up and began my ascent. Trailhead to Colchuck Lake. Colchuck lake. 1599) and dives right into the forest. The trip to the lake is just under 4 mi (6.44 km). Colchuck Lake is an out and back trail, with a roundtrip of eight miles and an elevation gain of 2,300 feet. After about 1.25 miles, you reach a footbridge and the climb begins to get serious. Now down, the path around Colchuck Lake felt like a fairy tale. The hike to Colchuck Lake begins at the Stuart Lake trailhead (no. Since it was pitch dark during our hike up, we took photos on the way back to give you a … Honest insights from a local. Park at the Stuart Lake trailhead. What am I, your mother? No spam. Thank you so much for your thorough trip report. For the most part, you are hiking through a forest. No BS. Every step of the hike has beautiful sights to see and enjoy. God Bless America! 100 would mean there's just 1 such person (and if the 100 are selected based on knowledge and care, maybe even that one doesn't get in). You can read about the seven principals of Leave No Trace here, Sequoia National Park — Stunning Winter Wonderland, 13 STUNNING Hikes at Mt. Lake Stuart and Colchuck lake trail is an absolutely must-hike trail in Leavenworth, Washington.. There is a beautiful view of a waterfall along the climb. Three quarters of a mile later, the trail flattens out and drops a little before reaching a trail junction. The trip to the lake is just under 4 mi (6.44 km). Rainier National Park, The 7 Wonders of Oregon (& 4 More We Should Add ASAP), Skyline Trail Loop at Mt. The pass can be purchased at National Forest offices. At 1.5 miles, you will cross a log footbridge over Mountaineer Creek. This hike itself is a great workout, to get to the lake you are hiking four miles uphill, my boyfriend and I made it to the lake in two hours, and I was drenched in sweat even though it was pretty chilly. It further leads to the remains of Colchuck Glacier. We got to the trailhead by 8:45 am, took lots of photos and an hour and a half nap at the lake, and got back to our car by 5:30 pm. While you may encounter lots of people during this time of year, it is by far the safest time to hike in this region. Do we need a permit to hike? Trip will open for registration to all Mountaineers, based on availability, 7-10 days prior to date of the hike. Begin on the Stuart La… It mostly requires a constant incline climb with a 2,280-elevation gain. Colchuck Lake. Rainier National Park, 20+ Helpful Things to Know Before Visiting Sequoia National Park in Winter, Local’s Guide to the 10 Best Viewpoints in Portland, Stunning Photos of Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, 9+ (Ancient) Hikes in Redwood National Park, Best hiked from April to October (we hiked July 5, 2020). My pleasure, I have a feeling you will love your time at Colchuck Lake!! After reaching the lake, I found myself stuck staring at Colchuck glacier. In summer, cars fill not only the trailhead parking lot, but the road leading to it. Colchuck Lake used to be a hidden gem but is now quickly gaining in popularity. The trail continues up with multiple switch backs. Mind that Forest Service Road R 7601 from Icicle Creek Road to the trailhead is closed during winter, that's why you better plan your trip from May through October. The roundtrip covers 7.7 mi (12.39 km) with an elevation of 2,300 ft (701.04 m). Colchuck Lake Trail begins at Stuart Lake trailhead and parking lot by Forest Service Road 7601, which can be reached from Icicle Creek Road. Elevation Gain ~2200 ft. With an elevation gain of over 2000 feet, the hike to Colchuck lake is challenging. Hello and welcome to my travel blog. Starting at the Stuart Lake trailhead, we hiked in to our campsite at Colchuck Lake. Colchuck Lake Date: May 22, 2016 Difficulty: 6 out of 10 Distance: 8 miles roundtrip Elevation Gain: 2,300 feet Time: 3 to 4 hours Location: Near Leavenworth, Washington Users Group: Hikers Only Permits: Northwest Forest Pass Trail Conditions: Dry To Some Muddy Spots Hiking With: Emelie Espling, Sofia Hung, Max and my wife Linna Freeman Don’t let me scare you off, if you’re in any kind of shape you can hike Colchuck Lake, it’s just that Blue Lake is very easy for an equally awesome view. Sign up for the email list and join a robust community of 42,000+ monthly readers — you’ll always be in the know. Time. Another mile up the trail and you reach a junction with the trail to Lake Stuart. Colchuck Lake looked stunning in pictures with the snow and larches, but there were so many pictures popping up on Facebook and Instagram, I feared the hike would be a conga line. The easiest routes are scrambles from the south and / or the Colchuck Col at the top of the Colchuck Glacier to the east. It took us a little over 3 hours to reach Colchuck Lake. Stuart Lake is at 5600 feet elevation in the Enchantment Mountain range. You will need to navigate over a large boulder field bearing to the right. Hiking to Colchuck Lake The trail begins with a gentle, forested climb that follows the beautiful cascades of Mountaineer Creek. The thing is, you probably won’t finish your hike until the evening, and not many people drive up to a trailhead at night. Due to popular demand for overnight permits. This hike is rated as challenging, but you'll be awarded with beautiful scenery of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area and the sight of two prominent spires: Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak. The roundtrip covers 7.7 mi (12.39 km) with an elevation of 2,300 ft (701.04 m). My best guess is that many folks use this parking lot for the Enchantments Loop. An inviting lake beneath the fearsome north face of one of Washington's highest and most imposing peaks. So, not surprisingly it is also one of the state’s most popular lakes too! A gem in the Alpine region of the state of Washington. From the lake you can view Aasgard Pass which is for more serious hikers/backpackers to enter the Enchantments and that have received a pass to camp overnight. Here we crossed our first bridge and the trail starts to climb. Affiliate links were definitely going at a swift clip looking for the Enchantments Loop ahead, while the Colchuck is. 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