Colchuck Lake
Stuart Lake Trailhead to Colchuck Lake
The Route
The Stuart Lake and Colchuck Lake trails climb to the lake below Dragontail and Colchuck peaks.
- Stuart Lake TrailheadTrail1599
- First Creek BridgeAbout 1.5 miles
- Colchuck JunctionLeft branch
- Second Bridge & TalusRougher ascent
- Colchuck LakeGranite viewpoint and shoreline
Stuart Lake Trail
Trail1599 climbs gradually beside Mountaineer Creek for 1.5 miles before crossing a log bridge. The next stretch is steeper and rockier, reaching the Colchuck junction about three-quarters of a mile beyond the crossing.
Colchuck Branch
The lake route branches left while Stuart Lake continues ahead. Another creek bridge and a creekside talus section precede sustained, increasingly rocky switchbacks toward the basin. A final rise drops into a small swale before the first granite viewpoint above the lake.
Lakeshore & Aasgard Distinction
The rough shore trail continues around the lake toward larches and the glacier moraine beneath Colchuck Peak. Aasgard Pass and the Enchantments traverse continue beyond the lake outing; the lake's far shore is not the end of those separate objectives.
Terrain Along the Route
A forest approach along Mountaineer Creek leads to a steeper, rougher final climb to the lake.
Approximate guide figures for the named route and endpoint, not a current measured track. Reference Set: 2026-10-23.
Weather
Current forecasts open at the providers below. NWS forecasts describe a terrain grid cell, not an exact summit.
Access
Stuart Lake Trailhead, Leavenworth, WA
Driving Approach
From US 2 at western Leavenworth, follow Icicle Creek Road 8.4 miles, turn left onto FR 7601 and continue 3.7 miles to Stuart Lake trailhead. This same lot serves Stuart Lake and Colchuck.
Parking & Seasonal Road
The guide lists a toilet and a small lot. FR 7601 normally closes during winter, commonly November–May. Roadside parking is only on the permitted right side; the left side is prohibited.
Day & Overnight Permits
May 15–October 31 day visitors complete a free trailhead permit and display a Northwest Forest Pass. Overnight stays require a permit for the appropriate zone; its included overnight parking pass is valid only for the booked trip dates.
Group & Site Rules
The permit area prohibits dogs and limits groups to eight. Overnight groups camp together in their permitted zone; a Colchuck Lake permit is not a Core Enchantments camping permit.
Source information checked 2026-10-23. Road snapshots are dated separately.
Reports
Colchuck Lake Reports
WTA's Colchuck reports can cover the creek bridges, rough upper climb and shoreline. Reports that continue over Aasgard or complete the Enchantments include terrain beyond this lake itinerary.
Permit Rules & Reservation System
The official listing distinguishes free day permits, overnight zones, parking passes and the current lottery/reservation process. It is not a trail-condition report.
Links open the publishers’ report pages. Reports are not automatically imported or filtered to a forecast date.