The Enchantments · Stuart to Snow Lakes
Stuart Lake Trailhead to Snow Lakes Trailhead
The Route
The traverse crosses Aasgard Pass and the upper Enchantment lakes before descending through Snow Lakes.
- Stuart Lake TrailheadWestern start on FR 7601
- Colchuck LakeLake approach before Aasgard
- Aasgard PassEnter the upper basin
- Core EnchantmentsUpper lakes to Lake Viviane
- Snow & Nada LakesEastern descent
- Snow Lakes TrailheadFinish on Icicle Road; separate from start
Stuart Trailhead to Colchuck
The approach follows Mountaineer Creek through forest to Colchuck Lake. Beyond the lake, boulders and talus lead to Aasgard Pass at about 7,800 feet. Aasgard is also labeled Colchuck Pass on some maps.
Upper & Lower Basins
From Aasgard, the route passes Tranquil and Isolation Lakes, then Inspiration, Perfection and Leprechaun before Lake Viviane. Bare granite and scree in the upper basin give way to meadows and larch stands lower down. Side trips to surrounding summits are not part of these itinerary totals.
Snow Lakes to Lake Viviane
The connection above Upper Snow Lake includes rough granite and scrambling sections before Lake Viviane. Snow Lakes itself is a lower destination: reaching the core Enchantments adds substantial climbing beyond the lake-only hike.
Endpoint & Return
One-way from Stuart Lake Trailhead over Aasgard and through the core basins, finishing at Snow Lakes Trailhead. The return between the two trailheads is not part of the 18-mile hiking distance.
Terrain Along the Route
Forest and rough lake-side trail lead to the steep talus ascent of Aasgard Pass, granite basins and a long descending trail.
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
Start & Finish
Start at Stuart Lake trailhead on FR 7601 and finish at Snow Lakes trailhead on Icicle Road. This is a one-way traverse between separate parking areas.
Day & Overnight Permits
May 15–October 31: day permits are free and self-issued; overnight permits are quota-controlled.
Parking Authorization
Day visitors need a Northwest Forest Pass. Overnight permits include a parking pass valid for their dates.
Camp Zones & Groups
Camp in the permit zone; Core permits allow any zone. Groups: eight maximum. No dogs.
Approach Road
The Stuart/Colchuck trailhead is reached by FR 7601, which has a typical winter closure. Snow Lakes trailhead is on Icicle Road; current gate notices determine the actual access date.
Source information checked 2026-10-23. Road snapshots are dated separately.
Reports
Core Enchantments Trip Reports
Dated reports for core basins and traverses. Match the direction and furthest point to this itinerary.
Colchuck Approach Reports
Lower western-approach reports may stop at Colchuck Lake without reaching Aasgard Pass.
Snow Lakes Approach Reports
Eastern-approach reports may end at Snow Lakes without reaching Lake Viviane or the core.
Itinerary Reference
Published descriptions distinguish both traverse directions and the two long out-and-back itineraries.
Links open the publishers’ report pages. Reports are not automatically imported or filtered to a forecast date.