The Enchantments · Snow Lakes Out-and-Back
Snow Lakes Trailhead to Aasgard Pass and Return
The Route
Snow Lakes approach to the high Enchantment basin.
- Snow Lakes TrailheadStart and finish on Icicle Road
- Nada & Snow LakesEastern approach
- Lake Viviane & CoreContinue beyond Snow Lakes
- Aasgard PassTurnaround, not descent to Colchuck
- Snow Lakes TrailheadReturn through the same basins and eastern approach
Snow Lakes Approach
The trail crosses Icicle Creek and climbs switchbacks into the Snow Creek valley. Forest, creek crossings and talus lead to Nada Lake and then Snow Lakes. A masonry spillway connects the Snow Lakes shores; its water coverage changes with the season.
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.
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.
Endpoint & Return
From Snow Lakes Trailhead, continue through the core basins to Aasgard Pass, then reverse the same approach. The 26-mile total is not a Snow Lakes-only hike and does not descend to Colchuck.
Published reference figures for the named itinerary. Source dates and access notices are separate from current terrain observations. 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
Snow Lakes Trailhead, Washington · Leavenworth
Start & Finish
Start and finish at Snow Lakes trailhead on Icicle Road. Aasgard Pass is the turnaround; the route does not exit through Colchuck Lake.
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
Snow Lakes trailhead is on Icicle Road about 4.2 miles from US 2 in Leavenworth. This out-and-back does not require reaching the Stuart/Colchuck road.
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.