Take a dip if you dare, but remember your quick-dry towel and warm puffy jacket because Colchuck Lake sits at an elevation of 5,570 feet. HIKE IT: Colchuck Lake. (509) 784-4700, Methow Valley Ranger District Chelan, WA 98816 SEE PARKING INFORMATION BELOW. The first two miles are an easy hike through the forest next to Mountaineer Creek. Dogs are prohibited on the Colchuck Lake trail. An area located in the rugged Central Cascades Region of Washington State. The roundtrip covers 7.7 mi (12.39 km) with an elevation of 2,300 ft (701.04 m). Answer 1 of 12: Hello...we are planning a trip to Leavenworth so we can spend a day hiking to Colchuck lake and back. Feb 10, 2015 - Colchuck ranks as one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in all of Washington. But before joining the boot-… The last mile to Colchuck is much steeper, with a lot of rock steps. This lake was a beaut. For the first 1.7 miles, the hike is relatively easy with rolling hills and about 600 feet of elevation. Green Trails Map - #209S The Enchantments, USGS Map - Cashmere Mountain/Enchantment Lakes. Definitely on my top 10 hikes I’ve ever done in Washington. Many people camp in this area during the summer months and others are brave enough to do it in the winter. At the last minute Sarah and I were able to find a reservation for Labor Day weekend at Nason Creek Campground. Colchuck Lake with Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak. At approximately 8.4 miles turn left on Forest Service Road 7601 (Bridge Creek Campground is near junction). The trail is sometimes steep and rough for 1.5 miles from creek crossing to the lake, which is at 5500' elevation. 4.5 miles with 2,300 ft. elevation loss. Pick a spot that looks nice and set up camp for the night. The campground is one mile from Lake Wenatchee, and 20 minutes from Leavenworth making it an ideal spot for camping … The trail continues along western shore of lake to access campsites and the route up Aasgard Pass to the Enchantments. 1599) and dives right into the forest. Part 35.136. The first time you round the corner and come out of the trees at Colchuck Lake is something of a religious experience. Be careful of … The strange item in the pic is a Hennessey Hammock (works great) July 2002 pic « PREV NEXT » Dean. Jul 6, 2018 - Colchuck ranks as one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in all of Washington. Stuart Lake and Colchuck Lake share the same trail for about 2 miles. ^ we always take a photo of the trailhead area and a selfie in case we go missing, haha. Or being mesmerized by her glacial-scoured surroundings that appear right out of the High Sierra? I didn't think so. Date & Duration: August 14, 2017, about 5.5 hours total hike time. Do we need a permit to hike? Here we crossed our first bridge and the trail starts to climb. Day Passes can be purchased at trailhead, and pass must be displayed on dashboard of vehicle, even if parking on the road. Unlike Lake Stuart, the trail along the Colchuck Lake meanders around and up and down some rugged, terrain and under several deadfalls. Feb 10, 2015 - Colchuck ranks as one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in all of Washington. After breakfast, we hiked out, back to the Stuart Lake trailhead. pete won the enchantments lottery for overnight camping at colchuck, so we ended up staying 3 nights by this gorgeous lake, hiking around to other areas during the daytime. We hiked around a bit to take photos, napped, and went wading and swimming at a small lake next to our campsite. It is a larger cousin to the nearby fabled Enchantment Lakes and offers many of the same payoffs – including groves of larches on its far shore – but can be reached with less than half the effort. If you have any questions please call the Leavenworth Ranger Station at (509) 548-2550. Entiat, WA 98822 The Colchuck Lake hike is undoubtedly one of the PNW’s best and is VFC’s favorite, aside from what sits beyond the lakes in the Enchantments. We decided to make this a camping trip - heading out of Seattle early on Saturday morning, we made it to Leavenworth by 9:00am and made the incredibly bumpy ride up the road to the Stuart Lake Trailhead (Colchuck shares the same trailhead and the trail splits a little ways into the hike). I went the wrong direction after the bridge, scrambling on the boulders until I realized it wasn’t the trail, We made it! Colchuck Lake is one of the gateways into the Enchantments. Starting at the Stuart Lakes Trailhead, hike up a strenuous trail, ending at the pristine Colchuck Lake. Colchuck lake. 1599) and dives right into the forest. Colchuck Lake is a beautiful area found within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest outside of the Bavarian town of Leavenworth, WA. Alpine Lakes Wilderness, backpacking, Colchuck Lake, Enchantments. Core Enchantment permit hol ders may camp in any of the five zones. Parking along FS Road 7601 is now allowed, but only on right side of road (going up). Day hikers are encouraged to park on the road or in the island of parking area. For vehicles parking on road or in parking area -- a NW Forest Pass, America the Beautiful Pass or the Overnight Visitor Parking Pass that comes with Enchantments overnight permit must be on display on your vehicle’s dashboard. Leave designated overnight parking for permit holders. DOGS are prohibited on Colchuck Lake trail, Stuart Lake trail and within the Enchantment Permit Area. It is a larger cousin to the nearby fabled Enchantment Lakes and offers many of the same payoffs – including groves of larches on its far shore – but can be reached with less than half the effort. Elevation: 5,580 feet (2,280ft of elevation gain) Weather: Warm and sunny There are parts of Washington so beautiful that they truly take your breath away. Colchuck lake. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Colchuck Lake via Stuart Lake Trail is a 9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Leavenworth, Washington that features a lake and is rated as difficult. backpack in to campsite Mar 8, 2015 - Set beneath two of Washington’s tallest peaks, Colchuck Lake is an alpine gem. Colchuck lake trail starts at Stuart lake trail head off of forest service road 7601, which can be accessed from Icicle Creek Rd. Distance: What we read: 8 mi roundtrip Our mileage: 12 miles roundtrip, including hiking around the lake. 14.5 km 4:57 h 1,316 m 1,309 m Park in the parking lot for the Stuart Lake Trail #1599. If you have an overnight permit, make sure to print the parking pass and leave it on your dash before heading up the trail. I didn't think so. Camping at Colchuck Lake with... Save Camping at Colchuck Lake with Dragontail Peak in the background. The jagged peaks and passes surrounding the lake have mystical names like Dragontail and Aasgard Pass. I've heard it's a 9 mile round trip hike. In the shadow of Mt. But definitely an effort to get to! Colchuck Lake is one of the lakes that make up the Enchantments area of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, which was established in 1976 and consists of 391,988 acres. Colchuck Lake is also one of the starting points for reaching the Enchantment Lakes via Aasgard Pass. This is because the views are absolutely beautiful, there is the optiojn to see wildlife, and it can be the first leg of one's journey to hike through the Enchantments (part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area). Dogs, and all pets, are prohibited, except for Service Dogs as defined by Department of Justice regulations 28 C.F.R. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. There are parts of Washington so beautiful that they truly take your breath away. And as gorgeous as the entire area is, Colchuck Lake is its crown jewel. The area has several wonderful places to pitch a tent. It’s a fun hike with unbeatable views, especially at the lake. However, the views at the lake are well worth the effort. Campsites range in quality from Motel 6 to Waldorf Astoria, and we didn’t see them all. The lakes are situated within the Cascade Mountains in Washington State, where visitors are privy to endlessly beautiful views of lakes, larch trees, snow-topped peaks, glaciers, and occasional goat sightings. Can you resist the lure of Colchuck's sparkling cobalt waters? The water is so clear and mesmorizing. Colchuck Lake Set beneath two of Washington’s tallest peaks, Colchuck Lake is an alpine gem. Any real difficulties for novice hikers? Apr 10, 2012 - Set beneath two of Washington’s tallest peaks, Colchuck Lake is an alpine gem. The 8-9 mile roundtrip hike was tiresome, but well worth it. Naches, WA 98937 Hiking to Colchuck Lake. We stopped in Leavenworth for lunch before the long drive home (5.5 hours) back to Portland. Leavenworth, WA 98826 Part 35.136. If you plan to camp overnight in this area you will need to come prepared. The water is crystal clear and on a nice day the sun sparkles on the lake. Camping at Colchuck Lake. 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