Enchantments Traverse
Cascades, WA
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Daylight is your biggest constraint — under 10 hours with sunset at 4:44 PM means the traverse needs tight timing or a split across 3 days. Wednesday night brings 68% chance of mixed rain/snow, so plan to be in camp with shelter sorted before dark that evening. Otherwise, conditions are reasonable for experienced parties.
40°/32°F · Mostly Cloudy
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Elevated flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
9h 53m daylight · Sunrise 6:50 AM · Sunset 4:44 PM
Full Briefing
Daylight is the primary planning driver here. You've got 9 hours 53 minutes from sunrise to sunset, and on the Enchantments Traverse that's not a lot of margin if you're carrying a full pack. Sunrise at 6:50 AM means you can start moving early, but golden hour hits at 3:59 PM and it's dark by 4:44. Plan your daily segments so you're at camp — or at minimum off exposed terrain — well before that cutoff. The upper traverse above Colchuck Lake is no place to be navigating in the dark in November.
Weather is manageable through Wednesday but Wednesday night is the one to watch. The forecast shows a 68% chance of rain showers transitioning to rain and snow showers likely, with lows at 33°F. That means your Wednesday night camp should be well-sited with solid shelter — if you're in the core zone, wind exposure is real even at low speeds. Thursday clears out to mostly sunny with light west winds, so if you get pinned briefly it won't last long. The rest of the trip window is quiet: mostly clear Tuesday night, mostly sunny Wednesday, temps bouncing between 32–40°F throughout. Light winds the entire trip, under 6 mph.
Stream flow data in the raw feed is pulling from gauges in central and coastal California — Salinas, Llagas Creek, Alameda Creek — none of which are relevant to the Enchantments drainage. Disregard those numbers. What's relevant for November in the Icicle Creek watershed is that snowmelt contribution is minimal at these temperatures (highs in the upper 30s, lows at freezing), so Mountaineer Creek and the outlets from the core lakes should be at or near seasonal low. The Wednesday night precipitation event could bump flows slightly but not dangerously. Crossings should be straightforward.
No active fires within 50 miles, smoke is a non-issue. Avalanche rating is not yet issued for the season — the NWAC discussion flags to watch for signs of instability (collapsing, cracking) but this is standard pre-season language, not an active problem flag. In November above treeline in the Enchantments, you should expect variable snow coverage on north-facing terrain and potentially icy, unconsolidated snow on steep sections. Microspikes or an axe are worth having for the upper route depending on recent snow. No SNOTEL data is available within range to quantify snowpack depth, so treat above-treeline conditions as unknown until you're on the ground and move accordingly.
Waypoints
Stuart Lake Trailhead
Start from the Stuart Lake trailhead off Icicle Creek Road.
3,445 ft
Colchuck Lake
Stunning turquoise alpine lake. Camping available with permit.
5,151 ft
Aasgard Pass
Brutal 2,000-ft talus scramble. The crux of the traverse.
7,700 ft
Core Enchantments Zone
The heart of the Enchantments. Lakes Viviane, Leprechaun, and Sprite.
7,218 ft
Snow Lakes Trailhead
Long descent to the Snow Lakes trailhead. Arrange car shuttle.
1,798 ft
Route Details
Distance
18.0 mi
Elevation Gain
6,801 ft
Elevation Loss
7,799 ft
Max Elevation
7,700 ft
Estimated Days
2
Trailhead
Stuart Lake Trailhead
Best Season
July through early October. Larch color in late September is spectacular.
Permit Required
Overnight permits through lottery at recreation.gov. Apply in February-March. Day use does not require permit.
About This Route
The Enchantments is a stunning alpine area in Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness, featuring crystal-clear lakes set among golden larch trees and granite peaks. The through-hike from Stuart Lake to Snow Lakes is one of the most sought-after overnight trips in the Pacific Northwest. The core zone contains over a dozen named lakes, each more beautiful than the last, connected by granite slabs and alpine meadows. In late September, the larch trees turn golden, creating one of the most photographed landscapes in Washington. The traverse crosses Aasgard Pass, a grueling 2,000-foot climb up loose talus. Overnight permits are extremely competitive—the lottery typically has a 2-5% success rate. Day hikers can do the traverse as a long day (18 miles, 4,500 feet of gain), but it requires starting before dawn. The terrain is rugged and exposed with limited water sources in the upper zone.
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