A little smoke on the trail but not too bad. Colchuck Peak/East Route. On one hand, I would say if you’re a beginner, if you go in the summer you can definitely do it. Sadly Forest Road 7601 was closed when we tried to go today (11/12) may be closed for the season. The view of the lake is definitely worth it. Colchuck lake is very pretty, much better than Blanca Lake I think. Made the way up much more manageable, much like driving up in our 4X4 rig with no slippage. Many great spots for swimming and … Total time 11 hours C2C. The incline is challenging and walking poles are helpful. Head southwest on the Stuart Lake Trail. Colchuck Lake; Pretty cold out there. Looking forward to hiking this again next summer! At some points along this portion of the hike you will catch a glimpse of Mountaineer Creek. To the left of Dragontail is Aasgard Pass, the climb that serves as the unbelievably steep shortcut to the Enchantments. Otherwise, you can park about 3/4 of the way up in a usual good trail car. Started at 11am and got back to the car around 6pm. You can go about 3/4 of the way in a decent, high clearance, AWD, 4WD - I saw at the top trailhead, a 3rd Gen 4Runner and built Toyota Tacoma pickup. The parking area can be busy, as visitors access the Enchantments and Stuart Lake from this trailhead. Hiked 11/7. Get your camera out as you walk into the meadow. Absolutely beautiful bike. (Seems obvious but we noticed many others were a bit under prepared). The center snow pile is difficult to clear. Colchuck Lake via Stuart Lake Trail es un sendero de ida y vuelta de 14.5 kilómetros con tráfico pesado localizado cerca de Leavenworth, Washington. It was COLD! It's 8.0 miles round trip to Colchuck Lake, with about 2,200 feet of elevation gain. I must have blocked out all the difficult parts lol. Made for a frozen trek up. We opted for summer climbing boots and 12 points. However, the way back was difficult for me. You will stay to the right after crossing the bridge, and walk along the creek before your next big push uphill. The lake has a very healthy population of gorgeous cutthroat trout. The first glance you get rounding the corner to Colchuck Lake is an awe inspiring moment. An inviting lake beneath the fearsome north face of one of Washington's highest and most imposing peaks. It’s much colder than trailhead. Conditions were good and the snow was packed enough to need only micro-spikes for the way up. A Northwest Forest Path is required to park here. Saw many people fall, good hiking shoes recommended. I used one hiking pole which with the spikes made the hike a lot better. I didn’t mind though- love this trail. Please note that it's a heavily ticketed and towed area so be sure to park properly. As stated below, road to trailhead closes on 11/9, and would add 8 (boring) miles to the total. My advice - aggressive microspikes and poles at a minimum. Read About these trails in our Hiking Guide Colchuck Lake; I left Everett for Leavenworth around 7:00 AM. you'll also need to register your guests in case anyone gets lost Always stunning. The water is so blue/green. We saw lots of chipmunks and no mosquitoes, thankfully. nayyef Hrebid / alltrails.com Located in the Central Cascades, Colchuck Lake is an alpine gem that sits nestled in between two tall peaks. The section to Colchuck Lake is rocky and steep, but if you pack enough food and water and take rest it'll be fine. the lake is really cold so swimming might not be an option but doing toes could be an option Beautiful sunrise hike. There are also campgrounds surrounding the lake. Failure to have a permit will result in you being fined and asked to leave by the rangers. I went 11/8 and had nanospikes which helped tremendously. It is about a 30 acre lake with clear water and easy fishing access in many places. The parking area can be busy, as visitors access the Enchantments and Stuart Lake from this trailhead. This is by far the hardest hike I ever did. Get Trail News Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. If you have a decent 4X4/AWD, don't let this deter you. Saw a lot of people wearing micro spikes. Didn’t need spikes but poles were pretty critical on way down in this section. I recommend a face net. The entire trail was already broken in and had a decent bootpack. big flat rocks are all around the lake so you can find a peaceful or secluded spot for you and your group which is really what makes the peak amazing Cold, so multi layers help. Not a problem with AWD. It's considered to be a difficult hike, so … Stuart Lake is at 5600 feet elevation in the Enchantment Mountain range. • Trail Rating: Medium / Difficult • New Trail: 8 miles total, 2280 ft. elevation gain • Trail Access: Late Spring through Late Fall Hiked on 11/8. Colchuck Lake with a view of Dragon Tail Peak and Aasgard Pass. NW Forest pass is required. Pack warm clothes if you’re going in the fall or spring. bugs came out in the evening on our way down, but we were fine by the lake because of the strong winds Length 9 miElevation gain 2283 ftRoute type Out & back This hike is challenging in that it is mostly up, and up, and up. Colchuck Lake is a great area to camp when climbing in the Colchuck-Dragontail Peak area. Absolutely amazing views. Colchuck Lake Trail starts at Stuart Lake trailhead off of Forest Service Road 7601, which can be accessed from Icicle Creek Road. Good tracks and boot steps were left, and about 6 people were on the way up as we descended, so I expect both routes prior to new snowfall will be in very good condition - very firm bootpack. iked Mount Ellinor via the upper trailhead and the winter route up today, and the summer route down in beautiful bluebird conditions! The Colchuck Lake hike has been on our Pacific Northwest Bucket List ever since we could remember, so we were almost too excited to sleep when we finally decided to do it. Good hiking boots helped and for me micro spikes were not needed. It’s about 9 miles and I’ve never hiked with this significant elevation change. First of all - the gate to the trailhead closes on Monday 11/9 so if you don’t want to walk up the road and add those miles to an already difficult hike - this Sunday is your last chance! http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/lake-stuart, http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/passes-permits/?cid=fsbdev3_053607. great views! Layer up and bring a hat/gloves as it gets pretty chilly on top. I had expected the bugs to be in full force but they were not a bother all day! The trail was a challenge but well worth it. You make wish to make a side trip up to Colchuck Lake, but do know that this hike is strenuous, but the payoff is worth it. I arrived at the Lake Stuart TH at 5:30am and there were already tons of cars. Beautiful! Also, at this time of year the mosquitos were relentless - even with bug spray. Some folks had microspikes, some shared a single pair, saw some cool short snowshoes, and one or two somehow scrambling up in only boots. You’ll be hot on the hike, but it is cold when you stop. After many switchbacks Colchuck Lake was in sight throught the trees at the top of the trail. w After a bit I headed back down the trail to the car. Overly populated, so keep that in mind before trekking- not everyone will be following the mask guidelines. www.nimitpatel.com. So don’t get your panties in a twist just because the uphill hiker doesn’t always pass first. Check out this post for my favorite day hike from Leavenworth! Many parts of the trail were slick with ice. I was really looking forward to seeing Colchuck Lake, with its green coloring, against the snowy backdrop, but alas, that was not to be. Different, but still very beautiful and quiet. Are you visiting Leavenworth WA and looking for the perfect hike? 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. Start early. Enchantment Area Wilderness Permits I'm so glad I did as there was no one else heading to Stuart Lake. This is a great place to grab lunch and take in the scenery. Best day ever, best hike ever. It was a good, hard hike, but nothing crazy – we took maybe 2:15 or so on the way up and flew down in 1:45 or so after the technical icy bits toward the top. It hits all at once and feels so surreal to be looking down on Earl, Navaho, etc from so high above. So today we’re going to pay homage to one of our favorite Washington lakes, the beautiful and pristine Colchuck Lake. Colchuck Lake by Samanthazon. This was a bucket list trail for me. We had a splendid time exploring the basin, looking at the last of the October larches, scrambling through icy boulders and enjoying the sunny day. Colchuck Lake is gorgeous and has a jaw-dropping scenery with jagged peaks surrounded. The last pic shows the road condition just below the upper TH. However, the views at the lake are well worth the effort. The trail seems to end at a broad granite face overlooking the lake. You will need a permit if you plan to camp overnight anywhere in the area (you do not need a permit for a day hike beyond the self-issue permit at the trailhead). Argonaut Peak rises in front of you to the south. Stay to the left and you will happen upon another log bridge, stunning vistas that act as the gateway to the wilderness. Everything about it was so dreamy. If you’re kind of in the middle like me, you’ll also be fine! We used poles all the way up. Larches are at peak here but this isn’t a very larchy hike. The University of Michigan Saginaw Forest is an 80-acre woods with over 3 miles of trails and Third Sister Totally doable with good hiking boots. Continue on this washboarded dirt road for 3.8 miles to a parking lot and the trailhead. trail has slippery frost and ice near the top and spikes were great. Honestly, I am shocked, amazed, and impressed at how some people get up, but they do. I slip and slide on most things - forget about ice and snow, I find wet dirt, rocks, and logs a hazard to my joints, knees, and face when I plant, so I am overly aggressive on my traction. Easy plunge stepping down. Some people are looking down at the trail so as not to fall and don’t see an oncoming hiker until you are 5 ft away from each other. At the time in august it was perfect, the trail condition was a great intro to what is now what I consider my favorite alpine forest I’ve hiked into since being in Washington. unbelievably beautiful, especially with the larch trees in full yellow. Stuart is hidden in the cloud most of the time. The lake was completely snow covered, frozen and arctic-like. If you drive vehicles similar to those in the last pic, you can make it all the way up. Just take your time. At the junction take the left fork, the Colchuck Lake Trail. There're larch trees on the mountains at both Stuart and Colchuck. I was scared based on the hard rating and other people’s stories but it was easier than I actually thought. Tiene un lago y es calificado como difícil. Note: The road leading to the trailhead may be closed during the winter and will add 8 miles to your overall trip. The water is crystal clear and on a nice day the sun sparkles on the lake. Initially, past the hairpin turn, it looked dicey, but becomes bare and wet for at least half the road. After crossing the bridge and walking along the bottom of a talus field, the trail heads more steeply uphill. You will need a high clearance, lifted vehicle to make it. Next to Stuart Lake, this has to be one of the most glorious day trips in the area. Washington Trails Association Take I-90 and head east over Snoqualmie Pass to Cle Elum, taking the exit to Wenatchee & Blewett Pass via 970 and then US highway 97. Colchuck Lake is beautiful in its own right, even without ascending Aasgard and entering the enchantments. The small lake next to Colchuck is very pretty too. Hiked 11/7. There are campsites on both the west side and the south end of the lake. A magical day. The meadow to Stuart Lake is at its best time of fall colors. Luckily I found a spot and was on the trail within minutes. The trail is steep and reaches Colchuck Lake via switchbacks in 1,100 feet of elevation gain and 1.6 miles. No Dogs are allowed on the trail and no fires are allowed at either lake. Started hike at 9:15am, temp was 27 degrees. Had the trail and the lake all to ourselves. From milepost 99 on US 2, on the western end of Leavenworth, follow the paved Icicle Creek Road (Forest Road 76) for 8.4 miles, turn left onto Eightmile Road (FR 7601). The trail was in great condition and I'd say about 85% of the hikers wore masks! Not an easy one, definitely helps to be somewhat physically fit. Poles and spikes are not NEEDED, but probably helpful in some sections. This large, striking lake is set below Dragontail Peak and Aasgard Pass in the heart of the Stuart Range and Enchantments Lakes Basin.. Use poles. One very apparent thing - there were so many hikers and parties of hikers on this trail. If you plan on spending the night you will need a pass from the Leavenworth Ranger Station. But the steepest sections at the end was icy. The trail to Stuart Lake was pretty easy and enjoyable. It follows Mountaineer Creek for over 3 miles, at which time you start getting great views of the Enchantment Mountain Range. Sitting at the gateway to the Enchantments, as the slopes of Asgard Pass dive down into the glacial green waters of this beautiful lake. I honestly felt great on the way up - perhaps the adrenaline of seeing the lake. I hit the start of this at 3:30 in the am, so most of my hike was done in the dark with headlamps. Past this, there is snow and ice as the road appears to be in the shade most of the day. IG @ nimitpatel_ The winter route is in super condition. Would do this hike again and again! The summer route had a single summit when we got to the top, and about 5 of us took the route down. It was really beautiful and also interesting to see the various campsites and campers. The road becomes bare and very drivable. Looking down felt like a high dive as we watched the sparkling turquoise waters of Colchuck Lake shrink farther and farther beneath us. A Subaru with MaxxBoards was parked about 3/4 of the way up the road, and a Honda Pilot reversed down the road as I never saw it parked. Lake Stuart and Colchuck Lake Trail is a 18.8 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Leavenworth, Washington that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. There is a NO PARKING restriction for the entirety of Road 7601, from the start at Icicle Road 7600 to its terminus at Stuart Lake Trailhead. No snow on trail until the very end and even then, it was just a trace. Certainly difficult, especially on the downhill, but it’s worth the view. I really started to struggle towards the end. The trail is mostly compact snow but I made it up with just my grippy boots - and poles, very nice to have poles. Looking forward to go again in the summer. 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 plowed on determined to see the lake, and upon creating the final ridge and finding a good spot with a view, we were greeted by a frozen lake covered in snow. After the walk through the woods, you will cross the creek on a bridge before beginning the first real incline of the hike. The road is in fairly good condition but the dust and pot holes it just seemed super slow. being a water filter- plenty of water sources Very few people at Stuart Lake. I was stoked to hike to see Colchuck for myself and I dragged my family members with me. El sendero se usa principalmente para hacer senderismo, acampada y excursionismo y es mejor utilizado de mayo hasta octubre. 17 miles, 3850 feet of gain. Colchuk Lake - 9.4 Miles Round-Trip Colchuk Lake (5,570') is located 4.7 miles from Stuart Lake Trailhead in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The road in was paced, compact snow and ice but manageable for most cars, even 2 wheel drive - however, I expect after last night's storms road and route condition have already changed drastically, as Blewett and Snoqualmie pass both had a lot of snow as we drove home. It was amazing to have the trail and lake to ourselves - quite the opposite of the other seasons. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and backpacking and is best used from May until October. We knew we wanted to arrive at sunrise, so after some hiking time estimates and driving times, we realized we had a shocking 12:30 am wakeup call ahead of us. Arrived at parking lot at 9:30am and it is easy to find parking, perhaps due to the rain in the morning. Without a doubt, this trail belongs at the top of the list of incredible outdoor adventures in Washington. Totally worth it and the grey jays were adorable all the way up (but don't feed them, it's not good for the birds)! The top gets pretty chilly, especially with cloud cover. You need a special ($$) permit to camp there after June 15th but what a great place to camp. not a lot of people! I tried to walk around the lake but only got 1/2 way. Heading out of the TH parking lot was long and slow. 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