The Enchantments Thru Hike: The Complete Guide

Written By: Julie

The Enchantments is a slice of hiking paradise. Located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of Washington state, this is a wonderland of alpine lakes, jagged mountains, and waterfalls. The only way to visit the Enchantments is by hiking and it is no easy task. There are two trailheads and from both of these starting points it is a long, difficult, and strenuous hike to get to the core region of the Enchantments.

There are two ways to visit the Enchantments. You can either thru-hike the Enchantments as one massive day hike or you can backpack the Enchantments, spending several nights here. However, to camp in the Enchantments, you must have a permit. Getting a permit takes extremely good luck, which is why most people will visit the Enchantments on a day hike.

Hiking the Enchantments in one day is a beast of a hike and it is not to be underestimated. For the best experience, you will have to do a little advance planning and maybe even a little training, depending on your level of fitness. But it is absolutely worth it. This is one of the most challenging day hikes we have done (it’s right up there with Half Dome and the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim but what an unforgettable experience.

In this article, we share with you everything you need to know to thru-hike the Enchantments in one day, from what to expect, how to arrange your transportation, what to pack, where to stay, and more.

Guide to the Enchantments
Quick Overview of the Trail
Transportation
What Permits Do You Need?
Best Time for This Hike
How Hard is This Hike?
How Fit Do You Need to Be?
How to Stay Hydrated
Nutrition on the Trail
Packing List
Where to Stay
Trips to Have the Best Experience

Read it here.