Hiking Colchuck Lake in the Enchantments
Contents
Colchuck Lake Hike Information
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 14.00Km (8.70 Miles)
Elevation Gain: 715m (2,346 Ft.)
Highest Elevation: 1,720m (5,643 Ft.)
Average Gradient: 10.21%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 6 – 7 Hours
– Moderate: 5 – 6 Hours
– Fast: 4 – 5 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: No
Season: ~June to October
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Colchuck Lake Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 47°31’40.4″N 120°49’14.3″W
Colchuck Lake Overview
Colchuck Lake is a pristine, glacier fed, alpine lake set within the Enchantments, that is easily one of the most popular hikes in all of Washington, despite its fairly remote location. As the main gateway to the Enchantments, thousands of people will bask in its beauty every week throughout the summer, with many continuing on to complete the Enchantments through hike.
Still, due to the significantly more challenging stats and logistics of the full through hike, many people will visit Colchuck Lake as a standalone hike, starting and finishing at the Stuart and Colchuck Lake trailhead. At 14km and 715m elevation gain, this is an approachable hike for all abilities, with the entire hike following a well established (if not rugged) trail.
The lake itself is fed by melting snow and glacial runoff from the nearby majestic peaks, namely Colchuck Peak and Dragontail Peak, both of which offer a jaw-dropping backdrop to this glistening vista. It is not uncommon to see mountain goats roaming and munching on foliage around the lake, but if you do, give them plenty of space. Most of them here are used to people and are quite relaxed, but they can be aggressive when pushed.
While Colchuck Lake is an entirely manageable day hike, camping is also incredibly popular in the area (and throughout the Enchantments as a whole), though it’s incredibly competitive to do so. In order to camp there, recreationalists must win the lottery for a camping reservation that is held annually at the beginning of the year on the Recreation.gov website. Supposedly less than 2% of entrants win a slot, so don’t hold your breath on this one.
Access to the trailhead is 2WD friendly, requiring around a 15 minute drive on a bumpy FSR. The trailhead requires a Northwest Forest Pass to park your car, so ensure you buy one for your vehicle at both trailheads if you are taking more than one car.
The best time to visit the lake is typically between June and October. In the early summer you might still expect to encounter snow at higher elevations, so microspikes would be advisable. Dogs are not permitted anywhere in the Enchantments, so leave your pup’s at home.
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Is Colchuck Lake worthwhile?
Colchuck Lake is an absolutely breathtaking lake, certainly one of the most stunning alpine lakes in all of Washington. Indeed the Enchantments as a whole offers world class natural beauty, and if you are able to complete the entire through hike, it is well worth the effort. For those just wanting a taste of what this majestic region offers though, Colchuck Lake is a beautiful introduction.
How difficult is the hike to Colchuck Lake?
As a standalone hike Colchuck Lake is a fairly moderate affair, with a pretty tame average gradient of around 10%. Hikers can expect to reach the lake within a couple of hours, where most will take a long rest to soak in the views and perhaps go for a dip in the ice cold waters. Most abilities should be able to complete the hike.
Technically speaking the trail is quite a rugged one, with lots of roots and boulders to navigate, especially in the latter half of the hike. This makes for some slow going and tiring travel, even when descending, so bring some patience. There is no scrambling required along this trail.
Colchuck Lake Route Information
The trailhead for Colchuck Lake is from the Stuart/Colchuck Lake Trailhead, which is at the end of a rugged gravel road. This trailhead is incredibly popular and fills up quickly, so don’t be surprised to see vehicles parked a long way down the road. All vehicles should be fine to get there. You will need to purchase a Northwest Forest Pass to park your vehicle.
From the trailhead you’ll want to first fill out your day hike permit (assuming you’re not camping) and attach it to your pack. These can be found on an information board at the beginning of the trail.
The hike starts off on the Stuart Lake trail and is easy to follow. The initial couple of kilometers begins in dark, dense forest, ascending gradually while following a simple trail adjacent to Mountaineer Creek. The trees thin out quite quickly, and after around 2.3km (1.5 miles) you’ll cross a sturdy bridge over the creek.
Beyond the bridge the trail becomes more rugged, a taste for what’s to come, with a brief steep climb away from the creek before mellowing out. Shortly ahead you’ll reach a trail junction where you’ll want to follow the signage to Colchuck Lake. The other trail heads to Stuart Lake.
You’ll now drop down towards another bridge over Mountaineer Creek that leads to a boulder field along the creek’s bank. Here you’ll need to hop across a few rocks while navigating your way through this jumbled boulder field.
Beyond the boulder field lies the roughest and steepest stretch of the hike. Following a series of switchbacks, much of the trail passes over rocks and roots, with several bluffy viewpoints popping up as you progress. Some of the views are simply of the valley you’ve hiked through, but as you near the lake you’ll begin seeing the Colchuck and Dragontail Peak. Many people will stop for a quick break at one of these bluffs as these are the first views you’ll have along this hike.
After one last push the trail will plateau before dropping down slightly towards the northern shores of the lake. After you pass by a washroom, keep an eye out for a trail to your left leading down towards the aquamarine glimmers through the trees. This trail will lead down to a rocky outcropping offering majestic, jaw-dropping views of the lake with Dragontail and Colchuck Peak behind. Relax here and soak in the views with a bite to eat.
If you want to explore further you can rejoin the trail and follow it along to the southern side of the lake. Passing by multiple campsites, you’ll have frequent views of the lake, but none as rewarding as the first. The trail continues to the southern end of the lake for around 1km where you’ll reach another massive boulder field. Many people stop here and spread out, basking in the views of this glorious region. If you’re lucky you might even see a mountain goat along the way.
Continuing any further will lead to the base of the infamous Aasgard Pass, where through hikers will be heading for a much longer day into the core Enchantments. If Colchuck Lake is your final stop, whenever you’re ready you’ll simply follow the same trail back out. Due to the ruggedness of this trail the hike out can be almost as demanding as the hike back in.
When should I hike Colchuck Lake?
The peak season for Colchuck Lake runs from June to October. There may be lingering snow in early June depending on the snowpack. Once the snow returns around November you’ll want to leave this for the next summer.
Top Tip
The mountain goats in the Enchantments have become very accustomed to humans and will happily wander around with young ones quite close by. Give them their space and be sure to use the toilets provided along the hike to prevent them searching for salt in human urine.
Water is pretty plentiful throughout the hike and you will have several opportunities to fill up, just make sure to bring a suitable vessel and to keep an eye on your water levels to ensure you fill up regularly.
Share the trail and practice hiking etiquette. On a sunny summer weekend this trail can get incredibly busy with varying abilities, and many stretches are single file. There is nothing more annoying than getting stuck behind a group of people who don’t move aside for faster parties.
If you want to experience the mirror effect on the lake you will need to arrive very early, shortly after sunrise preferably
