I can't think of a better all day hike in the cascades. The Enchantments are an amazing sight. For anyone in good enough shape to do this hike, this is a must do. I have done this hike twice in the last few years. I was unable to win the lottery for getting a overnight camping permits from the forest service. When planning for this hike you need to decide if it is something you want to turn into a multi day backpacking trip or a long day hike. This is focussed on doing it in one day. I also prefer to just give a preview of the hike as it is best to discover it in your own way.
Stats:
~20 Miles from Stuart Lake trailhead to parking lot to Snow Lakes trailhead.
4500 Ft going up, 7000 going down.
The Hike:
I have done this hike twice. Both times I parked a car at the Snow Lake Trailhead and had the local leavenworth cab pick me up and drop me off at the Stuart lake trailhead. That way no need to drive two cars and will be at your car when you finish a really long hike.
The hike starts as a climb up to Colchuck lake. This is a decent climb to the lake and has some switchbacks that finally shoot you out at the first lake of this expedition. This is around five miles and 3k feet in elevation. Once at the lake you slowly try and follow the trail around the right side. Once around the lake you get to look up at the daunting climb up Aasgard pass.
After what takes me around 90 minutes to get up, you are rewarded with a generous view of the lake you were just at.
The rest of the hike is easier to just show some pictures. You slowly go down the other side from lake to lake, each turn different from the last. Take your time taking it all in.
