Name: Colchuck Lake
Rating: 4.8

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Dogs No Dogs

Features Commonly Backpacked · Lake · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Overview

The route to Colchuck Lake is the easiest and most popular way for people to see the glorious Enchantments. The route follows a peaceful stream through a lush forest, then climbs steeply to Colchuck Lake where the views of Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak won't disappoint.

Be prepared to share the trail with hundreds of people; this is an extremely popular route, especially on summer weekends. Make sure to keep this area beautiful for future generations by following Wilderness Regulations and staying on the trail at all times.

Need to Know

A $5 per vehicle/day fee or a valid Recreation Pass is required on vehicles at the trailhead. Camping within this area is managed by a reservation permit system May 15th through October 31st.

Description

The trail starts at the Stuart Lake trailhead which can be packed with cars even on weekdays during the summer. The route starts on the Stuart Lake Trail #1599 and follows Mountaineer Creek while gradually climbing through a beautiful forest. The trail crosses the creek at 1.5 miles on a log bridge and starts to steepen.

At 2.2 miles take a left at the junction with the Colchuck Lake Trail #1599.1. The trail immediately crosses Mountaineer Creek again and then climbs steeply over sometimes rocky and washed-out trail.

After climbing a quick 1,100 ft from the valley base, you'll reach Colchuck Lake. Meander along the lake's west edge while taking in the awesome views of Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak rising from the south end of the lake. Grab lunch and take in the epic views up towards Aasgard Pass where backpackers enter the upper Enchantment basin or take a swim in the deep blue lake if you want to cool off.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Okanogan & Wenatchee National Forest Office

Shared By:

Sarah Baker

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.8 from 49 votes

#2

in The Enchantments

#182

Overall

4.8 from 49 votes

5 Star		84%
4 Star		14%
3 Star		2%
2 Star		0%
1 Star		0%

Recommended Route Rankings

13 Views Last Month

19,682 Since Feb 2, 2017

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Photos

Views of the jagged Dragontail Peak across Colchuck Lake.

Jun 7, 2017 near Leavenw…, WA

Aug 12, 2015 near Leavenw…, WA

A mountain goat and his domain (Dragontail Peak in the background).

Jun 27, 2016 near Leavenw…, WA

Aug 12, 2015 near Leavenw…, WA

Reflecting on how awesome Dragontail Peak looks...

Jun 27, 2016 near Leavenw…, WA

Aug 12, 2015 near Leavenw…, WA

2 Comments

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Unknown

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jul 11, 2024

David Scott

Jun 17, 2024

Cullen Moore

Aug 11, 2023

Irene Beusch

Saw a mountain goat! 8.6mi — 4h 00m

Oct 23, 2022

Tristan Hamilton

8.5mi — 4h 00m

Oct 5, 2021

Joe Smith

with mom and dad. arrived 6:50. got to lake at 9:50. left lake at 11:30. got to car at 1:40. super windy and cold at lake, couldn't fish long 8.3mi

Sep 25, 2021

abby zhang

4h 30m

Sep 20, 2021

Lillian Ponce

Sep 18, 2021

Rachel Dier

Aug 21, 2021

Gorby Jackson

8.1mi — 4h 02m

Jul 12, 2021

Michael Young

Jul 8, 2021

Lindsey Kaiser

8mi

Jul 8, 2021

Nicholas Van Epp

Jun 25, 2021

Baylee Murphy

Gorgeous day hike. Went up with mom and spent the afternoon lounging by the lake before heading back down. Bring more water next time! 8.3mi — 9h 00m

Jun 21, 2021

Yida Fang

Jun 19, 2021

Joe Smith

parking was terrible. water was freezing. view from lake was chilly but great 8.3mi

Nov 7, 2020

Sungyeal Kim

8.3mi

Aug 12, 2020

Thatcher Banh

Aug 2, 2020

Clint Valentine

With Elizabeth! 8.3mi

Aug 1, 2020

Clint Valentine

With Nate! 9.7mi

Jun 22, 2020

Monica Thomas

8.3mi

Jun 6, 2020

Private User

Jun 6, 2020

Jake Grogan

8.3mi — 3h 00m

Sep 9, 2019

Jason Schorn

Light drizzle and overcast. Not as difficult as stated by many people and my god clocked the trailhead to the lake at 3.7 miles. — 2h 36m

Aug 31, 2019

Asif Luqman

Jul 28, 2019

Rajiv Annapragada

10.1mi — 5h 50m

Jul 8, 2019

Mitchell McAuslan

10.5mi — 6h 25m

Jul 4, 2019

Bryan Brown

w/ Al. Combo'd with Stuart Lake. Beautiful spot but lotsa people and music-blaring bros. The water is gorgeous.

Jul 4, 2019

Alexandria Hannay

11h 00m

Jun 16, 2019

Tue Akio

Jan 14, 2019

Alaina Scherer

Nov 20, 2018

Derek Wenth

Beautiful hike up to Colchuck Lake! Several trees down along the trail and icy spots during the last 1/4 of the hike. 8.3mi

Oct 19, 2018

Emily Brown

Oct 17, 2018

Gabriel McHugh

8.3mi

Oct 13, 2018

Julien Naegeli

9mi — 5h 00m

Oct 13, 2018

Jay Rosencrantz

Sep 20, 2018

Brian Degenstein

Sep 15, 2018

Jerry Burnett

Thank sweetheart

Aug 27, 2018

Atanas Malamov

9mi

Aug 24, 2018

Chris C

9mi

Aug 20, 2018

Megan C

Aug 16, 2018

Jackie Gadbois

Aug 4, 2018

Mingwei Cui

Lake is pretty at the end of trail 9.3mi

Jul 19, 2018

Christine Cheung Saj

8.3mi

Jul 8, 2018

Der Ek

13.4mi

Jul 7, 2018

Brayden Wuebbel

Lake almost completely frozen over may 25 8.3mi

Jun 28, 2018

Ryan W

Jun 24, 2018

Ryan Kerrigan

Jun 2, 2018

Cameron Martin

May 26, 2018

Michelle Swanson

Gorgeous view 4.3mi

Apr 13, 2018

Galen Collins

Oct 10, 2017

Lauren Joo

Snow and muddy

Sep 28, 2017

Nikki Yeater

Beautiful weather Sept 27-29. Perfect conditions. 8.3mi

Aug 17, 2017

Kimberly Winkenweder

Left me in awe 8.8mi

Jul 15, 2017

Heather Moutvic

Jul 8, 2017

Stanley Phillips

Awesome Hike! 8.3mi

Jul 7, 2017

Kyle Doering

8.3mi

Jul 7, 2017

D Blbs

8.3mi

Jul 5, 2017

Jin Woo Choi

Jul 2, 2017

Melanie Wolfe Pitt

With Christopher, Joe, Jill, and LA

Jun 27, 2017

Brian Burke

Jun 26, 2017

Claire Carlson

Beautiful hike. Alpine lakes wilderness is one of my favorite places to hike. The views did not disappoint. 8.3mi

Jun 20, 2017

Jason Lee

Jun 17, 2017

Albert Shiue

3am start. OAB to Stuart Lake add-on for training mileage. 13mi

Sep 16, 2016

Nici Bissonnette

Sunny fall day 8.6mi

Aug 7, 2016

Mona Sangesland

Jul 19, 2016

Adamson Bryant

with Clare

Jun 19, 2016

Tom Robson

Aug 27, 2011

Jared Stewart

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Colchuck Lake

“A very popular trail leading to a glacially carved alpine lake in the beautiful Enchantments. ”

8.3

13.4

Out and Back

5,614' 1,711 m

3,439' 1,048 m

2,222' 677 m

2,222' 677 m

10%

42%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs No Dogs

Features Commonly Backpacked · Lake · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Overview

Need to Know

Description

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#2

#182

#2

#13

#182

Photos

2 Comments

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Iron Bear to Teanaway Ridge

Thorp Mountain via Knox Creek

Alta Mountain via Rachel Lake

Deception Falls Loop

Pacific Crest Trail: WA Section J

Squilchuck State Park Loop

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