Located in the heart of Washington State, Alpine Lakes Wilderness encompasses roughly 394,00 acres of wild and scenic mountain country. Accessible via 47 trailheads and 615 miles of trails, the remote area contains over 700 alpine lakes and glacial ponds, not to mention some of the finest hiking in the Pacific Northwest.
The crown jewel of this region is The Enchantments, just outside Leavenworth, WA. Due to its overwhelming popularity, the five designated zones within The Enchantments are only accessible via a lottery-based permit system. Over the last six years I’ve been fortunate to land a permit every year, and have been able to thru hike, or overnight, each of the five sections. The Core Zone, which accesses the highest, most scenic—and most crowded—section, gets most of the press. But I’ve discovered that each zone is a delight in its own right.