Colchuck Lake Hike
Colchuck lake was our favourite hike in the Leavenworth area. The access road allows you to get fairly deep into the Enchantments alpine zone with just a day trip. The lake is beautifully blue and clear with great views of the surrounding peaks. This is an excellent spot to hang out for the day and go for a swim. Camping permits are difficult to obtain but the day pass system means day hikes are easy. Colchuck lake is very popular so I would definitely recommend going on a weekday if possible.
Colchuck Lake Hike Quick Stats
- Difficulty: Medium – Good trail but longer
- Hike length: ~ 14 km / 8.6mi
- Elevation – A gradual 720 m
- Swimming: Swimming is allowed at Colchuck ( bring a suit!)
- 4 x 4 – Not required the logging road is kept in good shape
- Fees – $5 self issue parking pass or valid National Forest Day Pass, Northwest Forest Pass, or America The Beautiful pass
- Official Website Here!
Colchuck Lake Views
The colour of the lake changed so much with light throughout the day!
Colchuck Lake Permit Process
We are not going to lie we found the permit process for the lake really daunting at first. There is so much info out there it was hard to know where to start. We were glad to find it was super easy to figure out at the trailhead. The process is different for day use and overnight camping. Permits are required from May 15 – October 31st.
Colchuck Lake Day Use
If you are just wanting to hike up for the day you can ignore all the stuff you have read and just head straight to the trailhead. Once you arrive there is a box of blue forms right at the info station before you start the hike. These are the free self issue day use permits. All you need to do is fill out this form top and bottom. Rip the bottom off and place it in the deposit box. The top of the from stays with you during the duration of your hike. If the rangers ask, this top part of the from is what you are required to have on you.
Colchuck Lake Camping permits
The majority of camping permits for Colchuck and the entire Enchantments area are given away on a lottery basis for the season of May 15- Oct 31. There are way more people trying to get permits than there are spots. These are notoriously hard to get. The application for the lottery is here. The lottery opens of Feb 15 and closes on the 29th with the draw being completed on March 7. If you win a spot you have 7 days to pay for and confirm your booking. There is more information on the permit system here.
Colchuck Lake Day Before Camping Permits
If you are a not a super planner there is one more option we learned about in Leavenworth. Monday to Friday there is a day before application process for a camping permit that would allow you to camp Tuesday – Saturday. There are no permit draws on Sat or Sun which means you cant win for Sunday or Monday. Those Sun Mon permits are all drawn in advance at the beginning of the year.
Colchuck Lake Day Before Permit Application
In order to apply you have to be within one mile of the Leavenworth ranger station with location on your phone enabled via the recreation gov site or app. Apply for the day before permit between 7 and 10 am while in that 1 mile area. Winners are notified at 11 am the same day be email. You do not need to stay in the 1 mile area once you have applied and are waiting for the result. If you win you have until 2 pm that day to pay on recreation.gov . If you won the permit must be picked up in person at the Leavenworth ranger station from 12-4 pm the day before your hike. This process is the same for all the areas in the Enchantment permit zone.
Clear as mud right.
Colchuck Lake Passes & Fees
If you are from out of state or country you can just pay $5 at the trailhead in a deposit box and grab the self issues day pass. These are the other accepted parks passes.
- $5 National Forest day pass at trailhead (cash deposit box)
- $5 National Forest E Pass
- $30 Northwest Forest Pass
- $80 America The Beautiful Pass
We were also visiting Mt Rainier so we just purchased the America the Beautiful pass which is good for all federal parks in the US for a calendar year. We had a feeling we would be back to explore more of WA.
COlchuck Lake Trail
The hike to Colchuck lake starts at the Stuart Lake trailhead. You can find this easily on google maps I will link it below.
We arrived early and had no issues parking, but we did the see the line of cars extend 1 mile plus down the road when we were heading out at 1 pm. The parking lots is quite decent with space for about 50 cars.
Once you fill out your day permit attach the top to your bag and start your hike.
Turn left for Colchuck and right for Stuart Lake
The trail starts out pretty easily with a wide well warn path that continues at an even grade for about 4km. The trail is primairly through the forest with lots of shade. You cross some rivers with well maintained bridges before the trail starts to steepen. This is not a trail you will get lost on. There is only one fork in the trail over a river and it ends up in the same place anyway. The last 3km starts to turn into rolling rocks and rougher terrain as you being to get some views.
When you get to this bridge and the rocks you want to stay close to the trees on your right and go along the rocks. Do not climb up the rock pile.
After a steeper final push you reach the lake plateau. The trail continues around the right side of the lake all the way to the far end of the lake and the campsites. We elected to stop near the beginning of the lake to swim as it had the best views of Colchuck Peak and the surrounding mountains. There is another small lake called Little Colchuck but we thought it was not worth the walk. There are a gazillions spots to hang out on the rocks and swim so take a meander and find a spot you like. There are porta potties at the car park and the box style toilets on the ground by the lake. I would not recommend these but they are a good emergency option.
COlchuck Lake trail Directions
Leaving Leavenworth you want to drive down Icicle road and turn left onto Eight mile forestry road right after the bridge creek group campt site. It’s a very obvious turn as you follow the river on your left all the way out of Leavenworth and basically take you rirst left across the river. You want to follow this Eight mile forest road all the way to the top and you will find the parking and trailhead.
It is easily followable on google maps but just in case you have reception issues just follow my above directions and you will get there.
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