Hikes: Colchuck Lake
For four members of the Men of Wednesday, Colchuck Lake is more than a stunning alpine lake in Washington’s Enchantments. It is more than a deep pool renowned for its turquoise water and dramatic snow dusted mountain backdrop. And it was more than a reflection of mountain larch trees in fancy yellow needle dressings. For us it was an adventure for us 60 and 70 something hikers. And we are happy to report that all of us made it safely up and down again with our friend Steve Moore in the lead … therein lies the difference. Steve is still recovering from surgery on both of his legs and he powered his way through the terrain with the fortitude and tempo that he could muster. We are so proud to have been with him, trek poles in hand.
The hike to reach the Lake is challenging, with a significant portion of the elevation gain occurring in the final miles. The trail starts at the Stuart Lake trailhead, requires an Alpine Lake Wilderness permit for overnight stays ($5/day/person), and can be very crowded, especially during peak season. We were there for day-pass-only use at the tail end of “the season” and had our Senior federal lands (National Park & Recreation Area) pass displayed on our dash board, which covered our fees.
Getting to the Trailhead
- Trailhead: The hike begins at the Stuart Lake Trailhead, which is located at the end of Forest Service Road 7601. Getting to the trailhead was tougher than expected due to some pot holes in the forest service road, which were extraordinarily deep. The driving to our starting point took much longer than we anticipated (about 45 minutes from Mrs. Anderson’s in downtown Leavenworth).
- Directions: From US-2 in Leavenworth, take Icicle Creek Road (Forest Road 76) for about 8.5 miles, then turn left onto Forest Road 7601 (also called Eightmile Road) and continue for about 3.8 miles to the trailhead. And, as noted above, have a few essentials, snow tires in season, watchful eye for potholes, and patience.
- Parking: The parking lot fills up very early, so arriving before 7 a.m. is recommended, especially on in season and on weekends. You may have to park along the road, which adds time to the hike. We were one of only 10 cars in the parking lot, so luckily this matter was not a concern.
The Hike
This is a challenging hike with beautiful scenery in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area of Washington State. This alpine lake is accompanied by the twin magnificent mountain spires – Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak – at the far end of the lake. The Colchuck Lake Trail starts at Stuart Lake trailhead off of Forest Service Road 7601, which can be accessed from Icicle Creek Road. It is worth noting that the hike is in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The streams we pass are all feeders into the Wenatchee River and part of the Okanogan forests, which decorate the mountains and valleys of this wilderness. We spotted larch, fir, pine, spruce, hemlock and cedar, along with alder, birch and fall-yellow maple trees.
The parking area can be busy, as visitors access all of the Enchantment Peaks and Stuart Lake from this trailhead. Some hikers may need to park a considerable distance from the trailhead on busy days.
The hike starts out with an easy first mile and a half. It is a “creek side walk through the forest”. At some points along this portion of the hike, we caught a glimpse of Mountaineer Creek. After the walk through the woods, we crossed the creek on a bridge before beginning the first real incline of the hike.
After a series of rocky switchbacks we reached the trail junction for Stuart and Colchuck lakes. We stayed to the left and happened upon another log bridge with stunning vistas that acted as the gateway to the surrounding wilderness. Staying to the right after crossing the bridge, we walked along the creek before we started our next big push uphill. The climb remained consistently rocky, and with tree roots everywhere you stepped, but with caution and patience, it proved manageable. We found a few areas with views perfect for photo opportunities on our way to the lake. Once we reached Colchuck lake, we were rewarded with beautiful views of the blue/green lake with the peaks, dusted with snow, towering behind it.
Bruce Bolton found a flat rock for us to perch while he heated up water for spaghetti and sauce, tea and coffee, while the rest of us nibbled on Elephants’ cookies and trail mix/dried fruit. Just the warmth and nourishment we needed in the middle of our hike. The trail main continues past Colchuck Lake and up Aasgard Pass to the Enchantment Lakes. If we had any chance of getting back before dark, we might have considered extending the hike, but not this trip.
We arrived back at the trailhead very late on that day in October. Bruce led the way with a headlamp and it was total darkness when we returned to the parking lot. We had the misfortune walking through a downpour and missing our expected arrival time back in Leavenworth, which was unfair to those who were preparing a dinner for a larger crowd. That said, we were safe and sound and really ready for a hot meal followed by time in a hot tub.
Below are some additional pictures of the area, that may entice others to go on a return trip, when the weather is warmer and less wet.
Icicle Gorge Trail
- Distance: The hike is an out and back proposition, approximately 8.5 miles roundtrip.
- Elevation Gain: There is a significant elevation gain of about 2,300 feet ascending to the Lake, and then descending to the parking lot.
- Trail Difficulty: The first 1.5 miles are relatively easy, but the trail becomes consistently rocky, tangled with tree roots and steep, with the final two miles being the most challenging.
- Trail Split: After crossing a bridge over Mountaineer Creek, the trail forks. Stay to the left for Colchuck Lake.
- Permits: An Alpine Lake Wilderness permit is required for overnight stays.
What to Expect on the Hike
- Conditions: The trail can be rocky, and rooty, so proper footwear and weather conscious layers (and an extra pair of dry socks, gloves, hat, rain gear) are essential. In wet weather, pay particular attention to the treacherous footing and deep puddles.
- Scenery: The lake is surrounded by peaks like Colchuck Peak and Dragontail Peak, and the views even in inclement winter are spectacular. Take your time and watch the mist rise, the leaves fall, the water rush. It is worth it to simply stop, breathe, and take in the scene.
- Crowds: The area can very popular with seasonal hikers. We were fortunate that only the brave, mostly women, on the trail were all friendly, kind and open to conversation. They added to the experience, as we willingly allowed each of them to pass our group. They in no way (as some complain) detracted from the hike.
- Wildlife: We did not see much wildlife on our trip, except the occasional grey jays or stellars jays, the dusky grouse, mountain chickadees and red-breated nuthatches. We also identified the chattering chipmonks and squirrels. We had hoped to spot a mountain goat or two, but were skunked on that one.
- Bugs: Since it was fall, we were bug free. If you are hiking in the late spring or during the summer, be prepared for mosquitoes.
Henry E. Hooper 