outdoors

The Enchantments

While not recommended as a there-and-back day hike from Seattle, the practically deified Enchantments can be hiked in a day. The beauty and majesty of the this Central Cascade mountain scape is undisputed, considered by many avid hikers unparalleled even in the eco-diverse Pacific Northwest. Every year, thousands of hiking enthusiasts enter a lottery for a limited number of permits. If you don’t secure a permit, you can still taste the Enchantments. You just have to do so in the form of a grueling, 18-mile day hike with pre-arranged transport. While you might get away with doing the entire thing as a day trip from Seattle if you leave at 2am, you’re likely to get more from the experience if you spend the night before you hike in a Leavenworth lodge or nearby campground. It’s a two-and-a-half hour drive from Seattle to the Snow Lakes Trailhead.