The Enchantment Lakes in Leavenworth, Washington are a slice of alpine paradise right here in the United States. Crystal clear blue lakes are surrounded by granite mountains and pine forests carved by glacial activity thousands of years ago.

The Enchantment Lakes are an absolutely unparalleled experience, but there’s a high physical cost to getting there. There are no easy trails to get to the lakes, and seeing several in one day is grueling and close to impossible.

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The easiest path to the lakes still requires a seven-mile hike reaching 4,400 feet elevation. And that’s just to get to one of the lakes.

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The Washington Trails Association says the best way to experience The Enchantment Lakes is by securing a rare overnight pass and taking your time to camp and hike through them. But a motivated and able hiker can see one lake in-and-out in a day.

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Though getting there may be grueling, there’s no parallel to lounging by these pristine, clear waters, feeling as though you’ve been transported to another country.

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Keep an eye out while you’re hiking; this alpine terrain is home to herds of goats who often follow hikers around. Try to keep a distance as these are not domesticated animals.

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Along your hike to The Enchantment Lakes, you’ll encounter all kinds of terrain: beautiful sprawling meadows, rocky cliffs, and snow-capped mountains. But it will all be worth it for the magic that awaits.

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If anything is worth a difficult and extensive hike through alpine mountains, it’s The Enchantment Lakes. These otherworldly glacier-created bodies of water have a unique magic difficult to find anywhere else. If you’re up for the task (and the mountain goats), you’ll be well rewarded with beautiful views on the other side.

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Address: Lower Enchantment Lakes, Washington 98826, USA