The Ultimate Backpacking Destination

Where is it?

The Enchantments

The Enchantments trail is one of the most spectacular backpacking trails in the country and is considered the crown jewel of hiking in the Pacific Northwest with rugged landscapes, soaring jagged peaks, crystal clear lakes and magnificent color, especially in the fall when the larches, pictured above, turn a vibrant golden color.

To protect the pristine beauty of this land, the U.S. Forest Service limits the number of backpackers allowed to stay and camp in the wilderness area each day. Each year thousands of applicants enter a lottery for a chance to be allowed to camp there.

Since the trail is located just a few hours from Seattle, people often thru-hike this trail in a single day. However, the trail is a grueling 18 miles long with 4,500 feet of elevation gain. Having a place to camp makes this trail much more accessible as it can be explored throughout multiple days. The effort to plan the adventure to this remote area is more than worth it.

What should you pack?

Packing list

We were fortunate enough to win lottery permits two years in a row. Each year I brought a few "extra" items which are considered luxury items but were worth the extra weight for added comfort. Below I have listed items that are considered essential gear including clothing for a 4-5 day backpacking trip, as well as a few fun items to bring along.

Essential gear

• 40-60 liter backpack
• Lightweight sleeping bag (about 2 lbs)
• Sleeping pad (about 1 lb)
• One or two person tent (about 2 lbs for a single and 3 lbs for a double)
• Inflatable pillow
• Backpacking stove (I love my Snow Peak stove! It only weights 3 oz.)
• Titanium pot
• Fuel for the stove
• Meals and snacks (2,000-3,000+ calories per day)
• Trowel
• Toilet paper
• Hand sanitizer
• Small microfiber towel
• Lotion (The air can be very drying)

Clothing

• 3+ pairs of underwear
• 2+ pairs of socks (two for hiking and one for camp)
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 pair of hiking pants
• 1 pair of leggings or wool base layer for cold nights and for sleeping)
• 2 sports bra (for hiking and swimming)
• 1 short sleeve shirt
• 1 long sleeve shirt
• 1 mid weight warm jacket (fleece or light down jacket)
• 1 waterproof outer layer
• Warm hat
• Gloves

Fun extras

I brought some combination of these fun extras on my trips and they were worth the extra weight. The best part of the day for me was often a swim in the lakes followed by a picnic and time spent in a hammock reading.

• Journal and pen
• Book or Kindle
• Lightweight hammock
• Flask of whiskey or wine
• Fairy lights
• Swimsuit

Official Enchantments Info

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Created by Lisa Higuchi Let's connect on LinkedIn!