Growing up in Washington, hiking The Enchantments feels a bit like a rite of passage. Even more during larch season. And yet, somehow, the core zone of The Enchantments alluded me for years, mainly because this area requires permits for overnight trips.

I’ve never been one of the lucky few to win an overnight permit into the “Core Enchantments.” And I’ve always convinced myself that I wasn’t up for doing the thru-hike in one day. But that’s rubbish! Yes, it’s a strenuous hike. Yes, hiking 2oish miles in a single go makes for a very long day. But I honestly think that anyone in reasonably good shape can day hike The Enchantments. Like most long-distance endeavors, it’s more of a mental challenge than anything else. But when the views live up to their name, as they do in The Enchantments, even the mental challenge is easily surmountable.

Distance: Approximately 19 miles Total Elevation Gain: 5,000 feet Total Elevation Loss: 7,000 feet Difficulty: Extremely Difficult