Snow Lakes

The Snow Lakes sit in one of the most spectacular basins within the entire Cascade Range-the largest of the legendary Enchantment Lakes, sparkling gems surrounded by spiraling walls of rock adorned with jagged turrets. Mostly the domain of backpackers, the Snows can be reached by strong day hikers. The Enchantments are popular, how-ever, and in order to limit impact on this fragile and special environment the Forest Service has implemented a strict set of rules for visitation, including a quota system for overnighters. Day hikers limit themselves, primarily because of the long approach and stiff climb. Start by dropping 50 feet to cross Icicle Creek on a big bridge. Follow an old road to the right to an irrigation canal. Take a minute or two here to scope for birds. The brushy creek banks provide excellent habitat for warblers and tanagers. Then on real trail, begin some real hiking! Climbing out of the Icicle Gorge, the trail switchbacks up hot and dusty rocky slopes denuded of shade thanks to wildfires in 1994 that burned more than 180,000 surrounding acres. Best to get an early start. Lack of forest canopy also translates to views. Enjoy good ones west up the Icicle Gorge and north to Sugarloaf Mountain. Enjoy, too, the occasional residual groves of shade-providing green pines. At 1.2 miles enter the Alpine Lakes Wilderness (elev. 2200 ft). Now on a considerably easier grade, traverse the lower reaches of Wedge Mountain. With the impressive favored-by-climbers Snow Creek Wall across the way, the trail heads up a tight slot of a valley. Snow Creek crashes below, while heat radiates off of surrounding granite ledges and boulders. Access the Snow Lakes by parking at the Snow Lakes Trailhead, and beginning your hike there.