The Enchantments are the prize hiking country above Leavenworth: granite basins, cold blue lakes, larches, and severe alpine scenery that feels far removed from the Bavarian storefronts in town. This is one of Washington's classic backcountry landscapes.
It is also serious terrain. Day hikes are long and strenuous, overnight permits are tightly controlled, and snow can linger. Prepared hikers are rewarded with some of the most beautiful alpine country in the Cascades; casual visitors should choose lower trailheads and know their limits.