John Guilford's Hikes

Date: 2026-09-01

Location: Colchuck Lake

People: (including myself): Happy Hikers

			  		Alt.	Miles
Trailhead:			7:25	3430	0
Mountaineer Creek Bridge:	8:07	4000	1.6	
Trail junction:			8:45	4500	2.4
5000' elevation:		9:30	5000	3.3
Colchuck Lake:			10:20	5600	4.1
Turn around:			11:00	5600	4.9
Leave lake:			12:10	5600	5.8
Trail junction:			1:50	4500	7.4
Bridge:				2:20	4000	8.2
Trailhead:			3:05	3430	9.9

It had been pretty smokey (from wildfires) north of Leavenworth, but it got better by Leavenworth and cleared up even more by the trailhead.  We had little issue, both breathing and with views, with smoke on the hike. 

We got there at 7am as we were told the parking lot fills up early.  We found plenty of parking, both for the day-use and overnight spots.  Probably on summer weekends it is fuller. 

The trail begins a steady climb from the start.  Initially the trail follows Mountaineer Creek up the valley and is in nice shape. 

About 2-1/2 miles in, the Stuart Lake trail continues straight while the Colchuck Lake trail branches off to the left.  The trail steepens a bit and gets somewhat rougher with more rocky places needing to step up or step down. 

After the last steeper climb, we arrived at Colchuck Lake.  It had an amazing turquoise color.  The trail heads south along the west side of the lake.  The trail is rougher here with a number of variants (leading to campsites and such).  Half way down the lake the trail passes between Colchuck Lake and Little Colchuck Lake.  There were nice reflections in both lakes. 

We followed the trail to the south end of the lake.  We originally planned to go to the little beach on the south side of the lake, but we got to a large boulder field that needed to be crossed to reach the beach.  We didn't feel like tackling it, so we turned around and found a spot half way down the lake to stop and eat lunch. 

On the way back down, I happened to be by myself on the trail when I suddenly noticed a deer next to the trail not ten feet from me.  She was just hanging out watching me.  After some photos, I got tired of waiting and slowly walked past her and continued down. 

It was a lovely day.  It was reasonably cool (in the 50s at the start) on the hike up, most of which was in the shade as the sun was behind the hills to the southeast.  It warmed up on the way down (in the 70s by the end), but it was still a pleasant temperature. 

Early view of Colchuck Lake

Little Colchuck Lake reflection

Colchuck Lake reflection showing gully (left) up to Aasgard Pass and the Upper Enchantments

Deer I saw on the trail on the way down

Mountaineer Creek