Enchantment Lakes

HIKERS BEWARE! If you're planning on reaching the Core Enchantments and only spending one night, DON'T! Foolishly, I did this and not only did I miss out on seeing the Upper Enchantments, it physically exhausted me more than ever in my entire life. 18 miles and 6,000 ft of elevation (not counting a morning hike to Inspiration Lake) in two days will certainly do the job. However, it was absolutely worth the pain!

Once you step foot into the lower Enchantment Basin it feels and looks as if you arrived on another planet. The white granite, teal waters, and golden larches leave you with visions you'll never forget.

I started hiking from the Snow Lake Trailhead at 9:45 am and after a very long and grueling hike (as described above) arrived at Lake Viviane around 4:00 pm. The hike up the Snow Creek valley is fairly uneventful until you reach Nada Lake at 5,000 ft. Watch carefully for the cairns once you start the trek from Snow Lake to Lake Viviane. I lost my way after looking down for too long and finally ended up at Temple Lake instead. The weather couldn't have been better. Recommend to anyone that's in decent shape. Don't underestimate this hike.