The Enchantments

The Enchantments
View of Prusik Peak from Gnome Tarn
The Enchantments is located in Washington (state)
The Enchantments
Floor elevation7,428 ft (2,264 m)[1]
Length5 mi (8.0 km)
Depth1,400 ft (430 m)
Geography
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
DistrictAlpine Lakes Wilderness
Coordinates47°28′52″N 120°48′14″W / 47.48111°N 120.80389°W / 47.48111; -120.80389 [1]
Topo mapUSGS Enchantment Lakes

The Enchantments is a region within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area of Washington state's Cascade Mountain Range.[2] At an elevation of 4,500 feet (1,372 m), it is home to over 700 alpine lakes and ponds surrounded by the vast peaks of Cashmere Crags, which rate among the best rock-climbing sites in the western United States.[3] The highest peak, Dragontail Peak, stretches 8,840 feet (2,694 m) high. The Enchantments is located 15 miles southwest of the popular Bavarian-themed town Leavenworth, Washington in the United States and is regarded as one of the most spectacular regions in the Cascade Range.[4]

The population increase in western Washington, specifically in the city of Seattle, marked the region a prime outdoor destination for wilderness lovers. By 2019, 100,000 visitors made their way to The Enchantments annually.[5] The influx in foot traffic and lack of maintenance from forest services and visitors had caused permanent damage to the delicate ecosystems in the region.[6] As a result, the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Society (ALPS) proposed a permit system restricting access to a maximum of 60 people at any given time.[6] In 2019, the system was approved and implemented by the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (OWNF).[6]

  1. ^ a b "Enchantment Basin". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
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