Point 7160+ has an excellent view of the Enchantments, lying directly south of Snow Lakes.
Maps: View our topo map below or consult USGS Blewett quad.
Note: use ‘Print Preview’ before printing to properly scale this map to a full sheet of paper.
Activity: Hiking
Nearest Town: Leavenworth
Skill Level: 4
Fitness Level: 3
Distance: About 6 miles to the summit (roughly 12 miles round trip)
Elevation: Over 6000 feet of elevation gain
Recommended Season: Summer and early fall
Access:
–Drive south on Highway 97
–Turn right (west) at Ingalls Creek Rd, park at Ingalls Creek Trailhead
Trip Instructions:
— Begin at the Ingalls Creek Trailhead, and backtrack down the road a few hundred yards, then head straight up the open hillside above. Wild fire from the past has denuded the slope above and the ridge to be taken can be seen from below. Take the time to avoid any buckbrush, if possible. It’s no fun to push your way through, particularly on the uphill direction.
–Once on the ridge, follow it up to Point 5490′. Here a disheartening drop will result in having to gain an extra 500 feet of elevation on the return.
–After reaching the final saddle (5160+), an additional 2000 feet of elevation remains, some of it through unavoidable buckbrush fields.
–As you near the top, veer left along the ridge top to reach the highest spot, marked by a one-stone cairn.
–The final rock summit has a class 3 move on its north side. I would allow 10-12 hours for the daytrip option. My times were 5.5 hours up and 4 hours down.
Cons/Hazards:
This hike requires you to contend with a trip in excess of 6000 feet elevation gain, a fair amount of buckbrush, and nothing but deer trails to follow.
Additional Suggestions:
— Take lots of water if doing this in the heat of the summer. You’ll find no water along the way. A few small snowfields near the top remained, but will be gone soon. My four quarts wasn’t really enough to keep me feeling strong throughout the day.
–I’m a fan of ridgewalks and this one didn’t disappoint. However, I’ll pass on doing it again. There’s too much brush to enjoy doing it with a full backpack to break up the elevation gain over two days and with a smaller daypack, it’s still an arduous undertaking. If you’re intrigued by the position of the viewpoint, you could do Wedge Mountain (6885′), with about a third of the effort and a somewhat similar view.
Land Designation: Forest Service
Fees/Permits: NW Forest Pass required to park and Ingalls Creek Trailhead
Trip Reporter: Charlie Hickenbottom, Wenatchee, 7-10-06
Leave It Better Than You Found It. This should be every outdoor user’s goal. Pick up trash left by others, pull some noxious weeds along your route, throw branches over unwanted spur trails, don’t ride or walk wet trails when you’re leaving ruts/footprints deeper than ¼ inch…
Disclaimer. Treat this information as recommendations, not gospel. Conditions change, and those contributing these reports are volunteers–they may make mistakes or may not know all the issues affecting a route. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. If you can’t live with that, you are prohibited from using our information.
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