Where is Colchuck Lake?
Colchuck Lake is by far, one of the most popular hikes in Leavenworth, Washington. Perhaps even in all of Washington State. About 2.5 hours from Seattle and 3 hours from Spokane, this is a popular spot for anyone native to, or visiting, Washington State. Part of the Enchantment Loop, a famous 20 mile trek in the Alpine Wilderness, Colchuck Lake is an 8 mile roundtrip out and back trail. Rising about 2,300ft in elevation, it is not for the faint of heart, but man, is it worth it.
As a Leavenworth native, I’ve had the opportunity to complete this hike more times than I can count and it still never fails to amaze me. I don’t think I will ever get tired of the view, or of jumping in the turquoise alpine lake at the top. It truly is magical and attracts visitors all summer long for a good reason. I’ve climbed it in snow, sun, and when the fall larch trees are at their prime, and no matter the weather, it’s always a sight to behold. In my opinion, it truly is one of the best hikes in the Pacific Northwest.
Planning a Colchuck Lake Proposal
When Trent reached out asking me if I’d be willing to photograph his surprise proposal at Colchuck Lake, my immediate answer was yes! I’m always down for a good adventure! Him and his girlfriend, Madison, were from Maryland, visiting Washington for a two week long roadtrip and Colchuck was going to be one of their stops. Having never been to Leavenworth before, he needed assistance planning his Lake Colchuck proposal.
My advice to him was to plan it for a weekday and begin the hike really early in the morning. If you’ve ever hiked Lake Colchuck, you know how quickly the parking lot fills up, even bright and early in the morning. However, due to their roadtrip schedule, it ended up needing to be a Saturday in August, prime hiking and tourist season in Leavenworth. We decided to still go for it anyway and I’m so glad we did!
Because the proposal needed to be kept a surprise, I couldn’t hike up the trail with them. So, I sent Trent a video from a previous time I’d hiked the trail, showing him exactly where I’d be standing at the top, waiting for their arrival. He sent me a photo of them so I’d know what they looked like, and we prayed we’d find each other!
The Proposal
I began hiking at around 5:30am, getting to our appointed meeting spot at the top at 7:30am. There were indeed lots of people around, so I started spreading the word that a proposal would be happening shortly and asked if people would mind moving out of the way when the couple showed up. People were so eager to help me out!
About half an hour after I arrived, I saw Trent and Madison walking down the trail and got in position. Trent got them situated on the boulder I had showed him in the video, and after a few moments of chatting, he got down on his knee. Madison’s reaction was one of pure shock and then pure joy! With the Enchantment mountain peaks and turquoise water as the backdrop, it was one of the most breathtaking proposals I’ve had the privilege of capturing.
Portraits at Colchuck Lake
After the big moment, Madison looked around and saw me taking their photos. She was so excited! I gave them a few moments of privacy and then walked over and onto the rock to join them for some portraits to commemorate the moment. Even in their hiking clothes, their outfits seemed coordinated and went beautifully with the backdrop. It felt like one of those moments that came together even more beautifully than planned.
Colchuck Lake Photographer
If you’re feeling inspired to propose at Colchuck Lake, or even elope there, I could not recommend it more! The only requirement is that you’re a couple who is adventurous enough to take on the challenge. I promise it’s worth it! The difficult climb makes reaching the top that much more special; a memory worth making, that’s for sure.
As a Leavenworth photographer, I have hiked Colchuck Lake countless times and would love to help you plan your dream proposal, engagement session, or elopement at this iconic lake. If you’re curious about my packages for proposals and couples, check out my Adventure Package HERE, or for elopements, start HERE. Can’t wait to meet you and plan your next adventure!
