Enchantments Alpine Lakes Photography

The Enchantments are the place I return to every year and one of my favorite landscapes to photograph anywhere. I’ve camped in the Core many times, hiking through granite basins, alpine lakes, mountain passes, and forests of larch as the light and weather continually reshape the landscape. Autumn is especially remarkable, when the alpine larches turn brilliant gold against pale granite, blue water, and the first snow of the season. This collection includes photographs from Lake Perfection, Inspiration Lake, Leprechaun Lake, Lake Viviane, Aasgard Pass, Prusik Peak, the Upper and Lower Enchantments, and the trails connecting them. Because I’ve returned so often, the archive goes well beyond the familiar views—quiet tarns, changing weather, mountain goats, reflections, fresh snow, sunrise and sunset light, and small moments encountered along the trail. Fine-art prints are available in a variety of sizes and finishes. If you are looking for a particular lake, peak, trail, or view from the Enchantments that you don’t see here, please ask. I probably have photographed it.. To order a print please email me at Mike Reid Photography

Order Prints

Enchantments Lakes and Prusik Peak Aurora Borealis.jpg Green and magenta aurora sweep across the night sky above Prusik Peak and the Enchantments Lakes in Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Below, golden larches...

Enchantments Lakes and Prusik Peak Aurora Borealis.jpg

Green and magenta aurora sweep across the night sky above Prusik Peak and the Enchantments Lakes in Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Below, golden larches surround the dark alpine lakes while faint auroral light reflects from the water, creating an extraordinary meeting of autumn color and northern lights.
Enchantments Lakes and Prusik Peak Sunrise Fall Colors.jpg Warm sunrise light spreads across Prusik Peak and the Enchantments, illuminating golden larches above the alpine lakes while fresh snow dusts the granite...

Enchantments Lakes and Prusik Peak Sunrise Fall Colors.jpg

Warm sunrise light spreads across Prusik Peak and the Enchantments, illuminating golden larches above the alpine lakes while fresh snow dusts the granite terrain. The combination of autumn color, early light, and rugged mountain scenery creates a classic high-country view of Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Golden Larches Above an Enchantments Lake Golden alpine larches glow above a deep blue mountain lake in Washington’s Enchantments. A narrow trail winds through the trees and autumn groundcover, creating...

Golden Larches Above an Enchantments Lake

Golden alpine larches glow above a deep blue mountain lake in Washington’s Enchantments. A narrow trail winds through the trees and autumn groundcover, creating an intimate high-country scene filled with warm fall color and cool alpine contrast.
Enchantments Photography Autumns Trail A narrow trail winds through brilliant golden alpine larches in Washington’s Enchantments, with red autumn groundcover adding another layer of seasonal color...

Enchantments Photography Autumns Trail

A narrow trail winds through brilliant golden alpine larches in Washington’s Enchantments, with red autumn groundcover adding another layer of seasonal color beneath the trees. Warm light filtering through the forest gives the scene a luminous, inviting high-country feel.
Golden Larches at Crystal Lake in the Enchantments Golden alpine larches glow against pale granite above the clear blue-green water of Crystal Lake in Washington’s Enchantments. The warm autumn trees and cool...

Golden Larches at Crystal Lake in the Enchantments

Golden alpine larches glow against pale granite above the clear blue-green water of Crystal Lake in Washington’s Enchantments. The warm autumn trees and cool shadowed rock create a striking contrast in this quiet high-country scene.
Golden Larches Reflected in the Enchantments Golden alpine larches line a quiet lake in Washington’s Enchantments, their autumn color reflected across the still water beneath rugged granite ridges. Cool...

Golden Larches Reflected in the Enchantments

Golden alpine larches line a quiet lake in Washington’s Enchantments, their autumn color reflected across the still water beneath rugged granite ridges. Cool blue morning light on the surrounding rock makes the warm larches stand out even more strongly.
Golden Larch Splendor in the Enchantments Brilliant alpine larches glow beside a quiet mountain tarn in Washington’s Enchantments, their reflections warming the dark water below. Cool granite walls and...

Golden Larch Splendor in the Enchantments

Brilliant alpine larches glow beside a quiet mountain tarn in Washington’s Enchantments, their reflections warming the dark water below. Cool granite walls and patches of red alpine groundcover heighten the contrast, giving the scene a rich mix of autumn color and rugged high-country texture.
Sunrise Over the Golden Enchantments Sunrise breaks over Washington’s Enchantments, bathing golden alpine larches, granite ridges, and high mountain lakes in warm autumn light. Prusik Peak rises...

Sunrise Over the Golden Enchantments

Sunrise breaks over Washington’s Enchantments, bathing golden alpine larches, granite ridges, and high mountain lakes in warm autumn light. Prusik Peak rises across the basin as the first rays of morning reach the larches below—a view that captures much of what makes the Enchantments so compelling in fall.
Golden Larch Forest in the Enchantments A trail winds through a glowing forest of alpine larches in Washington’s Enchantments, surrounded by brilliant gold foliage and touches of red autumn...

Golden Larch Forest in the Enchantments

A trail winds through a glowing forest of alpine larches in Washington’s Enchantments, surrounded by brilliant gold foliage and touches of red autumn groundcover. The warm light and dense stand of trees create a rich, immersive view of fall in the high country.
Golden Larches Reflected at Grail Tarn Golden alpine larches surround Grail Tarn in Washington’s Enchantments, their color reflected in the still water beneath steep granite walls. Warm autumn...

Golden Larches Reflected at Grail Tarn

Golden alpine larches surround Grail Tarn in Washington’s Enchantments, their color reflected in the still water beneath steep granite walls. Warm autumn foliage, pale rock, and deep blue shadow give the scene a striking high-country contrast.