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LEAVENWORTH, Wash. — Spectacular scenery and the potential for great fishing await anglers at three hike-in alpine lakes southwest of Leavenworth.

In fact, Stuart and Colchuck lakes may be some of the most beautiful places ever to wet a line while casting for cutthroat trout.

Nearby Eightmile Lake is also a scenic destination, offering cuttbows, brookies and Mackinaw.

The great thing is, you won't have to hike more than 5 miles to reach any of the lakes, making them all great day or overnight destinations.

Along the way up the trail, you're likely to see deer, squirrels, chipmunks, grouse and osprey. They are all common sights, complementing the stunning mountain vistas that dominate this country.

Get there

The scenery overwhelms the fishing at Colchuck Lake, but once you get your hat back on, cast spinners, spoons and flies for cutthroat.

A gravel road crosses the Icicle here. Drive slowly south from here about 3½ miles. You'll reach the trailhead to Eightmile Lake first.

A short distance away, at the end of the road, is the trailhead for Stuart and Colchuck Lakes.

Permits required

You'll need an Alpine Lakes Wilderness permit to camp overnight at any of these popular destinations.

You can either apply in advance or show up at the Leavenworth ranger station at 7:45 a.m. and hope to draw one of these coveted permits.

If you want to increase your chances of success — and to be a little bit more alone in the wilderness — consider scheduling a midweek trip.

If you just want to take a day hike, simply self-register at the trailhead and you're on your way. Remember to display your Northwest Forest Pass inside your vehicle's windshield.

If you don't have one already, stop by the Leavenworth ranger station or the Icicle 76 Gas Station at Highway 2 and Icicle River Road.

Stuart Lake

The shared trail to Colchuck and Stuart lakes climbs gradually through a shady pine forest that follows Mountaineer Creek for 2½ miles.

At the fork in the trail, you can take a left and head uphill towards Colchuck or continue the gradual climb another 2 miles to Stuart Lake.

The total distance to Stuart is 4½ miles, with a 1,700-foot elevation gain.

Once you reach this 5,000-foot elevation lake, you won't want to leave. Mount Stuart dominates the view, and the waters of this gorgeous lake are often pockmarked with rising cutthroat trout.

Try tossing spinners, spoons or casting a fly on the north side of the lake and around the outlet for cutthroat ranging in size from 6 to 14 inches.

Colchuck Lake

The way to Colchuck Lake is steeper and more crowded. The climb starts not long after the cutoff from the Stuart Lake Trail. While it's not a killer, you will work up a good sweat climbing the final 1-three-fourths miles.

By the time you get there, you'll have gained 2,500 feet in elevation over the course of 4¼ miles.

The reward is well worth the effort. Dragontail Peak stands guard over the deep, 88-acre lake and offers a million-dollar view upon arrival.

On the right side of the peak is the white snow and bluish-colored ice of Colchuck Glacier.

On the left flank is Aasgard Pass, where you can see hikers slowly making their way uphill to The Enchantments.

You can either fish the deep drop-offs or head towards the outlet of the lake where shallower water makes it easier to target cruising 9- to 10-inch cutthroat with spinners or flies.

Eightmile Lake

The view at Eightmile Lake isn't quite as spectacular as the other two destinations, but the variety of fish you can catch here makes it a worthwhile trip.

From the trailhead, walk uphill a ½-mile through a brushy area full of colorful fireweed. The trail levels out as you pass through a forest of dead trees, remnants of fires that have swept through this country in the recent past.

The trail continues more or less level until you reach Little Eightmile Lake at the 2.8-mile mark of the hike. This is a great place for a break and an opportunity to fish for some of the brook trout that can be found in this small body of water.

Don't linger too long though; the big 4,641-foot-high lake waits after a final, moderate ½-mile hike uphill.

You can fish near the outlet for small cuttbows or walk down the 72-acre lake on either the south or north side fishing as you go.

At 3.3 miles, hiking in with a float tube is a viable option, made all the more worthwhile by the promise of fishing the deeper waters where the lake trout are commonly found. Try casting a spoon or trolling a wet fly to hook into one of these fish that commonly weigh 2 pounds or better.

Tackle

You really don't need to bring bait to these lakes. First of all, the sight of doughbait or worm containers along the pristine waters really takes away from the beauty of the place.

Secondly, spinners, spoons and flies are just as effective — if not moreso — than any bait you may consider using.

Consider bringing some No. 1 or 2 Mepps, Blue Fox or one-eighths-ounce Rooster Tail spinners in various color combinations.

Another great spinner is a Mack's Lure Promise Keeper.

The sleek body casts well and the Mylar blade spins at very slow speeds, great for those stop-and-pause retrieves that often draw strikes from following trout.

Spoons like Luhr Jensen Krocodiles, Dardevles or Kastmasters all work and can get you out into deeper waters that you can't otherwise reach from shore. Flies can be fished with great success at alpine lakes.

Dry patterns like a Deer Hair Caddis or Royal Wulff work great on cutthroat, and wet flies or nymphs in various patterns are equally effective when the fish aren't rising.

Don't despair if you're lacking a fly rod.

Simply tie a fly on the end of your line and put a clear plastic bobber that can be partially filled with water about 4 feet above the hook.

Retrieved slowly with frequent pauses, this spin-fishing technique is very effective for trout in alpine waters.

Consider releasing the fish you catch at these lakes or just keeping enough for a shore lunch.

Single barbless hooks will help released trout survive unharmed and ensure these fisheries remain as the beautiful, unspoiled opportunities they are today.

Backpacking gear

It's very important to bring proper gear along for these hikes.

Be sure to bring a decent pair of boots, extra clothing, rain gear, water, food and other items that can help you make it through the night should your day hike become unexpectedly extended.

Mosquito repellant can be very handy, along with sunscreen. Also make sure to pack in what you pack out.

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