Crystal Lake in the Enchantments, Washington, United States Sep 3, 2024

Pictured in today"s image, Crystal Lake is in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington, United States. The Enchantments is more than 24 kilometres southwest of the charming Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth. It"s considered one of the Cascade Range"s most stunning areas. The Enchantments is home to more than 700 lakes and ponds and some of the best rock climbing in the Western United States. It"s also home to mountain goats, ptarmigan, pikas and numerous types of alpine flowers. If you want to see Alpine Lakes Wilderness yourself, however, be prepared to wait. Few permits are granted for day hikes, and of the 40,000 people who entered last year"s lottery for overnight permits, only 2,558 received one.

© Mitch Pittman/Tandem Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Sep 3, 2023Skyscrapers in Manhattan
A pair of high achievers
Sep 3, 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Keep practicing, little guy
Jan 14, 2025Makar Sankranti
Sep 27, 2025Tank Lakes, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, United States
American Red Cross pioneers
Apr 19, 2025Zion National Park, Utah, United States
Sep 23, 2024Sea otter in Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA
Nov 28, 2024Murudeshwara Temple, Murdeshwar, Karnataka
Dec 21, 2023Ljubljana, Slovenia
Sep 9, 2025A female Eurasian red squirrel, Switzerland
Aug 26, 2024Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Ive got a lot of problems with you penguins!
Aug 26, 2025Sørvágsvatn lake, island of Vágar, Faroe Islands
When only a hug will do
Feb 24, 2024Almond trees in full bloom, California, USA
Jun 29, 2024Tour de France 2024
Apr 21, 2025International Dark Sky Week
Celebrating Guru Nanak Gurpurab
A grove glows green
Jun 23, 2024Dhaka, Bangladesh
Aug 31, 2024Rocks and sand in the Sahara, Algeria
Feb 8, 2024Mount Hood, Oregon
Spanning the soft sunlight
The dawn of a new beginning
Where the humpback whale sings
Oct 1, 2024Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Oct 27, 2023Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Time to make an impression
Apr 2, 2025Sandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, Utah, United States
Jul 28, 2025World Nature Conservation Day
Twinkle twinkle, little bugs