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:

Sunlight turning silver to gold
Dec 16, 2023Guild houses of Grand-Place, Brussels, Belgium
Nov 12, 2024Vineyards in Varnhalt, Black Forest, Germany
Feb 3, 2026Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Oct 24, 2025Night view of the RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California, United States
Feb 23, 2025Mount Fuji Day
Dec 21, 2025Winter solstice
Jul 30, 2024San Gimignano, Siena, Italy
Nov 20, 2024Olive grove, Valle dItria, Puglia, Italy
Apr 1, 2025Tree frog, Costa Rica
A postcard-perfect landscape
Nov 7, 2023Kirkilai lakes, Biržai Regional Park, Lithuania
Dec 30, 2024Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia
Jan 15, 2025Chital, Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Oct 8, 2023World Octopus Day
Nov 25, 2024Maasai giraffes in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Jan 3, 2026J.R.R. Tolkien Day
Jul 29, 2024International Tiger Day
In the tropics, land greets sea warmly
Feb 16, 2026Banff, Alberta, Canada
Aug 31, 2023Saguaro cacti, Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona
Nov 1, 2024Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
See-through cephalopod
Tomb of the Golden Pharaoh
Why are blackbirds tied to winter?
Nov 23, 2023Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, India
Jul 28, 2024Colourful bathing huts on the beach in Skåne County, Sweden
Dec 18, 2023Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Feb 4, 2026Red kite in snow
Stripes in sight