With only 1050 toes of elevation attain this hike is doable for nearly Absolutely everyone. In case you’re driving above Highway 20 and don’t have all day long, prevent for this mountain gem.
In the summer the trail may very well be dusty, but there's sufficient shade as you trod the cushy route by way of a rocky forest. Emerging right into a meadow a bit less than midway there, begin on the lookout for wildflowers for example Cascade Azalea or Lupine.
You will only receive a swift peek of this Blue Lake on the South Fork Toutle trail around St. Helens, but it's an interesting area. An outdated washout with a transparent creek working as a result of as well as the stark silhouettes of useless trees with St. Helens looming above all make it a fantastic destination to investigate.
Due to Blue Lake Trail’s relatively substantial elevation during the North Cascades (beginning at 5,380 ft), this space gets weighty snowfall from the wintertime and is only snow and ice-free of charge generally from early to mid-July through mid-October.
If you can’t uncover Place in the parking lot, You can even park together Freeway 20. Even so, based upon where You must park, This will increase a bit of distance in your hike—I after needed to park a mile absent to do the nearby Heather Maple Pass Loop!
Blue Lake is a wonderful alpine lake alongside a reasonable trail inside the sawtooth North Cascades, featuring sights of a lot of the most outstanding peaks while in the assortment.
Pssst… you’ll recognize that many of the spots all around Blue Lake are roped off to guard fragile plants—remember to be respectful and don’t cross over into these spots!
July and early August are the ideal instances to determine vibrant wildflowers alongside the trail. Plus, I are aware that several courageous souls even like getting a dip in its chilly waters on particularly incredibly hot days—you should definitely carry along a swimsuit and also a towel!
This Blue Lake is tucked away, obtainable by way of the Pilot Ridge Trail. It's going to be at the very least on a daily basis's well worth of backpacking to receive up there (however most people will most likely take somewhat for a longer period), as well as the method of Blue Lake is over a slippery scree slope, though the lake is stunning, as well as views on how you will find Definitely incredible.
This demonstrates the entire elevation obtained all over this route as measured through the GPS file. This incorporates all ascents and descents, and is larger than what's quoted in many route guides, which only evaluate the distance between the commencing-place and superior-stage in the route.
These rankings are accomplished by end users who definitely have finished this trail and never matter to assessments by 10Adventures.
With only 1050 ft of elevation attain this blue lake trail hike is doable for almost All people. In the event you’re driving about Highway twenty and don’t have all day, cease for this mountain gem. Lake. Image by CiscoKitty.jpeg
Have a moment to look up the trail—That is one of the better places to view mountain goats along the Blue Lake Trail—after which you can continue on straight within the pathway.
Open to horses, mountain bikers, and motorized autos, trail people of all stripes can love this location (even though Just about every person has his own designated trail to obtain there.) But be sure you benefit from the journey likewise; prevent at the well-known basalt columns and snap a picture!