Blanca Lake Trail #1052

Take on this challenging hike up a relentless series of switchbacks gaining nearly 3000ft in three miles to an alpine lake known for it's vivid colors.
Total Distance: 7.5 miles
Total Ascent: 3400ft
Highest Point: 4700ft
Difficulty: Hard
Our Hiking Time: 4h 40m
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
To get there, take Highway 2 out past Skykomish to milepost 50. Take a left onto FR 65, also known as the Beckler River Road. Continue for almost seven miles to a junction and pavement end. From here continue north for just under six miles to a 5-way intersection known as Jack Pass. Take the second left and continue two-and-a-half miles to FR 63. Turn right and drive two miles to the trailhead. View Google Directions >>
We recommend this hike for most hikers, though some will find the elevation gain a little too taxing. Of course, as we mentioned, Lake Blanca attracts quite a few hikers, and you can expect quite a bit of company when you make the trek. However, this isn’t a hike to do early in the season to avoid the crowds, as the lake needs to thaw in order to reveal its trademark colors. This is definitely a destination for those hikers looking for something a little different – Lake Blanca is not your typical alpine lake.

There's a lot more to Blanca Lake, and you can learn all about it in Hiking through History Washington: Exploring the Evergreen State's Past by Trail. You'll find a trail map, route descriptions, history, and more for this and many other hikes throughout the State. Help support hikingwithmybrother.com and the work we do by picking up a copy!