Blanca Lake: How To Hike This Epic Alpine Lake

Blanca Lake is without a doubt one of Washington state’s most beautiful lakes. This hike truly makes you work for the views with over 3,000 feet of elevation gain, but it is worth all the effort to see that gatorade blue water with your own eyes. The lake sits at the base of Monte Cristo, Kyes and Columbia peaks. These surrounding peaks make for an amazing view across the lake since it sits in their bowl.

Across the lake you’ll be able to see remaining snow patches, depending on the time of the year, waterfalls and mountain peaks. This area can have inclement weather year-round and is often socked in, so I’ll share the best time to go and what you should know about hiking to this high alpine lake.

The Blanca Lake hike will challenge you but it will also take you to a place full of beauty. The color of this lake is unreal and even pictures don’t do it justice. It’s a place anyone would be lucky to see with their own eyes. With this beauty comes responsibility to preserve and protect the surrounding area for generations. Not only will I share how to hike the trail and the gear you need, I’ll share info on protecting this Washington wonder.

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Things to Know About Hiking Blanca Lake

• Blanca Lake is located within the Cascade Range and comes with the ever changing weather the mountains bring. Always check the weather before hiking and pack plenty of layers for quick changing weather. The forecast may not show an incoming thunder or rainstorm.

• You can backpack this trail but you CANNOT camp at Blanca Lake. If you wish to backpack up here you will need to camp .7 miles from the lake at Virgin Lake instead. It is a popular hiking and backpacking trail, so try to get up there early to make sure you can get a campsite. Always camp on durable surfaces and places where an established campsite is visible. Do not put your tent over existing vegetation or create a new campsite. No backpacking permit is required.

• Blanca Lake has been poorly taken care of over the years by disrespectful hikers that they actually had to closed down the camping near the lake. The Forest Service is trying to restore the area after piles of trash, illegal fires and people ignoring previous restoration signs in the area. If you want to hike to this beautiful lake, please do so respectfully. If you pack in your food, you can pack it ALL back out with you. This means food wrappers and even fruit peels or nut shells need to be placed in a garbage bag and taken back out. Always use the vaulted toilet so the lake can remain sanitary. If camping isn’t allowed at Blanca Lake, do not camp at Blanca Lake. Preserving our beautiful alpine lakes is our job so future generations can enjoy them too.

• You will want to have driving directions saved or actively going before turning off Stevens Pass Highway because if you have any remaining service you will lose it quickly. The roads are easy to follow, but there aren’t signs to the trailhead and you’ll want to read the location information below to make it to the trailhead okay.

This hike will take you through snow and to alpine lakes, which means there will be plenty of mosquito activity. Always pack layers, treat your clothes and bring plenty of bug spray to keep them at bay. You can learn more about gear and insect repellants in my guide here.

Blanca Lake Location

Blanca Lake is located off Forest Service Road 63. From Stevens Pass Highway, you’ll turn onto Beckler Road in Skykomish, which turns into Forest Road 65. It’ll be a 43 minute drive on paved and gravel road. The gravel section of the road is fine for a low clearance car, but there will be potholes you need to go slow over.

There is a section of the road that had a large rock slide and has larger rocks surrounding the bridge. They aren’t boulder size, but are multiple inches wide. If you are taking a low clearance car you can make it through here still, but you will want to take your time and go slow. It’s a very short section.

If you are using Google maps and type in “Blanca Lake Trailhead” it will take you to Forest Road 63, from Forest Road 65, but not to the actual trailhead. The directions end right where you need to turn right on Forest Road 63 to the right. It’ll be a short drive on the narrow road to the trailhead. It has a large parking lot with a vaulted toilet. Although there is plenty of parking, this hike is popular and can fill quickly on a weekend.

Best Time of Year to Hike to Blanca Lake

This hike is best done between June and October, but depends on the snow levels of the previous winter. I did this hike late July and still crossed multiple snow patches after a heavy snow season. Always check apps like AllTrails for current trail reviews to see what condition the trail is in. Blanca Lake is a steep hike and if there is excessive snow, you will want proper gear or just wait to hike at a later date. The earlier in the season you go, the more likely it is that the lake itself will still be frozen over in areas, if not completely.

Late summer and early fall will be the best time for avoiding snow on trail. Fall will have less mosquito activity. Because this hike is so popular, if you can avoid going on a weekend, you will have the best chance at hiking without a lot of other people on the trail with you. If you do go on a weekend, plan to get to the trailhead early or be prepared to wait for a parking spot to open. The road in is too narrow for side of the road parking. Due to the high elevation gain of this hike, it is best to hike early to avoid a strenuous hike in the heat of the day if you can.

Blanca Lake Trail Info

Learn more about this hike on All Trails.

The Trail Up

This hike gives it to you right away. There is over 2,000 feet of elevation gain in just over the first two miles! The trail itself is a great trail- a mix of dirt forest floor and tree roots. Take your time and take breaks if you need to. This hike will push you from the beginning and it’s important to listen to your body. I rarely need to stop going uphill while hiking but my calves were super sore and I was pregnant-tired that morning and just needed to listen to my body and slow down for once. And that’s okay! Hiking is never a race, it’s about your individual experience on trail.

After about two miles there will be a little reprieve from the uphill grind with some slight leveling out as you near the ridge line. You’ll be able to see out through the trees at the surrounding valleys and ridges as well. Enjoy this break because you will continue the climb up shortly. There is a section of the trail where you will need to maneuver over a large rock face. It’ll look like the trail might end but if you climb over the rock you’ll see the trail begin again. The rock is very doable, but you might need to use your hands to stabilize yourself.

Just after this area is when I hit the first snow patch near the high point of the trail. It was very wet as snow was melting throughout the meadow area. The snow was easily passable and there was an obvious path across. If you hike early in the season, an offline digital map will be extremely important in navigating this high spot and staying on trail through the snow.

Hiking Down To and Around Blanca Lake

After reaching the high point of the trail and walking through the meadow section, the trail will begin the descent to Blanca Lake. Before dropping down there is a sign for a vaulted toilet to the left of the trail just above Virgin Lake. This is also where you will see the Henry M Jackson Wilderness sign as you enter. The trail has a few switchbacks down to Virgin Lake. The trail will run right along the shore to the south side. After passing the lake, the trail will have one more long, steep descent over a lot of tree roots. It is about a half mile of downhill to the lake.

As you approach the lake, there is a large boulder field where you can look out over the lake. Just past here is another vaulted toilet to the left of the trail. Continue down the trail and you will reach the small beach shoreline of the lake. There are a lot of logs here to sit on and enjoy the view. There is a small waterfall to the left of the beach you can look at but you can only see the top of it. Do not go off trail trying to see more of the falls.

I sat here for at least an hour enjoying the view and watching the clouds come and go over the mountains. It was so peaceful and because I went on a cloudy weekday it wasn’t busy. When you’re ready to leave Blanca Lake, you will have another 700-800 foot ascent out of the bowl to the high point of the trail.

It honestly felt steeper than the first few miles of the hike but part of it is because of the all the tree roots through here you also have to climb over. Once you reach the upper meadow, you have your long downhill descent to the parking lot. Take your time because I find downhill to be just as hard as the uphill sometimes because of how hard it can be on the knees.

What to Bring Hiking to Blanca Lake

The 10 Essentials

No matter the length or difficulty of a hike, you should always carry a backpack with the 10 essentials. You can learn more about these item in my “The 10 Essentials” guide. This hike is a more difficult hike and if there were an emergency and you had to get help on trail, you will want to have these items on hand. Plus you can always help a fellow hiker in need.

Backpack

Every person hiking should always have their own backpack with water and supplies. Never rely on someone else to carry your gear because if there is an emergency, everyone should be individually prepared.

Water and water filter

This hike is steep and in the summer can feel hot and humid in the trees. Luckily with the lakes there are options to filter water. Bringing mine allowed me to carry a little less water weight up the steep incline because I knew I could replenish my stock. Plan to have one liter of water per 2 hours of hiking, but because this is a difficult hike, carry at least an extra .5 per two hours.

An insulated water bottle is a great choice to keep the water cold if you’re able to filter new water. A water bladder is another great option to be able to carry a larger amount of water and easily be able to drink throughout the hike.

Hiking Shoes

Always wear proper shoes when hiking. This means trail runners or hiking boots because they will provide the best traction over rocks and loose terrain. Sandals and tennis shoes are not great footwear for the trail. For this trail, waterproof shoes will be best because of the presence of snow. Even if you go later in the season, the upper meadow area of this trail may still be very wet from the earlier snowmelt. I wore my hiking boots below to help keep my feet dry over all the snow.

Bug Spray

Hiking to an alpine lake always comes with mosquitoes. Hiking in the fall will reduce how many mosquitoes are at the lake, but there is always a mosquito presence, so go prepared. Carry bug spray for your clothes and skin. If it’s early in the summer season, consider extra clothing layers to keep them off your skin and a bug net for you head. The snowfields are also a breeding ground for them. You can learn more about insect repellents and gear in my guide here.

Hiking Poles

Hiking poles will be extremely helpful on this hike if you want to save your knees from the constant downhill stepping. They are also great for helping keep you balanced on uneven terrain with all the tree roots. I always carry poles in my pack and find my knees hurt less when I use them. I used them up and downhill on this hike. They helped me climb my way up the steep incline as well as give my knees relief on the ascent.

Snowshoes or microspikes

Depending on the time of year you choose to hike this, you may need to pack snowshoes or microspikes. If you’re uncomfortable hiking across snow for stability purposes, microspikes will also be a great addition even if there’s only a little snow to help you feel comfortable.

Reminders

• Be respectful of your fellow hikers. Let faster hikers pass. Everyone goes at different paces so be aware of your surroundings so you can let other hikers pass by stepping off to the side. If you want to listen to music, use headphones. Never play music on a speaker where others can hear it. Be mindful of where you sit or stand at an alpine lake or viewpoint. People will want to be able to snap photos or enjoy a view without others in it. Take a few photos and then move to the side or a viewpoint so others can enjoy it too. If it’s busy and someone sits on a log in the middle of the lake for a prolonged time it disrupts the views for others. Be respectful and mindful of how you use the space so others can also enjoy it.

• There is no cell service on the road to the trailhead or at Blanca Lake. Have your maps downloaded, a paper map or a GPS device to help you navigate if you need it prior to beginning your trip. You may need a digital map to navigate snowfields on trail.

• Always practice Leave No Trace. Pack out all your trash, stay on trail to minimize your footprint and use the vaulted toilets to keep the area clean. Never carve on the rocks and logs around the lake or on the trail.

• If you have a drone, which I do as well, respect the no fly zones in wilderness areas. Any wilderness area states drones are not allowed for many areas. They are beautiful but please leave the drones at home here. I did hear drones flying while I was here sadly.

Blanca Lake is a true Washington wonder I hike you’re able to experience for yourself. Please help take car of it if you get the ability to go. If you have any questions or are able to use this guide for you hike, please leave a comment and let me known!

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Other Hikes in the Area

How to Hike Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls

How to Hike to Lake Valhalla and Mt. McCausland