Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
200.00 ft (60.96 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
1.50 mi (2.41 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Set neatly in a talus-strewn cirque, this little blue lake is about as pretty as they come. A nice place to relax after hiking nearby Dock Butte, Blue Lake is also a  popular spot for families as it offers trout fishing and backcountry camping.

Short and sweet, Blue Lake Trail leads just 0.75 miles out to the peaceful sub-alpine lake. Begin by walking 0.25 miles along Blue Lake Trail and head left at the junction. After another half mile you'll descend to the lake shore at 4,000 feet. Watch for berries along the way, as the trail is loaded with them in late summer. Head south along Blue Lake's eastern shore to reach a tiny, picturesque peninsula. Listen for pikas sounding off in the distance, take a dip in the icy waters, and grab a campsite if you can find one. Nearby, an elevated backcountry camping area is the best around for waking up to lakeside views.

Note: If you plan on fishing, a valid Washington State fishing license is required.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

NW Forest Pass

Pros

Fishing and backcountry camping.

Cons

Bugs in the summer.

Trailhead Elevation

3,900.00 ft (1,188.72 m)

Features

Backcountry camping
Old-growth forest
Wildflowers
Fishing

Location

Comments

08/03/2017
Access to this trail is by way of 11 miles on a dirt National Forest road, bumpy at times, but mostly smooth. Easy hike, beautiful scenery along the way, and Blue Lake is phenomenal! We would have stayed there all day had it not been for the flies which were horrible the first week of August.
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