Trip Reports

It was a bit late to go to Blanca Lake at this time of the year but we decided to go since the first snow was mostly gone due to the warm weather for the last two weeks and the weather forecast was sunny. Even though the forecast was sunny in Seattle and Leavenworth area, the weather in the Cascades was quite different. The fog came into the mountains continuously and produced snow on FR 65 and 63 occasionally. The restroom and trashcans were closed at the trailhead with signs saying season closed. There was no snow at the trailhead. As we go up, we could see patches of snow in open areas. There was about an inch of snow at the open forest before the virgin lake. Due to the snow, some of us had to crawl over the rocks just before the open forest. We could occasionally see Columbia peak through the cloud. Virgin lake was frozen. The trail from the Virgin lake to Blanca Lake was a bit challenging due to snow and ice on the trail. However it was much safer than before thanks to the work done by WTA volunteers. The lake was as beautiful as I saw 6 years ago. Snow covered trees added beauty to the lake. Even though we could not see the turquoises color due to the cloud, we were more than happy to enjoy the snow.

Yesterday morning we set out to find Blanca Lake. As mentioned in a few other posts, the main road to get to Blanca Lake is washed out from a past wash out that was never fixed. We drove up to Skykomish and took the Beckler Road following FR 65 to FR 63 and found our way. It was a long drive following the gravel road but it was well worth it.

We hike very often in Washington and I must say this is my second favorite hike in Washington which I think is funny because it not very well known. There were about 15 to 20 people on the trail and it was a beautiful sunny clear day.

While hiking you will come to a few grassy meadows where you can camp if you choose or where you can throw the stick for your dog which is what we did. Before reaching Blanca Lake, you will come to Virgin Lake which is much smaller than Blanca Lake and not nearly as pretty. It doesn't have the moving water like Blanca Lake to keep it fresh and clear.

Once you get to Virgin Lake you have a little further to go until you reach the most stunning Lake in all of Washington! You will come to an opening in the trail where you can overlook the lake but if you continue on the trail you will make it all the way down to the lake where you can see where the water flows out and you can make your way around the lake. Bring bug spray! If you bring a raft you can access more of the lake than with out one. This is a MUST DO hike but I do not recommend you take children on it as it is more difficult than your average hike. Our two year old lab did fabulous on the hike and there was also another 4 month old puppy up there that seemed to be doing fine. Being up there this time of the year was even more stunning than normal due to the beautiful fall colors coming in. As you glance across the lake you can see reds, yellows, oranges and the left over green. Simply stunning!

Blanc Lake is the most underrated short day hikes near Seattle, and a photographer's dream come true! It definitely reminds me of Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada.

The hike itself is short and difficult due to the constant elevation gain, but thankfully the trail is very shaded and comfortable to hike. We didn't encounter a lot of people on the trail for a Sunday hike.

It took us ~2 hours to get to Blanca lake from the trailhead. There is no shortage of sitting spots as the beach area is basically a log flow. You can practice a lot of log balancing here and take in the spectacular colours of the lake.

To make this a longer hike, I would recommend going around the lake to the base of the glacier across the lake. That trail begins on the left-hand-side (when facing the lake) by the small waterfall where Blanca flows out and winds through a few campsites, through a small cove, up a steep hill with lots of young spruce trees and small berry bushes. The trail is very overgrown, so I would recommend pants for those prone to scratch scars.

You will then reach a huge field of boulders. At this point, keep to the lakefront and hop through the mossy rocks. There were visible glacier chunks and flowing rivers during early Fall, but I would guess that in the spring, the whole area could be a flowing river. There are a few markers that people have constructed, to indicate the small animal trail that winds through the rocks to reach the ridge under the Columbia glacier. This is also a great spot to fill up on water as the glacier melt was incredibly refreshing.

Once at the base of the glacier, there is really not a lot of safe trailblazing ways to get up to the peaks, or around the glacier, without actually going on it. This additional excursion was ~4 hours round trip and definitely physically exhausting. It took us another hour to get down from Blanca, though running down the trail through limited visibility. I would recommend bringing a headlamp if you are ever going to be hiking down from Blanca past 6pm, as the trail is so shaded it blocks out the waning sun.

This was one of the best hike I been to. Blanca Lake is just breathtaking and so worth the 7 miles roundtrip. My friend and I went to Mailbox Peak several weeks before this hike and agreed that Mailbox was way harder. Don't understand why people say this hike was difficult especially the last 0.5 mile down, I think it wasn't that bad when comparing to Mailbox. Mailbox was a killer and don't think we will ever do it again. We didn't use a walk stick and don't think you will need one as long as you have hiking shoes. We are not advance hikers and this is our third hiking trip for the year so we are not the most physical fit girls. It took us 5.5 hrs to hike the trail with 1/2 hr spent @ the lake for lunch and taking pix. Don't been discourage that this hike is rated as difficult, go slow and steady on the 3 miles up and 0.5 mile down is not bad once you see the lake. The trip back should be easy and fast since is all downhill for the last 3 miles :)

Not sure if it was still needed, but we took the alternate route to the trailhead mentioned by DVOhikes (http://www.wta.org/[…]/trip_report.2012-09-16.2284154768). Road to trailhead was in great condition.
This was my second trip to Blanca Lake. I had been dying to go back. I had a vague memory of the lake that centralized around a moment of jaw-dropping-awesomeness upon first seeing the lake. I wanted to see if I'd still experience that same awe. This time was different. Cloud/fog covered the lake for the entirety of our stay. I'm going to have to wait until next time to test my "wow moment" memory. There was still much beauty despite the heavy fog. Some of the old growth trees are stunning. The water and fogged blended so seamlessly, there was no end or beginning. On our hike up and out from the lake the next day, we were treated to a great display of the sun eating through the fog with long, glowing beams through the trees. Can't wait to go back.

Blanca lake is a tough hike, must be in some sort of decent shape. It's also dangerous for kids due to very steep drop offs.Trail is in excellent shape. In July it was so snowed in that we got turned around at Virgin Lake due to lack of trail and very steep getting down to lake. Speaking of after hiking up up up , you get to hike down for 15 minutes steeply which means on way back up up up.
No bugs, no mud. A few slippery spots on way down to lake.
Lake is gorgeous , reminds of Lake Louise in Banff a lot.
I wished the WTA could put markers on trees high up from Virgin Lake down to Blanca so it could be found in the snow. Like I said its so steep on way down if you don't know where exactly switchbacks are its tough.
Hiking poles weren't necessary I felt but on way down it takes weight off of knees and keeps you balanced.
I have a pic but apparently iPad won't let you upload pics the button is muted out so it won't depress. :(

I got a late start and discovered that I couldn't get through to the trailhead via NFSR 63 so I drove to the ranger station past Index and found out I could access it via NFSR 65. It was a long drive but it was a BEAUTIFUL day.
The trail is optimum for get your hike on and steppin it UP cause up you go. Once to the top you have another 600 ft or so of steep down to go but when you get there its worth it. Im comin back for an over nighter!

We started from the trail head at 10:30am. It was a tough hike I wasn't anticipated and ready for consider this was the second hike we did in this year(The first one was Lake twenty two on Labor Day). I sweated so much on the hike my pants kept slipping down. Good thing was I brought just enough water(and also water treatment tablets) for me and the dogs. It took us a little over two and half hours to get to the lake. The beauty of lake did not disappoint us. We all enjoyed it very much. We didn't want to leave(especially my beagle/doxie mix with short legs, she was tired) until 2:26pm. Walking uphill on the dusting loose dirt was not bad enough, but going down hill with wrong shoes(Nike free) and a dog pulling leash. I fell four times and sprained my ankle once. Fortunately we all made in back to the trail head in one pieces after another two and half hours. Lesson learned: bring enough water, wear non slippery shoes, bring a hiking pole, start early. I met hikers going up at 3:30pm, I guess it would be become dark before they return.

It is hard to add anything new to all of the descriptions posted already. It is truly the most unusual and beautiful lake I have been to for some time. It had a striking green color, set in a very pretty cirque. The trail climbs in a very nice forest and then descends to the lake.
 
Now for some things to consider. This is a difficult trail, both in the elevation gain and the condition of the trail. The trail gains a little over 2700 feet in three miles. It is relentless, steady up. It feels like Mt Si but at least it is just a 3 mile climb vs Si’s 4 miles. Most of this section of the trail has good tread, just a few sections of rocks. Then the trail descends about 650 feet in about 0.5 miles to the lake. Craig Romano's Day Hiking book refers to this section as having “rough-at-times tread”. This is steep and has sections of roots, rocks, loose dirt and big steps. Careful footing is important. The total elevation gain, in and out, is 3400 feet in 7 miles (says the book) or 8 miles (my GPS). This trail is for experienced hikes only. Trekking poles highly recommended.

By the way, no bugs!!!!

One of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen! But the ascent is brutalizing and never-ending; it felt even more so on the way back. = ]

Note that the Index-Galena Road is inaccessible if you are going from the west to east direction on Stevens Pass Hwy 2, you’ll have to go around via Beckler Road instead!

The directions on the WTA website are current. I would disregard past trip report information about the roads being inaccessible. We arrived on a Saturday at 10 a.m. to a completely filled parking lot. There was plenty of room to park on the side of the road, so no problem. Bring plenty of water, as there is no drinkable water easily accessible from the trail. The lake water is too cloudy to really drink. If you have trouble with tap water, then you will not want to drink the lake water. I'm sure there might be areas to scout for water off of the trail, but unless you are survivor man/woman, you might have some serious issues if you don't bring enough water. A large water bladder is recommended. I used a 2.5 liter bladder and still ran out about a third of the way back down. I wouldn't bring a dog on this hike unless you bring plenty of water for it. I saw some dogs on the trail but the dogs looked seriously parched.

The trail is a steep climb over a mountain and then another steep climb down to the lake. Contrary to the description, this hike is not too bad. It kind of reminded me of Mount Si. If you've done Mt. Si (to the top that is), you can definitely do this one. It's steep, no question, but it's only 3.5 miles to the lake. I even saw a "bigger" couple dressed in business casual attire at the lake, which was interesting. I can't imagine they had an easy time of it, but they made it to the lake nonetheless. Yay. I wouldn't recommend bringing first-time hikers on this one. It might be their last. But it's definitely the place to take out-of-towners who brag about how much more beautiful their state is compared to Washington. This lake settles the dispute for good. The pictures are amazing, but can’t replace seeing it in person. That said, whatever you do, do not forget your camera.

At the lake, there is plenty of room to camp if you can lug all that gear up. This is perfect for a one-night stay. You really wouldn't want to stay longer than that, since the lake can get very crowded (think Lake Washington on a hot day crowded) and there isn't too much to explore beyond the lake itself. I don't recommend camping here unless you live more than 3-4 hours away from the trailhead. If you live 1-3 hours away, I recommend packing a lunch and finding a more remote area around the lake to hang out for a few hours before making the trek back. I like to call this "day hiking with benefits"--all of the benefits of backpacking with a nice hot shower and comfy bed at the end of the day :)

There were really no bugs to speak of whilst we were there. The weather was very warm (80-ish), but it was a good idea to pack a jacket since it began to rain right after we left the lake.

When it says "grueling switchbacks" in the description, it was not joking. Three friends and myself packed in gear and food for two nights and three days.
The weather was beautiful and the lake was amazing.

Although the hike was extremely steep, the hike was well worth it. I would not recommend this for novice backpackers.

Looking back i think it was August 2008 along the Little Wenatchee trail where encountered a trail crew. This was the first trail crew i ever witnessed. It also happened to be a WTA trail crew. I was on a day hike to Meander Meadow, i started early in the morning as result the brush was heavy and wet with dew. I got soaked. It was on the return i bumped into the trail crew. When i saw how much brush was gone i was blown away.
Fast forward to Labor Day weekend. There was a WTA BCRT at Blanca Lake, which i volunteered. It is the 4th BCRT on this trail i have volunteered. The third was two weeks before. I've worked on other trails....i've lost count.
During the last two work BCRT's we re-routed the trail away from a muddy swamp. Where a low spot could not be avoided we built a stone turn pike, on the second BCRT some mineral soil was found and we capped the turn pike. In a spot where a non moveable boulder was encountered, it was simply incorporated into stone stairs with other moveable boulders. Yet another boulder stair case was built at the location what was better described as a clay slip-n-slide.
I've heard people say were crazy for backpacking into a remote location with heavy hand tools to volunteer heavy labor. I'll counter that with it would be insane to backpack into a remote location and not want to make a difference. Besides, there is plenty of time to goof off and lounge around enjoying natures eye candy.
I hope we made the same impression on day hikers and backpackers as they passed by witnessing us muscle rocks into place that i got from that trail crew on the Little Wenatchee.
Thank you WTA for giving me opportunity's to volunteer. It's been fun. I find it especially rewarding to see how much that section of trail from Virgin Lake to Blanca has improved. A few years ago i would not call that a trail...it was more like an eroded goat path.

The NYC (north west youth corp) has made a big contribution too. Thank you NYC!

This hike is a workout, but well worth it! 3 miles of climbing up and up and up and up, with the trail getting rougher as you get toward the top, but not bad. As you hike along the top of the ridge there are 2 areas where a bit of scrambling over rocks is neccesary, but it's a good excuse to pause and enjoy the views of Baker and the various peaks. Now you start descending toward the lakes! As you come to Virgin lake, which is a bit of a scuzzy looking but cute lake, you're thinking the worst is over since the rest is downhill. Wrong. Probably the most technical part of the whole hike is the descent to Blanca Lake which, even with some incredible improvements by NYC, is relatively treachorous and hiking poles are a HUGE help. Sadly I fear it may get trashed by the rain over the winter again but hopefully not!
Blanca lake does a great job of hiding until you are almost AT the shore and wow, it takes your breath away. Something about the lake is absolutely magical - you feel like you're in another world and never want to leave. To do it again I definitely would have spent the night. The hike out is easier but still somewhat grueling due to the steepness. Overall well worth it, but not an easy hike.

This was my first WTA sponsored hike-a-thon hike. Meeting new people and enjoying oreos at the top? I'll take it!
The trail, I must say, isn't very exciting...steep and strenuous, yes. views, not really. Anyway, the effort pays off at the end! (I would say the top, but the trail takes a steep downward turn for the last 1/2 mile to the lake) The lake is spectacular!
It was cloudy today, so we could see Columbia Glacier, but not much of the mountains surrounding. Not a big deal since I was so excited to see the lake! Mountain views may have sent me over the edge :)
No more bugs to worry about. Blowdowns have all been cleared. NYC was cleaning up and smoothing out the tread on the descent to the lake which will help immensely for the future! The descent to the lake is very steep and rough right now.

Weather was mid 70's.. trail was clear of snow and wild animals. We climbed this in a team of 2...Making it to Blanca Lake in one hour and 45 minutes. We were amazed at the blue tint to the water. It was breathtaking. Bugs were not a bother..even at the lake. We did bring bug spray as a precaution. Our descent (plus initial climb back out..which was easier to climb up then was to climb down..) took us an hour and thirty minutes. There were many other hikers--some even starting when we arrived back to the parking lot at 4pm. Overall, I would highly recommend this hike!

Couple of weeks back I was at Crater Lake. Looking at the deep blue waters then, I'd wondered that there can't be a better color water can take.
Blanca proved me wrong.

We were at the trail head by 12:40 pm. Huffed and puffed our way up to Virgin lake by about 3 pm. With hearts pounding and legs tiring, started the final 500 ft odd descent.

Then came the first sighting of the lake, and suddenly, we were no longer tired. The lake left us speechless. The beautiful, pristine nature of the lake is simply undescribable.
After taking a few pictures to capture whatever little we could of what lay in front of us, descended down to the logs and spent the rest of the afternoon munching our sandwich and gazing at the pretty lake. Started the return trip by about 6:30 pm and were back at the trail head by 9 pm.

Prior to this hike, I was so much looking forward to visiting Lake Louisse (Banff). Little did I know that something very similar lay almost in our own backyard :). Would refrain from thinking though that this is the best shade of water one could get. Who knows, some time, some day, some lake might prove me wrong .... yet again!

Happy hiking.

PS - No snow on trail, trail in great condition. Thank you WTA.
Beware of mosquitoes and flies though.

Trail was dry, good to decent condition. The trail is as described, it is a steep hike, it's not easy but plan on an early start. The trail is mostly in the tree cover of the mountain ridge and seems steeper as the hike continues. The last .6-.7 miles is a rapid ~600ft decent to the lake (personally this felt steeper than most of the hike). Bug spray is a must if you stop for more than a couple minutes on the trail(some mosquitoes and lot of flies)(more annoyance from the bugs than anything). The hike was worth the effort. The lake has an indescribable green color to it like the photo posted here. Very cold water but pleasing. All the efforts pay off as soon as you get to the flat clearing known its down hill from this point on. This hike took a while to complete. Plan all day to complete this hike, it definitely took a lot longer to climb to the lake than getting back to the trail head. Word of the day was "UP", it seems like the entire hike was up and around a corner and more up (not a flat part on the trail)to the peak clearing before it descends....This is a hard hike, its not easy and be prepared with plenty of liquids for the way up and down.

We saw a lot of people on the trail, which surprised us. I didn't expect so many people on such a difficult hike. Most of the people were staying over night. I couldn't imagine what it'd be like seeing the starts over this beautiful lake.

Good Luck!!!

It was my first visit to Lake Blanca. Thanks to the previous WTA trip reports, I could detour the blocked route by following Beckler, SR-65, and SR-63. The condition of the unpaved road was very good without big potholes, and our small sedans could pass without any problem. We arrived at the trailhead around 10:30AM, but the parking lot was already like 80% full.

The weather and trail conditions were great. The trail was dry and snow-free, and wild flowers were blooming here and there. The beauty of the celadon green lake water was beyond description. There were many hikers and campers on the lakeshore, enjoying the peace of the late afternon.

ROAD CLOSED. The road that you're supposed to take at Jack Pass (the second left) was closed. There were other disappointed hikers stopped as well as a forest ranger. I tried to find out what was going on but the ranger didn't even know why the road was closed. We drove the short distance to the Johnson Ridge trailhead instead.

Blanca Lake. Everyone RAVES about this hike and there is a reason why. The trek to Blanca Lake is STEEP. I can't stress that enough! But the rewards of this hike are breathtaking. Blanca is a glacial lake similar to the milky lakes of Alaska and is SO worth the trek. Columbia Glacier feeds into this unusual Cascade Lake, which also becomes the headwaters of Troublesome Creek; a steep granite rock-faced gully with impressive waterfalls. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

P.S. In the month of August, an overnight here is a must! The Milky Way and meteor shower's are breathtaking!

We thoroughly enjoyed this hike! It's fairly strenuous and with few breaks on the way up, but the lake was worth it. There was still a little snow on the trail at the high point, and then again around the lake, but the lake itself has no snow.

We did jump in the water and it was as cold as would be expected, but fortunately it was a hot day.

We followed the road directions here (Beckler Road through Jack Pass) and that worked fine.

The road is closed, we cannot get to the trail head at all :(

We followed the directions using Beckler Road/FR 65 and FR 63 and made it to the trailhead from Seattle in just under 2 hours. The gravel road is in good shape all the way from where the pavement ends.

Although this hike is indeed challenging (especially on the knees on the descents), the reward of visiting such a gorgeous lake is absolutely worth it. The trail starts climbing almost immediately, and we encountered some WTA volunteers hard at work (thank you!!) on our way up. Aside from some rocky/rooty sections, the trail is mostly tiny pine cones, needles and dirt for most of the ascent. There was only one blowdown that was easy to scramble under.

Flies started to harass us at about the 2-mile mark, but some bug spray took care of that annoyance. (And maybe salty waffle fries with my pre-hike dinner weren't the best idea.)

We encountered one small patch of snow at about 4500 ft, then a larger snowy section just before Virgin Lake (as of 8.4.12, still about 80% frozen). Follow the boot tracks or stay generally right and you'll cross it just fine; the snow is melting quickly.

The descent to Blanca from Virgin Lake is no joke. Rocky/rooty tread and several switchbacks make you wonder why the heck you're doing this. But just when you think you might be devastated if another switchback sends you away from your destination, you'll catch a glimpse of that aqua water through the trees, and you'll forget that your knees hate you. The roar of water exiting Blanca into Troublesome Creek will let you know you're close to the lake.

There were only four other people at the lake when we arrived, so we easily found a couple logs on which to plop down and stick our feet in the water while enjoying lunch. As you'll probably guess by the amount of snow still lingering around the lake, the water is frigid, which makes for an excellent way to chill down the water bottle. :)

All too soon it was time to head back to the car, so off we went. We encountered about a dozen parties headed up while we were on our way down. And we noticed all of the improvements the WTA volunteers had done while we were hiking. Our round-trip hike with lunch stop was just over 5 hours.

Got to the trail head around 11:45 after trying to get to it through FR 63 off of Galena-Index (we used Google maps without looking at the directions on WTA).

A beautiful hike on a beautiful day. There is still snow on about the last mile of the hike, which made it difficult to find the trail. Luckily we ran into some people who knew what they were doing.

Some very brave souls (my husband included) actually jumped into the icy aquamarine water. I hung out with the amazingly agile Corgie I befriended on the trail.

Drove to the trailhead via Beckler Rd and Jack Pass (FS 63/65). Road is in good condition and easily passable without 4 wheel drive.

Snow starts on the ridge up to Virgin Lake. No snow on the trail descending from Virgin Lake to Lake Blanca, but watch out for slippery roots. Still snow on the shore of Lake Blanca and on the lake itself.

The snow is easily passable without equipment, although trekking poles would help. There is a steep hill covered in snow the last 100ft down to Virgin Lake, but it has a gentle runout and would make a nice glissade.

Trail is in good shape. Snow about 2.5 miles in., at 4600 feet at top of ridge near virgin lake ( frozen solid) Theres still 6 feet of snow , no need for snowshoes but poles and micro spikes a must. Where you are supposed to descend to the lake it gets very tough unless you know whEre the trail exactly is and know the switchbacks leading down to it since its very steep.The deep snow makes it all look the same.we got turned around due to unknown of where trail is and so didn't other people as well. Snow needs to melt a quite a bit or someone with knowledge of trails to put up a quite a few ribbons, lake is frozen over %95 still anyhow.
Not much mud, one tree to crawl under. No bugs yet. Not much for water sources either.

The tree is now gone from the road. There is snow on the trail. We went about 2mi up and went 1mi in snow and turned around because the hill was to dangerous with all the snow. We also lost the trail so we were going off directions that hikers we passed gave us.

Wanted to do the Blanca Lake hike today, but it wasn't in the cards.

Made it all the way to within a mile of the trailhead. First obstacle was a tree across the road. Slipped underneath without much effort, even in a tall Xterra. Second obstacle was a bit more dicey. We could have made it, I believe, by skirting to the left with the left tires in the muddy ditch ... but because we were so far away from civilization, I didn't want to risk getting stuck, so I decided against proceeding. Small cars might be able to duck underneath the two trees, and just to the right of the muddy ditch.

Even though the obstacle blocked us from the trailhead (with no good place to park), the thing that really dampened our spirits was the heavy rain. Not to mention, we had just climbed a total of 9,000 feet and 21 miles over the previous two days, so the additional miles to an already long slog didn't appeal to us. So we ended up doing the much easier Heybrook Lookout instead, which was a nice stroll.

Anyway, I just wanted to post a little update on this road with a couple pics.

Posting just on the off chance that someone is headed up there in early season. I got to about 4 miles after the pavement ends on 65 and ran out of snow free road. The snow remaining is nice and compacted with tire ruts but my low clearance car was NOT going to make it over unscathed. I walked the first 10 foot section to peer around the corner and saw at least 100 feet more of snow. Hard telling if it was snow for the remaing ~4 miles or not.

I would not drive back up there with less than a 4X4 based on what I saw but it might be possible with a higher clearance AWD. Please note height constraint also, pictured.

The access road to the trail head is now covered with snow. We managed to drive up to the trailhead with CR-V.

The trail received good amount of snow and without being prepared for that much of snow, we had to turn back when we were about 1 mile left from the lake. More than 8+ inches probably.

Weather forecast calls out more snow this week, so it will be tough to drive up to the trailhead unless you have a really good 4x4 truck with high clearance.

Had to go back to 2002 for a previous report on a November trip to Blanca Lake. The initial weather forecast was the traditional cloudy-with-a-chance-of-rain spiel, but we were treated instead to a surprise, crisp, sunny day. We had no difficulty finding our way to the trailhead with the Jack Pass/Beckler River Road route. Along the way, we were treated to amazing fall views of the Beckler River and Glacier Peak. We arrived at the trailhead at 11:15 am, with only a few other cars already there. We met a few other hikers and doggies along the way.

The trail is in good condition. The trail starts out flat, but then gains elevation appreciably going from 1900 feet to 4600 feet over about 3 miles. I truly noticed that on the way down. On the way up, I was distracted by fall foliage and the winter wonderland of snow on the pine trees, occasionally cascading down from the forest canopy. I significantly delayed some of us trying to capture cascading snow on camera. There are occasional mud patches, and the snow level is probably around 3000 feet as of this trip report. The snow on the trail is not excessively thick (on average about 6 inches). We managed using boots and poles. The ascent featured incredible views of the surrounding mountains, including Glacier Peak.

We then descended, first skirting ice-covered Virgin Lake. The descent to Blanca was a little slippery--use caution, as there are several places where a spill off to the side could be injurious. Blanca is still green, though ice was starting to creep out from the shoreline. The sky was almost clear, with unobstructed views of Columbia Peak to the left and Monte Cristo to the right.

There was some slipping and sliding on the ascent up from the lake, due to snow on the trail (note to self: bring gloves next time!) Poles were helpful for the descent, as well, though a couple hikers did OK without them. Dress in layers, as this trail gets chilly, especially near the lake. Round-trip time was about 6 hours for 7 people of variable hiking speeds.

I agonized over the primary picture to use for this report. Many have submitted beautiful pictures of the lake's green water with Columbia Peak, the Columbia Glacier, and Monte Cristo Peak in the background. Why another picture with the saddle in the middle? It was the best of my lake pictures: the composition (inadvertently) has nice symmetry, and the colors turned out well. Also, if you compare with previous pictures, you can tell that winter is arriving based on the amount of snow.

General: The small parking lot was full at 12:15 when we arrived, but there is easy parking on the side of the road which we did easily. The trail was not crowded at all. We passed people very infrequently (a little more frequently toward the end though). There were several people at the lake, but I wouldn't call it crowded.

Weather: the weather was partly cloudy and very warm on this Sunday afternoon. Around 6pm (just as we got back to the parking lot) it started to sprinkle however.

Trail condition: overall the trail is in great condition. After you pass Virgin Lake it gets muddy in a few spots however and it is pretty slippery going down the steep trail so be careful at this point.

The trail is very steep! Once you reach the 1st switchback, it gains quickly though steadily until you reach Virgin lake where it is pretty flat. Then it drops which is a nice little rest until you reach the lake. I wouldn't recommend bringing kids unless they are pretty experienced, etc.

The lake: The lake really is green and beautiful! There are many places around there to camp, explore and hang out. It's well worth the steep hike. Virgin lake is not as pretty but it is a nice little area to rest at - we saw some frogs and a few water bugs there.

Bugs: there were a TON of mosquitoes! Fortunately they didn't bother us while we were moving. Unfortunately I got tired and needed to stop for a few breaks where they made their attacks. Some nice hiker let me spray on some of his DEET which actually worked wonderfully. There were no horseflies.

Water: There are a few water sources at the first quarter of the trail - a creek around one of the 1st switch backs, and then a stream that intersects with a few of the earlier switchbacks (you have to look for them however). After that there are not really any water sources until you reach Virgin lake, and the water there will probably be hard on your filter, but fortunately, it's all down hill to Blanca lake which has nice, clear water.

Owner FOUND lost Border Collie dog! She spent the night in the woods. I came back the next morning & found Cinnamon on the road below the trailhead parking lot. She was very happy to see me! Except for being hungry & thirsty, she is doing great.

Fantastic trip to Blanca Lake today. The weather was sunny and clear. There was a small amount of mud to navigate on the trail and the hike is steep - but the views of Blanca Lake are well worth it. No snow on the trail (just a bit of snow off trail). Great hike if you're looking for a fairly long day hike.

No luck looking for the lost dog from last weekends report. I havn't done this hike in over 30 years but the lake looks as beautiful as I remember. I ran into a balding 30 something "A" hole that thought it was pretty cool to pass a 56 year old that stopped to change and eat lunch at Virgin lake. It must have been his first hike;)

The bright blue skies of a September weekend were enough to push us to tackle an alpine lake that’s been on our list for years: Blanca Lake. The hike is known for the vivid colors of the lakewater and a relentless series of switchbacks gaining nearly 3000ft in three miles. We expected a challenge and Blanca Lake delivered.

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.

Read the full report here:

http://www.hikingwithmybrother.com/[…]/blanca-lake-trail-1052.html

Jer

I just wanted to update the kind people that the missing dog Denali has been found!! Thank you all for your continued support, I cannot express my appreciation to all of the kind strangers who helped out. She was found trying to get into the garbage at Sky Deli in Skykomish. She has been gone for 18 days and traveled over 25 miles from Virgin Lake to the store in town. Thank you so much everyone!
(Only making this a seperate post because I know several of you had called and wanted me to let you know if I found her!)

Lost dog; On September 10th our dog was spooked and ran into the forest. After hours of searching and waiting we were forced to head down the mountain before we ran out of light. We have had people up there all day looking for the dog. Please call Carly 509 641 2222 if you have seen the dog.

  Headed to Blanca Lake today. Decided to get an early start to try and beat the heat. I arrived at the trail head at 8:15 am. About 8 cars already in the parking lot. Remember to take Beckler River Road 1 mile past the Town of Skykomish on the left. Go about 6.5 miles on black top, then 5.8 on forest road 65's gravel then 2.3 on forest road 63's gravel to trail head. A reminder to take the second left when you get to a five way gravel intersection. This is Hike 37 of 50 planned at age 50 this year. A great day for a hike. This trail is 7.0 miles long but you will earn your views of this lake. It starts at 1900 foot elevation and tops off at 4600 feet to descend back down to the lake at 3970 feet. You then have to hike back to 4600 feet to get back down to 1900 feet. The trail starts off in dense forest with lots of shade and very large old growth trees. There are numerous switchbacks but as you climb higher the trees become a little sparse so the sun creeps through and beats down on you. There are lots of bugs flying so take your spray. There is very little access to water on the trail mostly at the bottom and top so make sure you have at least two liters of water for you and water for your dog if you take one.
  Just after getting to 4600 feet you will head down hill to Virgin Lake. This lake is small and stagnat but remember to walk around the right side of the Virgin Lake Trail and then head to your left not your right. If you go right you will head down the wrong trail and end up coming right back up a section of the trail you already did as one young lady found out today. By going left you will stay flat for a little bit and then head downhill 600 feet to the Blanca Lake. If the trail seems confusing at Virgin Lake look up at the mountains toward your left and you will see a valley where Blanca Lake is located. There will be three Mountain Peaks with snow. They are Goblin Mountain, Monte Cristo Peak and Columbia Peak. Head toward them and off toward your left you will find the downhill trail to the lake. Please make sure you hike all the way down to the shoreline of Blanca Lake. Don't settle for the view from up above. It is not that much further to get down to the lake. Check out the video of this hike and others I have done on my youtube channel at lmm3181 or click on this direct link. It is safe to click on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq588vibT7A
As always enjoy your hiking and get out and see this beautiful state.
Take Care,
Mike

The scenery at Blanca lake is jaw-dropping awesome, but the hike is worth the trees alone. The entire hike except for close to the trailhead, is through mature hemlock forest. The trees must be close to 200 feet tall, and up to 6 feet in diameter, with no branches for half the tree height. The trees are spaced far apart mostly, as large trees must be, with small hemlocks on the forest floor. The forest is open and breezy, but look up, and up and up and be astounded at the immense height of these trees. The whole forest is protected in the new Wild Sky wilderness. Up on the top of the ridge, the trees are still old, but more gnarly and draped with lichen, and there are meadows and views of Glacies Peak, the Monte Christo peaks, and other ranges. Even on the steep side hill between snowy Virgin lake and Blanca lake the trees are huge, the way is so steep you can look at the top of the huge trees instead of the base.
The trail is snow-free except some large patches around Virgin lake on the ridge top. These are melting fast. Blanca lake is snow-free. A W.T.A. trail crew was working on the trail between Virgin and Blanca lakes, THANK YOU WTA!!!. This section is steep and rocky and badly in need of the work. It is possible to descend to the outlet of Blanca Lake from the trail, to the left of the scree slope down to the lake, but it looks like most people don't know that. The parking lot was half full when we arrived at 10:00 and overflowing when we left, which tells you how many people and dogs were hiking on Saturday. No solitude on this trail! Most hikers looked like they were carrying maybe 2 of the 10 essentials. That would be fine on the Lake Serene trail, but this one is an ankle twister, it would not be hard to lose the trail in bad weather in the snow patches. The road to the trailhead is fine, you must use the Beckler river road as has been discussed in other trip reports. The road from Index is washed out.

I have been on several different hiking trails and this is by far harder then Mt. Si, there are lots of flys and mosquitos, mudholes in some areas, some melting snow in some areas on the trail and alot off trail, I would NOT recommend this hike to beginners, Make sure to bring extra bug spray, you WILL have at least 4 people asking for some. hike in the early morning before NOON or else you will be hiking in the dark, the hike takes 7 hours with acouple 1 minute stops during the hike and the 30 min stop Blanca Lake. The water is drinkable. You can also swim in the water if you don't mind freezing glacier water. Good Luck and Have a safe Hike.

Hiked up to Blanca lake and then around the west side to the base of the glacier. The trail was almost completely snow free and in great shape. Bugs were minimal.
I had to wade through the logs out the outlet of the lake to get around the west side, but this was easy and the only hazard being that my feet got cold.
To get up to the base of the glacier there are some snow fields to cross but none are too steep and most can be avoided if you want. I had an ice axe which was helpful.
A great hike at this time of year.
I ran into a USFS Ranger on the way in and he was extremely friendly and helpful. It is good to see nice folks working with the Forest Service.

Steep climbing for 3 miles, all in the shade. Flies start about 2/3 of the way up. Not many views until you get to the top of the ridge. At the top, there is still quite a bit of snow (before Virgin Lake). I went across a couple of snowfields, but decided to come back (lame boots, no poles, solo hiking). Others were getting through, though.

While plugging in for directions with any map/GPS service, remember that you must use Forest Road 65 - Beckler Road (you find many other directions indicating the shorter FR 63, however this is closed down).

The roads are very manageable on the way to the trailhead. Trail is in pretty good condition - Please see previous trip report listed here on WTA.

As far as weather/snow conditions, here are my thoughts:

Lat: 47.921055
Lon: -121.352493
Elevation: 3720’
First signs of snow appear, but not on the trail itself. Before reaching the ridge, you will encounter snow right on the trail, but nothing significant that can’t be negotiated.
FYI: On the return in the afternoon, seems the snowmelt was catching up as we encounteres running water on the trail. Nothing significant tho.

Lat: 47.924683
Lon: -121.334320
Elevation: 4475’
Just past a small rock climb, I highly recommend putting some microspikes on; there are places where 1 slip will have you tumbling down. Using poles will definitely prove useful as well.

Lat: 47.929089
Lon: -121.339539
Elevation: 4450’
After passing Virgin Lake, at this point you will be able to safely remove your microspikes since the descent into the basin is snow free. Be advised that there this leg of the trail has a number of blowdowns and still needs some work done on it. I would also recommend putting on insect repellant at some point soon.

If you would like a snow free hike and hopefully a cleared lake basin, I would probably recommend waiting until late August or September at this point.

HaPpY TrAiLs

We went up to Blanca Lake for Saturday night. The road up from Skykomish is in good shape, props to county workers for their work grading the road and putting down gravel around Jack Pass. There were a few decent sized pot holes on the 2mile stretch of FR63 but nothing too bad.
The trail is in good condition heading up to Virgin Lake. About 2 miles up patches of snow started to appear on and around the trail. The last 1/2 mile to Virgin Lake is completely under snow. We followed the ridge up, and ended up slightly to the west of Virgin Lake, but a quick look around revealed the lake. With the trial covered the descent to Virgin Lake is a snowy hillside one can glissade down. The lake itself is still frozen with small signs of melting around the edges. Picture to come.
The trail down to Lake Blanca is relatively free of snow, but in need of some work. There are several spots where the trail has been hit by falling trees and needs re-treading and clearing. Good thing a WTA BCRT is planned to work on this section next month. As you finally get a view of the lake the snow returns, and the whole lake shore is still covered in about 4 feet of snow. The lake itself is frozen except for the outlet. We took off our boots, put on sandals, and walked through the frigid water to check for campsites on the other side. We saw a few other people walk from log to log, but it took them far longer to get across. We scrambled a bit around the lake, but in places the snow is fairly steep coming right off the water, and not wanting to slip and slide right into the lake, we stopped.
There are no open patches to place a tent, so be prepared to camp on the snow if you want to stay overnight. As one day hiker told us, "Its still winter up there."

Hit snow about halfway up to the ridge. By the ridge top, there was between 6-9ft of snow still. We dropped down the slope toward Blanca, kicking steps the whole way. After a mistaken turn toward troublesome creek, we corrected, and scrambled up some steep slopes back toward the lake.
Didn't see any other tracks at the lake, so I would guess not a lot of foolish folks (like us) have braved the steep snow/brush. The trail is completely buried, and looks like it will be a while yet before it melts out.
Climbing back up the ridge was steep snow slopes andbrush, make sure you have good boots for kicking steps. An Ice Axe might have been a good call.
Also, FYI, the road out North Fork of the Skykomish is closed, so you need to go around via Skykomish, and Jack pass.

We started hiking about 1:15 p.m. The weather was great, it was sunny in our rainy region. After about 2 hours hiking to the top, we found out that there was a lot of snow on the trail, and after a while, nothing but the snow, you could'nt even see the trail. So, we decided to enjoy the sunshine in the snow and turned back. We have come across a couple groups, and none found the lake, luckily they did not get lost. We were back to the trail head about 7:00 p.m. So, I would suggest if you want to get to Blanca lake, wait for another three weeks at least, to get all the snow melted and off the trail.

Access road was closed 10 miles before the trail head. So... no hike.

With the road construction just over a mile before the TH on FR-63 for Oct. 19-20, there were only 4 other hikers all day on the trail to Blanca Lake. All of us parked our cars and walked the last mile to the TH first.

The lower part of the trail, though still steep, was dry and in excellent condition. The fallen evergreen needles padded the trail and provided my craggy knees with comfortably bouncy cushion. It got more rocky, rooty, and wet as you go up. Some sections of the trail going down to Virgin Lake and Blanca Lake were very muddy. But none of the minor obstacles could distract me from the serene beauty of the turquoise lake set below the alpine peaks under the blue sky on this clear autumn day. On a La Niña year, every October sunny day feels like a bonus! Could I place an order to have it bottled to go!

As much as I appreciated the scenery, I could not help but notice the lack of volume of the retreating Columbia Glacier. Would the lake keep its distinct color once the feeding glacier is gone?

Most of the fall colors were found among the meadows near the saddle (highest point of the trail with elevation of 4,600') where there was also an excellent view of the majestic Glacier Peak. It was a perfect spot for rest, picture, and suntan on this day. Even being rushed for time as our day is getting shorter quickly, I still enjoyed very much the hike and its destination feeling almost guilty of "owning" the trail and the lakes for better part of the day!

I've had my eye on this hike all year. I've lost a lot of weight the last 3 years and really got moving again this year. This trails 2700 feet of elevation gain was the challenge I have been looking for. It would be a full 1200ft more than I've gained all year. I was a little worried about the thick fog at my house when I left to go on this hike. All the way through the Skykomish Valley it was hard to see more than a 1/4 mile ahead. Then after Goldbar the sky opened up to sun and beautiful blue sky that would remain the rest of the day. I got past Skykomish and made my way up the Beckler River and FSR 65. It was pretty smooth with minor washboarding and occasional potholes. The forest service has been working on FSR 63 which is the last stretch of road to the trailhead. I passed the grader and while a little bumpy the road had no potholes or washboarding. I was the 4th car at the parking area when I arrived.

The Blanca Lake Trail quickly entered the states newest wilderness area the Wild Sky and then the switch backs came. They were relentless and at times steep. If it wasn't steep the trail was covered in rock and roots and in some places all three obstacles combined! Just about the time I thought it wouldn't end I started seeing glimpses of the surrounding ridges and soon came to a clearing on the ridge the trail was climbing. Views were had in almost every direction with Glacier Peak being the most awesome view under the sun. Once on the ridge the trail entered a meadow and the ground was still frozen in places. There were splashes of fall color everywhere and a dusting of snow in the shady spots from the recent storm that passed through. After crossing the meadow the trail entered the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness and dropped down to small, calm Virgin Lake. It was here that the majority of mud and water on the trail would be seen on the rest of the way to Blanca Lake. Once past Virgin Lake the trail drops steeply for around a 1/2 mile until it reaches Blanca Lake.

Blanca Lake was stunning under the sun and blue sky. Turquoise water, Monte Cristo and Columbia Peaks hover over the lake going straight up. Sandwiched between the mountains was the Columbia Glacier feeding the lake its water and awesome color. This is one of the prettiest places I have ever visited. When I think pristine alpine mountain wilderness, this is what I envision! I stayed about 40 minutes eating lunch, taking a lot of pictures and enjoying the view. It was time to leave too soon!

On the way up and at the lake I encountered or saw only 5 people. I counted another 20 on the way down including a couple near the bottom on the way down. Many of these people looked unprepared for an extended stay in the woods. No packs and only a bottle of water. Go prepared! It took me about 2 hrs 15 min. up and about 10 mins less on the way down. I really went crazy with the camera both ways today. The days are getting shorter and the nights cold as evidenced by the snow. Allow a lot of time for this hike unless you can rip up the switch backs. I would hate to see someone get stranded out there in the dark because they started too late, use your head people.

Beautiful lake, just like what you see in the pictures. Fairly steep, both up and down. The trail going down to the lake is very muddy and slippery.

The huckleberries are ripe and the ones at the meadows near the top are especially good because they're under the sun. One of the other hikers said they saw a bear in the area, so be careful.

It took us 2.5 hours to get to the top at a moderate pace, and 2 hours down and a fairly fast pace.

Get ready to climb! From the first step you take after parking the car you will start to climb and never stop along the first three miles of the trail. The climbing grade can be steep but that isn’t what makes this a difficult hike, it is the tree roots that you are constantly climbing up, over, and around. On a positive note the trees kept almost the entire route covered in shade and protected from the summer heat. To add insult to injury you climb down 600 feet of tough trail to get to the lake. Then of course, after you have enjoyed the lake you get to hike back up, before making your way down! It took us 2.5 hours to get to Blanca Lake, then 1.75 hours back down to the trailhead.

The parking lot was pretty full when we arrived however we barely saw a soul for the first hour and a half. But, we did see enough hikers to not feel totally deserted on a tough trail.

The weather was great the day we chose to tackle Blanca Lake, 65 and sunny all day. However it must have rained the night before as several parts of the trail were very muddy and required some creative jumps to not get your feet wet. On the way down the trail seemed to be in worse shape as more and more people traversed the wet sections. The road leading to the trailhead was in great condition though, only minor pothole watching was needed.

Blanca Lake made the strenuous afternoon well worth the effort. There was still snow among the peaks even this late in the year and the water was an amazing aqua green color. Safe to say we had never seen anything like it. We would not recommend this hike for beginners, but consider this hike a must for any outdoor enthusiast.


IMPORTANT: While we did not see it, another pair of hikers reported seeing a large black bear near the trail.

The road is closed 5 miles up to Galena Rd Which does not lead to Blanca Lake drive farther West.

Index-Galena road closed, so had to access the trailhead via Skykomish. (Which I knew ahead of time as I checked the wta site.) First car at the trailhead. The hike was steeper than I remember in the beginning, and then the hike down to the lake was horrible as it was very rooty, wet and muddy. Totally worth it though as the sky was clear and blue, and the lake aqua! Fantastic mountain and peak views on the way. We spent about 30 - 40 min there alone, basking in the warm sun, enjoying the silence, and munching on snacks before heading out.

This hike was much more challenging than I anticipated. The trail is very steep all the way up, you don't get a break until you reach the top. There were surprisingly a few young kids and dogs on the trail. Also on our way up we saw people making a stretcher for a woman who had fallen down the hillside. I really wouldn't suggest this for beginners.

The trail gets narrow, steep, and very muddy. It was difficult getting down to Blanca Lake because all the slippery mud. Before going on this hike, be sure to look up weather conditions. We went on a cloudier day and it was very chilly at the lake. Conditions would have been much better on a sunny day.

But despite the weather and mud, Blanca Lake was beautiful. We got to the lake in about 2.5 hours and back down in a little less than 2 hours. The lake is a beautiful aqua color, well worth the strenuous hike to get there. We stayed about 15-20 minutes for lunch and pictures, then headed back. Probably since it was a Sunday, there were a good amount of people on the trail. I would definitely recommend this hike! Just make sure the weather is good.

I don't think I would recommend inexperienced hikers to tackle this beautiful trail just yet...get a few other trails under your belt before venturing up to Blanca Lake. Although it's beauty is WELL worth the rigorous trail, you are susceptible to putting yourself at risk for injury - we ran into a gal on our way down that broker her ankle due to all of the roots and rocks throughout.

I thought I was in descent shape until I hiked this...it pretty much kicked my butt :) I usually stick to Mt. Si, Tiger Mountain and the other trails around the eastside area, and Blanca Lake is definitely WAY out of their league. I cannot even begin to explain how amazing the scenery is - photographs don't even do it justice.

The steep parts of the trails were extremely slick due to a recent rain (on our way back from the top) and peole were slipping down most of it...definitely not a comfortable position when you have cliffs to maneuver. I would mentally prepare yourself for an intense hike, start out at a good pace and don't try to rush yourself.

We made it to the lake in 2 hours and 10 minutes, which includes time for stopping to enjoy views, pictures and just plain rest breaks! Total hiking time to the top was roughly 1 hour and 50 minutes at a good medium pace. Round trip it took us about 4.5 hours to get to the lake, enjoy the view, take lots of pictures and then hike back down.

This is one of those hikes that heads steeply uphill right from the trailhead and continues relentlessly upward all the way to the end, but with a kicker – to get from Virgin Lake, the high point at 4500’ to Blanca Lake, you have to go down 600’. Of course, on the return, you have to regain that 600’. The total elevation gain is about 3100’ for the whole hike, a good day’s work.

But it’s well worth the effort, as Blanca Lake is unique. I’ve seen many lakes in the Cascades, but this is the only one with the milky turquoise waters that come into view only at the very end of the hike. The amazing color comes from silt washed down from Columbia Glacier (or what’s left of it these days), which sits at the northern end of the lake.

On the return I spent almost an hour trying to find the boot path that supposedly leads up to Troublesome Mountain, where there are views of the lake from above. There is one fairly obvious trail near Virgin Lake, but it quickly disappears under the thick cover of berry bushes. Relocating it is almost impossible due to the large number of game trails in the area. After following numerous false leads I finally gave up.

I was surprised, though I probably shouldn’t be, to see numerous plastic bags of dog offal abandoned along the trail. What’s the point of bagging the doo doo if your’re going to leave it? Better to let it lie, preferably not on the trail, and let the forest reclaim it.

I saw only a couple of feeble mosquitoes, but there are plenty of biting flies. Fortunately they’re the stupid kind that sit there, heedlessly chewing on your skin, as you casually slap them into the insect afterlife.

Bring plenty of water for this hike, as there is nary a drop to be had until you reach the lake. On a warm day, with all the upward trekking, dehydration is a real danger here. Of course, at Blanca Lake, there is all the water you could possibly drink, and with extra added minerals to boot.

FS gravel road 65 is miraculously pothole free, albeit lightly washboarded. But beware when turning off on FS road 63 as there some axlebusters along the way.

Blanca Lake - near Skykomish off Highway 2
This is a beautiful hike that you MUST do if you have the chance! The shade is good, the ground is soft, there was very minimal traffic (Monday). It is a steep climb up to an amazing vista followed by a quick and somewhat slippery walk down the back side of the same ridge into the valley that houses Blanca Lake. Don't let the name fool you, this lake is anything but white. I would compare it to tropical water in color, definitely not in temperature. We spent all day out there in the sun and exploring the shoreline.

It looks like people have made camp fires on the ridge top and at the lake some time this year, though I don't know how legit that would be given how dry this summer has been. There wasn't any garbage on the trail and erosion was minimal. It is a narrow trail but we only saw a dozen or so people in the 7 hours we were out there. I think that there was one tree that laid over the path but was easy enough to get around. There was minimal water sources but it is short enough that it wasn't an issue. I got a few mosquito bites but it was well worth it and they weren't nearly as bad as some of my other alpine lake experiences!!

The directions provided by this website were spot on. Don't miss out on this hike before winter!

Flickr: http://bit.ly/blanca-lake

It was cloudy for the most of part, so not much visibility of nearby mountains on our way in. The hike to the lake was pretty straightforward, no surprises of any sort. Mud holes in a few spots, but nothing showstopping. I brought insect repellent with but didn't need to use it, as the temperature dropped quite a bit after our descending down to the lake.

When we got to the pond right before the 600-foot descent, I was shocked and a bit disappointed thinking the pond was THE lake. I then thought to myself: "My, this looks completely different from the pictures I've seen. Is this it? But where is the glacier?" It wasn't long before I realized that the trail continues on to the right side of the pond, and thus began the descent.

The lake was larger than I had imagined, and it was by far the prettiest of all the lake hikes I have done. The Columbia Glacier is situated on the north end of the lake, about 1 to 1 1/4 miles from the north lake shore. To get on the trail from south end of the lake, it requires crossing on the river log. I wouldn't mind traversing to the glacier had I not bring the dogs with me, being that one of them is not a swimmer and would probably have panicked.

On the way back to the trailhead we were able to get a great view of the Glacier Peak. I highly recommended this hike to anyone who enjoys beautiful lake hikes!

  The day started off not so great as I hit a poor deer on Hwy 2. I felt so very terrible for the deer. ****(!!!REMEMBER TO TAKE THE DETOUR TO FS 65 then a right at FS63 to get to the trailhead!!!) This would have saved me a lot of miles and a little frustration. All the trip reports are correct, very steep and dry but worth every step to get over the ridge to Virgin Lake and then to Blanca Lake! There were more hikers and campers on the trail and lakes then I thought there would be so that was kind of pleasant. Thanks to the trail workers for improving spots of the trail for everyone!
 Passing through old growth is always a pleasure in my mind and heart. Then, I could not believe the color of the lake when I spotted it through the trees! WOW and Unbelievable is all I could say! The first clear view of Blanca Lake is a great one and made this hike one of my favorites.
  Once getting down to the lake do not stop there! Continue across the water and to the trail to the end of the lake. The trail hugs the shoreline and goes up over a ridge towards the end of the lake and a great view of Columbia Glacier and the roar of the falls born from it with many other falls to the left of the glacier as well. Wow!!!
  Enjoy this incredible lake and hike!!!
  ***Also...I lost my Panasonic Lumix camera somewhere between the start of Blanca Lake and the end of the lake w/many pictues of many other hikes in the last month so if found PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE respond to this post. I also left my # at the trailhead. Thank-you so very much.***

The day started off not so great as I hit a poor deer on Hwy 2. I felt so very terrible for the deer. ****(!!!REMEMBER TO TAKE THE DETOUR TO FS 65 then a right at FS63 to get to the trailhead!!!) This would have saved me a lot of miles and a little frustration. All the trip reports are correct, very steep and dry but worth every step to get over the ridge to Virgin Lake and then to Blanca Lake! There were more hikers and campers on the trail and lakes then I thought there would be so that was kind of pleasant. Thanks to the trail workers for improving spots of the trail for everyone!
 Passing through old growth is always a pleasure in my mind and heart. Then, I could not believe the color of the lake when I spotted it through the trees! WOW and Unbelievable is all I could say! The first clear view of Blanca Lake is a great one and made this hike one of my favorites.
  Once getting down to the lake do not stop there! Continue across the water and to the trail to the end of the lake. The trail hugs the shoreline and goes up over a ridge towards the end of the lake and a great view of Columbia Glacier and the roar of the falls born from it with many other falls to the left of the glacier as well. Wow!!!
  Enjoy this incredible lake and hike!!!
  ***Also...I lost my Panasonic Lumix camera somewhere between the start of Blanca Lake and the end of the lake w/many pictues of many other hikes in the last month so if found PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE respond to this post. I also left my # at the trailhead. Thank-you so very much.***

The day started off not so great as I hit a poor deer on Hwy 2. I felt so very terrible for the deer. ****(!!!REMEMBER TO TAKE THE DETOUR TO FS 65 then a right at FS63 to get to the trailhead!!!) This would have saved me a lot of miles and a little frustration. All the trip reports are correct, very steep and dry but worth every step to get over the ridge to Virgin Lake and then to Blanca Lake! There were more hikers and campers on the trail and lakes then I thought there would be so that was kind of pleasant. Thanks to the trail workers for improving spots of the trail for everyone!
 Passing through old growth is always a pleasure in my mind and heart. Then, I could not believe the color of the lake when I spotted it through the trees! WOW and Unbelievable is all I could say! The first clear view of Blanca Lake is a great one and made this hike one of my favorites.
  Once getting down to the lake do not stop there! Continue across the water and to the trail to the end of the lake. The trail hugs the shoreline and goes up over a ridge towards the end of the lake and a great view of Columbia Glacier and the roar of the falls born from it with many other falls to the left of the glacier as well. Wow!!!
  Enjoy this incredible lake and hike!!!
  ***Also...I lost my Panasonic Lumix camera somewhere between the start of Blanca Lake and the end of the lake w/many pictues of many other hikes in the last month so if found PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE respond to this post. I also left my # at the trailhead. Thank-you so very much.***

Trail Maintenance Trip! This was a four-day Backcountry Response Team, sponsored by WTA. We camped three nights at Virgin Lake, and brought our own food and supplies.

There were six of us, including our fearless leader, Forrest. We hiked up with our shovels, grubhoes, Pulaskis, McLeods, pruners, loppers, and saws. (And, of course, with our helmets, boots, long pants, long sleeve shirts, and work gloves.) We set up camp at Virgin Lake, then hiked the trail between Virgin Lake and Blanca Lake to assess damage. The trail from the parking lot up to Virgin Lake is in fine shape, but the trail down to Blanca Lake is on a very steep hillside, so the trail has some tall steps and slippery spots, and tends to slump downhill.

We built a new switchback to bypass a steep drop and cut new tread to level rough sections of the trail. We dug out stumps, logs, humungous boulders, and countless roots and rocks. We "backsloped" and "retreaded" and cut back brush. Every team member worked really hard.

The WTA work party priorities are, in order: Be safe, have fun, and get some work done. We stayed safe; there were only a couple of minor blisters. We had fun; we ate together at Blanca Lake, enjoyed our lovely campsite, watched the meteors at night, and everyone kept their sense of humor. And, we got a LOT of work done.

The trail down to Blanca Lake is still quite tricky. I'm always surprised to see the number of hikers equipped with only the four essentials: T-shirt, shorts, sneakers, and water bottle. Sorry, folks, we weren't able to fix the trail so you don't get your white Sketchers dirty, but we did our best!

If you haven't tried one of these volunteer outings, sign up for one of the one-day trips. Hard work, but boy, are they fun!

The emerald waters and beautiful setting of this lake never cease to amaze me! Perfect hiking weather today with skies clearing as I approached the lake. This hike has always been one of my favorites however since the washout I stopped going...not sure why? The Beckler River Road is such easy access to the TH. The hike is pretty dry this time of year until you reach Virgin Lake so carry water. The last time I was here was July '06 and it sure looks like the Columbia Glacier has receded quite a bit. I'll have to compare pictures. The trail is in good shape with the last piece being it's gnarly self and today it was quite muddy and slick especially descending. Bugs were not much of a problem.

Katie and Joseph-it was fun seeing you and your friends on the trail today! Glad your group had one dry night. It really makes me happy to see young people on the trail however you guys put an extra big smile on my face today. We live in a huge "candy store" keep sampling! I wish all of you tons of happy trails and memorable adventures!

  

Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the near shore of Blanca Lake? We did! And we decided it was time to do something about it. We started out on Wednesday morning amid partly cloudy skies, arriving at the lake in early afternoon. Our research indicated that there was a path around the west side of the lake, but it certainly wasn't obvious from the near shore!

One of us donned water shoes, and the other flip-flops. Each brandishing one trekking pole, we waded across the lake outlet to the opposite shore. The lake bottom had a lot of waterlogged bits of wood, but they weren't too slippery. The deepest channel was still below knee level, and didn't splash above. We got across quickly then put our boots back on.

After climbing over and around the log jam on the opposite shore, we saw a boot path leading along the western shore. We followed it, sometimes climbing to a brushy trail a few feet above the water line, and other times walking on the very edge of the water. To get around one small promontory, there were rocks that had been carefully placed at the shore's edge to provide a path of stepping stones barely above the water line. (See photo.)

The path continued, easy to follow, until we rounded a small cove. Here the trail climbed up and over a rock at water's edge, then started steeply up a grassy hill which quickly became a rutted dry streambed. (Another photo.) The overland route had begun. Following this steep ascent, route finding became necessary. There were multiple boot paths, usually leading in the same general direction, but not always. Often, they featured slippery mud and bushwhacking. Eventually we got through the bushwhacking and came down to the shore again. Here too there seemed to be choices: hike along the shore if you could climb over a few obstacles, or take the overland detours through brush.

Finally, we reached the westernmost part of the lake, which afforded a clear view of the destination. A walk over boulders led us to the north shore and a search for a camp site. The stream feeding into Blanca Lake from Columbia Glacier was too wide and fast to rock-hop. Rather than wade it, we opted to stay on the west side, finding only a couple of bare patches of gravel for camps. We chose one and set up camp. Unfortunately, there were no sizable trees on the west side of the stream, and we had nowhere to hang our food.

On Thursday, we set out to explore Columbia Glacier and above. We could see trees along the way, so we carried our food bags up to where the trees were and hung our food before continuing. The water flowing from the glacier provided scenic waterfalls and a gushing chute - very pretty. We scaled the rocky slope to the left of (and out of sight of) the powerful stream, climbing to a flat silty basin left dry by the receded glacier.

At the base of Columbia Glacier, we again opted not to wade the stream. Instead, we crossed on the snow field below the snout of the glacial ice. Numerous small crevasses were visible, many echoing with the sound of flowing water. Once on the east side, we ascended the slope on shifty loose rocks and boulders, which sometimes slid away to reveal solid ice beneath. (Glacier travel is never safe.)

At the end of the rocks, we sat down for lunch, then set out on the snow field for the pass north of the glacier. Distances are deceiving; it was a long walk to reach the far end of the snowfield.

From there it was a very steep ascent to the pass, half on snow and half on rocks, with much loose gravel scattered on the rocks. This was definitely Class 3, and possibly Class 4 in difficulty. The view from the top looking north was down on Glacier Basin, in the watershed that leads to Monte Cristo. The rocky pass was flanked by Wilmon Peaks to the west, and Monte Cristo peak to the east - very pretty. To the south was our route: Columbia Glacier and Blanca Lake, looking very far away. The ascent had taken 3 hours from camp, including stops to hang food and eat lunch.

On the way down, we decided to see if we could get a good view of the twin waterfalls pouring down the glacier-polished slab. On the west side, we followed the stream pouring out from the snout of the glacier downstream. This is where I took the Blanca Lake source photo, with the balanced boulder in the foreground. Just below, the stream split into two, and plunged into two pounding waterfalls. Very impressive. Then it was back to camp to swat mosquitoes again. (The breeze higher up had kept the insects at bay.)

Having seen everything we wanted to see, we exited on Friday, uneventfully. Following the path back around the shore of Blanca Lake proved as tricky as we expected. We had to route-find again, and backtrack a couple times when we found ourselves off-path. It's difficult to tell a streambed from a streambed path.

Exploration beyond the near shore of Blanca Lake is rugged and requires wading, route-finding, and bushwhacking. Be prepared if you go. The photos might help you decide if this is for you.

The hike to Blanca is nice. The trail is in excellent shape. There were a couple places with a little bit of mud, but hardly work mentioning. We did not encounter any snow on the trail at all. There were a couple blowdowns on the trail, but trails have been made around them. The hike in takes anywhere from 2 hours to 4, depending on your pace.

The trail is easy to follow. When you reach the top of the ridge, there is a trail that looks like it breaks off to the right (it is nothing, just a by-pass during the snow), and then another to the left that goes to some rocks. Follow up the rocks and you will be on the ridge. This takes you across the ridge and then drops down to Virgin Lake. From here it is only about another 3/4 of mile to Blanca.

There is fishing at the lake. The fish are small, but it is a great place to relax. We did not put bug spray on until we got to the lake. We only used spray because there was no wind when we arrived. The wind picked up a bit and the bugs were no problem at all.

If you want to go around the lake to the meadow, be prepared to take your boots off and cross the outlet river. The water is about 1'-2' deep so I would recommend water shoes or sandals to cross the outlet. If you choose to not cross, there are plenty of places to have lunch and relax.

 

The trail is snow free.
Pictures: http://www.meetup.com/[…]/?photoAlbumId=1008207

I have wanted to do this hike for a long time, and with the great weather recently and by reading the trip report from Jul 7, 2010, figured things would be pretty ideal. Due to the difficulty of this hike, we made it an overnight trip hoping we would find an open campsite, of which there appear to be about 4 established campsites. Since I was hiking with my 10 year old son, I did not want to push it for a single day round trip. If we did attempt the hike with lighter packs, I think we could have made it in about 3.5 hours up and 3 hours down, but that would be a *tough* 6 hours, and that’s not counting any stops or rest breaks.

We each hiked with ~25% of our body weight in our packs (15#/40#), and we made it to Blanca in 4.5 hours and back to the trailhead the next day in 3.5 hours. This includes a 5 minute water stop every hour. Speaking of water, my son carried 14oz and I had 64oz. This was the right amount for us as we arrived at the lake with about 8oz left. We had a water filter, and had the same amount for the trip back. It appears the active adult hiker can day hike this in 2-3 hours each way depending on fitness level. This hike is fairly steep, but the trail is good and consistent, and we averaged about 800’ in elevation per hour pretty consistently along the route. There is one blowdown on the trail, but others are hiking around it, and to me the state of this detour trail is in a good spot and could serve as the new/best path.

Approaching Virgin Lake, we hit a small snow field, but the tracks were easy to follow. We had a GPS for backup, but if you have a map, it’s easy to follow the ridgeline. If you get to a nice snow covered slope, glissade down it as it takes you to Virgin Lake (or hike around and not have as much fun :) As was helpful to me in another trip report, the trail to Blanca is on the right (east) side of Virgin Lake as you hike in.

As expected, Blanca Lake is worth every drop of sweat to get there. The lake is pretty cold, but we made a quick dip just to say we did. We did not make the meadow at the far end, but a few people we talked to did, and it is about another 45-60 minutes each way. To get there you need to cross the log jam in 3-24 inches of water, so bring extra socks for that as they provide good traction to cross the submerged logs. The meadow was reported to be quite spectacular, and we will make that another day for sure.

There were some flies and a few mosquitos just before dusk, but they seemed to disappear as quickly as they arrived, but we did use some bug spray as a preventative measure and were not bothered at all.

Bring lots of water, hat and sunglasses, and the 10 essentials. Plan your time appropriately so you can do all you want to do while there. This is a great hike, but due to the difficulty it may not be right for everyone, or younger kids. There are a lot of other hikes you could use to assess the readiness of younger ones.

This hike is ALOT of work but worth it. I hike atleast every other weekend and this hike was one of the more difficult hikes I've done due to the steep trail grade and lack of trail markers. GPS is suggested. With that said it took me a total of 5 hours hiking with a 1 hour lunch at the lake for a total of 6 hours. The trail is beautiful with glipses of the surrounding mountains the whole way up. The trail gets pretty steep right off from the start. I took my lab with me and he seemed to do fine but there are some parts that would give a smaller dog some trouble. It took me about an hour and half to reach the top of the trail. From there I encountered snow so I had to sorta navigate my way to the lake. Follow the ridge to the highest point you can reach, then it will pleatu. Steer yourself off to the right slightly. At 2pm I had the sun at my back so I was moving approximately east. I made it to Virgin Lake, took a short break and meet 2 other fellow hikers who pointed me in the right direction. There isn't many signs so i don't think I would of found the trail if it werent for them. When you find Virgin Lake, facing SE, the trail is across the lake and slightly to the right. Once on the trail head that leads to Blanca, it's steep but short, maybe 1/2 mile. The lake was beautiful though. It still has some snow on it. Great hike but long and rough. Be careful and pace yourself. I found myself more tired then usual due to the high elevation. Bring plenty of water and sunglasses. Still plenty of snow up there. I hiked in some ankle cut water proof boots and had no problem. Careful on the snow. Trail was overall pretty clear. A few blow downs but nothing serious.

Great day to be hiking the Blanca Lake trail. We encountered snow at about 3800 ft and followed boot prints and the trail (which was sometimes visible) to a little ways beyond Virgin Lake. There was still a lot of snow on the trail down to Blanca Lake and we elected to hike back up to the plateau overlooking Blanca where we found a nice spot for lunch with pretty nice views of the lake (still completely snow covered) and of Monte Cristo and Kyes. All in all, a great day to be out.

We headed out for a day hike to Blanca Lake on Saturday. We left the trailhead at 11:00am and leisurely made our way up the switchbacks navigating a small blowdown to about 4,000 ft. where the snow was permament. We stopped for a nice lunch on a flat area looking SSW down the North Fork river valley. We continued our ascent along the ridge up to Virgin Lake. We came across a number of hikers that decided not to continue the ascent, but also a few campers and their dogs who had spent Friday night at Blanca. Their tracks helpfully led the way.

The weather provided beautiful views of surrounding peaks, most notably Glacier. We made our way to a frozen Virgin Lake, with the snow a little heavy and wet, but not a serious deterrent if you've got a map and good boots. From there, we followed the northwest side of the mountain down the steep 6oo ft. drop to Blanca. We could see hints of blue surrounded by white through the trees spurring us on. There were still plenty of tracks and we even picked up the trail a few times on the way down, but it wasn't easy to follow.

Made it to Blanca by about 3:45 PM. Almost fully frozen, the lake gave a few glimpses of the turquoise in front of a snow covered Columbia Glacier. Had we been fully cognizant of the effort to get there we probably wouldn't have gotten out of the car, but I'm so glad we did. Beautiful lake and beautiful hike. Made it back to the trailhead much quicker than anticipated; we left the lake at 4:00 and we were at the car by 6:30.

The gravel road to the Blanca Lake trailhead, though long, is in very good shape. Dappled light on the roadway makes the occasional potholes hard to spot so keep eyes peeled.

The trail is generally good, with the usual assortment of spring blowdowns. Only one of them is problematic, requiring a detour through deep snow and thick brush. There is no water on the trail. Surprisingly, considering the area, there are no creeks along the way, so bring any water you'll need.

I made it to 4100' before turning back due to deep snow. Some others made it as far as Virgin Lake, but that's not an easy section right now. It will be at least a few more weeks before the trail opens up enough to get to Blanca Lake.

Two friends and I set out to do this hike yesterday. We arrived at the trai head about 9am and there were no other vehicles in the lot, which was good, the fewer people the better.

This trail wastes no time with getting to the steep parts. this is definetly a butt buster.

 At about 3000 ft we ran into the snow line and completly lost the trail. I brought my portable GPS, so we decided to go for it anyway. We set in a course for the top and started climbing.

 We got to the top of the ridge about 4300 ft. By this time the we were sinking in up to our knees on every step. According to my GPS we were about 3/4 of a mile from the lake, but one of our party was having a really hard time with the snow, so as much as it pained me, we figured it best and safest to turn around and retreat.

First time I ever failed to complete a hike. I am definetly going back soon. We encountered no other people on this trail.

ROAD CLOSED/WASH OUT. Attempted to snowshoe to Blanca Lake. Drove to Index then NE on Index-Galena Road following North Fork Skykomish River. Road washed out, river crossing road, road blocked by mounds of dirt and barricade 5 miles NE of Index. On this day, there was 0% chance of crossing river even in 4x4 truck.

We wanted to avoid crowds we expected to be thronging our usual haunts along I-90. We also wanted some adventure. Thus, Blanca Lake!

The drive took over two hours from north Seattle. The trip itself is beautiful with many peaks tipped with snow, trees caked with moss and rivers rolling along the road. When we arrived, sadly, there was another car at the trailhead.

Sufficient snow to put on microspikes was present about an hour up the trail. Shortly thereafter we switched to snowshoes. There were some boot tracks but those faded pretty quickly. We followed the snowshoe tracks of someone who seemed to know where they were going. At Virgin Lake, rather than leading us down to Blanca Lake these tracks led us up the ridge toward Keyes Peak. Somewhere around 6,000 feet we decided eating lunch was a good idea. It was breezy, but we sat in the sun and savored the spectacular views of endless peaks before us. Behind us Blanca Lake far below was hiding it's storied turquise waters in a thick blanket of snow.

Since we did not have an ice ax we decided not to continue up to the peak. We returned to the car without seeing another person. We are looking forward to returning again and going down to Blanca Lake itself.

For more photos: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/

One final fall hike and Blanca Lake was a glorious choice. Even the drive to the trailhead was gorgeous, with brilliant orange, gold, and fiery red leaves reflecting in Beckler River. Access is currently via US-2, then Beckler River Road, FR 65, for 13 miles to a 4-way construction zone, followed by a left turn to continue on FR 65 for another 2 miles. Turn right onto FR 63 and travel another 1.8 miles to the Blanca Lake Trailhead, on your left.

Bliss and I hit the trail at 9:45 am, with only 2 other cars in the parking lot, and took a leisurely Sunday stroll up, then down to Blanca Lake, which was spectacular under a clear blue sky. A pleasant surprise was finding some late-season berries still on the bush and this late in the year, they are sweeeeet! Never did find the boot-trail leading up to Mt. Toil, but four-footed Daphne enjoyed swimming in Virgin Lake, which is really just a very large, dark pond. A couple of tents were pitched here. The hike down to Blanca Lake was another mile, with a 600 ft drop down a rooty, steep, but dry trail. There was no mud or snow, though there were lots of ice crystals sprouting from the frozen soil. The first glimpse of Blanca is truly breath-taking. Saw less than a dozen people and a couple of dogs all day long, mostly on the way out.

Distance: 8 miles
Elevation gain: 2700 ft, +600 ft more to hike back up out of the lake
Time In: 3 hours at a conversational pace
Time Out: 2 hr, 15 min at a leisurely pace

The road to the trailhead via FR65/63 from Skykomish is in very good condition and was a breeze, even with a compact car. We got there shortly after 10am on Monday morning and there was only one car parked at the trail head. The weather was gorgeous, not a cloud in the sky, but it was quite chilly and we couldn't wait to warm up on the first few switch backs. We got to the ridge in 2 hours, with quite a few mushroom photo stops on the way. There was a tiny bit of snow on the trail towards the top, but the trail was easy to follow all the way. Virgin Lake actually looked quite pleasant. The hike down to Blanca was short but tough, with lots of mud and steep sections. This is where we came across the only other two people on the trail and their 3 huge dogs. Once down at the lake we warmed up a bit at the fire they had just put out. We sat in the sun and enjoyed our solitude, but it got chilly quickly as the sun was not as strong and there was quite a bit of shade. There was some snow and ice at the shore too, but not in the water. The way back to the car took almost as long as the hike in as our knees didn't like the steep descent, but it was still gorgeous. We didn't really see any wildlife, except for lots of birds. Lots of reds coming out next to the Evergreens. All in all a beautiful hike on a perfect fall day, and Blanca as milky as can be.

A couple of college friends were up and visiting and I had heard wonderful things so I decided this would be a good hike to take them on.

The trail starts climbing fairly shortly after the start and continues on till around three quarters of a mile from Blanca Lake right before a smaller lake named Virgin Lake (I believe). We stopped briefly at Virgin Lake, saw a frog or two and a mouse. There were also a large number of good berries which we munched on. After a fairly steep decline we arrived at Blanca Lake. The lake is absolutely gorgeous! The color really is quite remarkable. You can also see the twin falls and the glacier at a distance.

While my buddies munched on some lunch I ran down a small trail to the lake and investigated. If you are brave enough, there are a couple good places to go for a swim. I touched my hands and feet in and it was quite cold. If it had been a hotter day I might have been more tempted, but alas not today. Near the lake you will be scurrying over small rocks and jumping from log to log to get around, but it's still pretty easy to maneuver.

On the way back you are first presented with what was a steep decline on the way out. We stopped and picked a water bottle full of berries before continuing downwards.

Overall, a great hike. Give yourself some extra time as it might take a bit longer than expected to get to the trail head.

Access is via FR 65, the Beckler River road, which connects with FR 63 2 miles before the trailhead.

Trail is in good condition going up the ridge. The huckleberries get better the higher you go and slowed down our group in both directions. One person even filled their nalgene bottle with berries on the way down. Beyond Virgin lake the trail deteriorates and has several patches of climbing down boulders, roots and slippery dirt, so watch your footing. The lake is gorgeous of course and camping is limited. The trail deposits you on the lake shore near the outlet stream. The only way to cross the outlet stream at this time is to hop scotch across the logs that are scattered around the outlet of the lake. If you can get across these, the lakeshore can be walked at least half way and there are two small campsites to be found.

Bugs not too bad and no snow.

Blanca Lake was on my "definite to do list", so when the opportunity came up for a Seattle Mountaineers hike, I couldn't resist. The trail is a very steady steep climb up to Virgin Lake on a very good trail. A little after Virgin Lake the trail descends a little over 600 feet to Blanca on a fairly rough trail of rocks and roots. Blanca Lake with its green (aqua marine?) color is stunning as well as the back drop of the Monte Cristo Range that continues from the summits right into the lake and the Columbia Glacier with twin waterfalls in the distant. The 3,200 ft elevation gain was well worth the view of the lake and the grazing in blueberries along most of the trail.

20+ cars in the lot, great hike mostly in solitude through the forest but then relatively busy at the lake.

One lunchtime arrival observed "this is like greenlake park in Seattle"
At least the dogs could be off leash.

Limited water for dogs on the trail (dry season)

Saturday morning i got to a late start. I slept in thinking the clouds would not clear. But once they started clearing i jetted out the door. Made it as far as Monroe by the time i realized i forgot my camera. So i went back home to retrieve my camera. So i did not reach the trail head until after 2:30 pm. I reached Blanca lake with plenty of day light. All camp sites were taken. Fortunately, i use a hammock not a tent. So i hung my hammock above a dry creek bed on the north end of the lake.
The next morning i scrambled up to Columbia Glacier. The glacier it self is probably out of reach for most hikers in one day, due to the rugged nature of the area. I found the double water fall much less impressive standing next to it. But it's still pretty.

On the hike out there were a few hikers low on water. It seems hikers are underestimating how much water to pack on this trail. Pack extra!

This is the first time that I made a hike in the Cascades. The conditions were perfect, we started at around 8, we were the only-one at the carpark. We had clear blue skies, temp lower 60's.

The way up is tough but trought very nice forest. On top there is a beautiful alpine-like field with flowers. Virgin Lake is dark and a lot of bugs. The part downward to Blanca Lake is more difficult but dry, not very slippery.

When you reach Blanca Lake the view is magnificent. We underestimated the trail so we had to drink water from the Lake, the taste is very good. Also, we ate a lot of berries. There was no ice on the lake or on the lower parts of the mountains around it. We took a swim and wandered around for a while and went back.

On the way back we saw a few others climbing the trail and the temperature was much higher. We were happy that we started early. The way down is easier but I can imagine that on a rainy day it can be dangerous. At the carpark the temperature was around 90, one of the hottest days in the NW.

This is my second attempt to find the lake. Last time (2 years ago) I went there for the first time, met with fresh new snow early October that has frastrated my effort to find the lake. The lake is every bit of beautiful as it has been said by everybody. Love the hike. I was the third car on the parking lot. The day started cloudy. Virgin Lake is in the clouds as usual, but the lake reveals itself under the fog. By later afternoon clouds were lifted by large. This is not a easy hike, but the view once you get there is so rewarding that every drop of sweat is worthy. It is completely snow-free.

Several directions I have found are not easy to follow in order to find the trailhead - I wasted about 1 hour and half because this. It is important to know the following if you are the firt-timer, because it is the most straighfoward way to find it: Go west on Hwy 2 and pass Skykomish, and turn left on FR #65. Go about 16 miles (you don't need to set your milage gauge but if you are used to this way, this is the roughly the number) until you can not go further because there is a road close sign. Turn right and it is FR #63. You won't see the sign until you have aleady made the turn. Go about 2 miles and stay left when the road splits - you are in the trailhead parking lot.

Overcast day, and when we got to the lake it was completely fogged in, practically invisible. At least there were no bugs.

One note on the driving directions. We missed the turn off to FR 63, and only spotted it when we doubled back. It's about 15 miles from Hi 2 on 65, right before the soft barrier on 65. We didn't spot a sign on 65. It's a sharp right, and you can see the 63 sign partly obscured by trees once you really look that way. Both 65 and 63 are in great shape. 65 is paved about half way and the gravel sections are very easy.

We tentatively set out for Blanca Lake, after having our last camping trip to a lake nearby cut short and ruined by a whining swarm of mosquitoes, millions strong. At the trailhead, were didn’t notice any mosquitoes, but a throng of flies milled around us, landing frequently enough that we were prompted to put on some Deet. Posted on the trailhead kiosk, there is a topo map and elevation chart for those who are interested; we filled out a trail use registration card and were on our way.

The trail meanders along briefly, crosses a bridge, and turns upward into the climb to virgin lake. We left the lot at around 10, so the going was hot and sweaty, in spite of the good shade provided by the tall evergreens. I didn’t count the switchbacks, but a good rule of thumb on this trail is: when you hear water, you’ll be turning around soon. The trail doesn’t cross any streams, and is only mildly muddy in one or two different places. All in all, it is a very manageable climb.

After about an hour of climbing, you reach the shoulder area of the ridge, where you enter the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness and immediately find Virgin Lake. Little Ms. Virgin Lake must be too stagnant and foul to be at all attractive to the other lakes around the area, hence the name. Surprisingly, at this point there were still no mosquitoes, even though Virgin Lake seemed the perfect haven for them. One or two campsites dot the edge of this sad little pond; why you would want to put up here is a mystery.

The trail from Virgin to Blanca Lake is a bit of a catwalk in places. Many a tree root must be avoided, and care must be taken when finding foot-holds if you have any desire to keep yourself upright. In the wet, I can’t imagine there would be a dignified way to get down this stretch of the trail, so plan according to the weather. Nevertheless, as the trail levels to a bit more manageable grade, you can begin to catch glimpses of the turquoise wonder that is Blanca Lake. A few more steps and you will reach a rocky landing area where most will want to stop and pull out the point-and-shoot. Trees growing from sheer rock faces, the inexplicable precision of the broken rocks at your feet, let alone the lake itself all make for good captures.

Anticipation will finally get the better of you, and you’ll hurry down the remaining few hundred feet of trail to the shore of the lake, on the near side of the log jam. If you do decide to cross, be VERY careful in these next few yards – they will undoubtedly be the slowest of the trip. The water from the lake is cloudy and fast-moving enough to obscure some things from view, and a slip here could mean a sprained/broken ankle, or worse.

Something I feared even from the first step past the trailhead was the crowd – too many people have seen these pictures and this trail is too accessible to avoid them. Indeed, we saw at least 50 people in the three days we camped. If it’s solitude you seek, this is not going to be your cup of tea. But for me, the lake and surrounding wilderness was enough to overcome the chatter from the crowd – something that has to be seen in person to truly be appreciated.

First comment...Found pair of sunglasses with bifocals. Brought them home with me because I thought I knew who lost them. But they were not his so let me know if anyone knows who they may belong to.

Great hike, trail in good condition up to ridge but is rough with roots, rocks and step-downs on the descent to the lake. Trail is fairly steep all the way up to ridge with little flat ground until you reach ridge top. Then, after nice meadows and a small pond, the trail takes major drop down to the lake. This part likely to be slippery in wet weather.

Hot, sunny day so first hour of climb was tough for me but it cooled off higher up. A dozen or so folks there when I got to lake & about the same when I left, with people coming and going. Left the parking lot at 10, returned at 5 in afternoon with an hour at lake. But, took it slow, lots of rest stops on way up with lots of folks passing me. Drive from trailhead back to Redmond (through Duvall)took about 2 hours.

Blanca Lake has incredibly beautiful, turquoise green water below a glacier with nice glacial cirque, arete, horn features. Lots of blueberry bushes in meadows above the lake so they should be full of color in the Fall. At the lake, dangle your toes in the cold water at rocks above the waterfall. Great hike...I recommend it, especially if you want a good workout.

Bugs were bad from about half way up all the way to the lake and back.

Hiked this trail on the hottest day in history. This is already a challenging trail, but the heat made it an even greater challenge. Once we reached the lake, we barely had time to set up camp before a thunderstorm and a nice cool breeze. We were visited during the middle of the night by a friendly bear, but no damage was done. Once we began talking and moving around in our tents, the bear moved away. I didn't know how bad a wet bear three feet away can smell.

The worst part of the trip is the flies. It was difficult to carry on a conversation without one flying into our mouths. Even though the temp was around 100, we zipped our pants legs on and put on long sleve shirts. I suggest that anyone taking this hike carry a bug net. You'll need it if you expect to get in a break anywhere along the trail. The flies get worse at about the 3,000 foot level and let up near the summit. We had a nice breeze all the time we were at lake and very few insects.

Index-Galena Road out of Index to forest service road 63 was closed 6 miles in (signage was posted) and we had to go to just past Skykomish to forest service road 65.

The trail was clear and dry (a couple little boggy parts). The only snow was right when we arrived at Blanca Lake - none whatsoever on the trail. No trees or other blockages on the trail. Lots of flies on the way up, but no mosquitoes, and just a few little yellowish green bugs at the lake.

I lost my sunglasses on the way up. If anyone finds them, let me know! :)

As always, a prettier-looking version of this report, with more pictures, at the blog: http://dontlookdown.wordpress.com
And a few more photos at Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/

We hadn't yet combined car camping and day hiking this summer, and Cousin Bobby's number of free weekends before his internship ends can be counted on one finger, so it was decided that we'd head out and camp somewhere Saturday and then hike on Sunday. Blanca Lake has been high on my to-do list for several years—basically since I picked up my first 100 Hikes... book. While researching the hike, I found out that the shorter approach to the trailhead via FS63 (Index-Galena Rd) was inaccessible due to a road closure, but the trailhead was still reachable via FS65 (AKA Beckler River Rd). I thought this might deter some people and keep the trail slightly less busy. So it was decided that we'd head up FS65 seeking a suitable and free camping site and hike up to Blanca Lake the next day.

Roommate David loaded up the cooler, the back of the Forester was full, and we stopped off in Mill Creek to pick up Cousin Bobby around 09:45 on Saturday morning. After an easy cruise on US-2 through Skykomish, we turned left on Beckler River Rd, which is also a pretty smooth ride, until it first turned to gravel and then intersected with FS63. Along the way there were several choice campsites along the water, but all were taken. Once we turned up FS63, the road became smaller and we were slightly worried we wouldn't find a nice place to camp. We passed by the trailhead to Blanca lake and came a little closer to the North Fork Skykomish River, eventually finding a decent little grassy campsite with a fire pit and easy access to the water. By noon we were setting up our tents and settling in.

The weather was initially perfect, and three of us dunked ourselves in the cold, clear water of the river. We walked up and down the road and found that we were camped just several minutes before the end of the road and trailheads to Quartz Creek and West Cady Ridge. Clouds were rolling in and the sky was darkening, so we headed back to camp and prepped the area for imminent rainfall. Once it began, we retreated into our guest tent, a $20 ten-year-old Walmart special that David and Bobby would be sleeping in. It's far from the most waterproof of tents, but it kept us dry enough to play UNO, The Dice Game, and drink a few beers while listening to the thunder. After perhaps an hour, the rain let up and we went to gather a bit of firewood to supplement the stuff we had. Bugs, flies in particular, were an annoyance. We wanted to smoke them out. After the storm the river was swollen and turned from clear to brown. We put off filtering water until the morning and spent the rest of the evening around the fire...

The next morning we broke camp a bit later than we would've liked to, but were still at the trailhead and hiking by 08:15. There were several cars in the lot, but we only saw a few people on the way up. Speaking of the way up: it goes up—constantly. The trail starts off and enters the newly established Wild Sky Wilderness, then starts switchbacking for nearly three miles as it gains ~2700' of elevation. Though we weren't hiking in the heat of the day and the trail was shaded by giant cedars and firs, it was still quite warm and our progress was slow and sweaty. Aside from the trees, there isn't much to look at for a while.

At 09:45 I could make out some snow-topped mountains way off in the south; I speculated it was Mt. Daniel and friends down the Beckler River drainage and up the Foss River way. Around 10:05 the trees started to thin and the underbrush became berry bushes. At this point you get your first view of Glacier Peak to the northeast. If the views of Glacier Peak aren't reward enough, now the switchbacks stop and the trail climbs a ridgeline until you break into several small meadows.

It's here that the trail reaches its high point (~4600') and enters the second Wilderness Area of the hike, Henry M. Jackson Wilderness. Columbia Peak is visible in the distance. We stood—stooped—stopped—to catch our breath once again at 10:25. Now the trail descends, passing by a small pond someone named Virgin Lake. No, this is not Blanca Lake, and even I couldn't find the energy to lie and say it was. Once past the pond the trail turns into a steep, muddy, rocky route down toward the still-hidden lake. Take your time here, or you'll end up on your rear, like a couple of members of our party did.

And then it appeared! That beautiful turquoise body of water, cliffs, peaks, and waterfalls on all sides: Blanca Lake.

We sat down above the lake at 11:00. I've been saying we, but our party would separate and coalesce with the terrain. Cousin Bobby, of course, had been sitting at the lake for more than several minutes when Nicole and I arrived, and David pulled in several minutes after that. Bobby said it was one of the most beautiful places he'd ever seen. I agreed. David said it was nice. We snacked and relaxed. I took photos and admired Columbia Peak, Monte Cristo Peak, and Kyes Peak. Several people were visible along the edges of the lake. A naked man jumped off of a log; so did his poodle.

Bobby scrambled down the rocks to test the water, but the rest of us were content to experience it visually. Had we reached the lake in the heat and exertion of our climb, we would've jumped in immediately. But the slow descent had cooled us off comfortably already.

At 11:45, we left the lake and began the climb up to Virgin Lake, which we reached at 12:15. It was [almost] all downhill from there, which was easier than the ascent but a little harder on our now-tired knees. There were the same number of switchbacks on the way down, believe it or not. We stepped off of the trail and onto the parking lot at 13:50.

Blanca Lake must be earned. It's a beautiful destination that takes a bit of work to get to. It's not the hardest hike we've done, but it's far from the easiest. Cooler temperatures could've made the way up a little easier. Maybe. It was worth it! A great morning in the mountains.

Stats: ~8 miles round-trip from the trailhead (1900') to Blanca Lake (3972') and back—Green Trails Map #143 thinks it's 7 miles, 100 Hikes... says 8 miles, and I have to say it feels like the latter. We gained and lost a total of ~3300' of elevation, topping out at around 4600' above Virgin Lake. It took us 2:45 to get to Blanca Lake and 2:05 to get back to the Forester. Hike time: 5:35. Active time: 4:50. Flies successfully swatted: ~100 among the four of us.

Trail is in good condition and is snow free until just before Virgin Lake. As you make your final descent to Blanca Lake you'll encounter more snow which rings the icy shoreline. Crossing the outlet creek is difficult without getting wet and probably not worth the effort until more snow melts.

Few campsites (1 at Blanca and 1 at Virgin) are free of snow for backpackers so keep this in mind if you're planning on staying overnight.

Wildlife seen: 1 pheasant, 1 chipmunk, 1 frog

Encountered snow around 4000 feet which persisted clear to the lake. The lake is still mostly frozen over except around the outlet. To pitch a tent anywhere up there probably means being on the snow, whether by Virgin Lake or otherwise. The snow was not so perilous, just annoying. The trail has been cleared of most major blowdowns but a few still remain that are fairly easily crawled over. Bugs are not yet a factor.

Hiked up to Blanca Lake today. I've done this hike 3 times in the past 2 months and each time has been much less difficult; namely because the snow line is ascending. But, this past weekend also marked the first time that a ranger (I would assume) has come through and removed most all of the blowdowns along the trail (not that there were that many). The snowline is currently around 4000 ft, so the hike stays snow-free until the last climb up to the ridgeline. Virgin Lake is still snowed over, but starting to show some water melting through the ice. There is a tree on the North side of Virgin that is flagged as a guide to find the trail through the woods and on to Blanca. The descent down to Blanca from this point is probably the hairiest part of the hike right now with some of the snow pretty thin, making it difficult to get decent footing. Otherwise, the trail is fairly distinguishable and certainly worth hitting. Highlight: only saw one other person on the trail all day!

The road to the trailhead is completely clear now and in good condition.

The trail was in good shape with a handful of blow downs, but nothing crazy. About two thirds of the way up to the ridge we started hitting snow patches (where there were some crazy bugs including a big black one that drew some serious blood on my arm) and once we got to the ridge itself there was a good 2 - 4 feet of snow obscuring the trail. We pressed on with only a little post holing and were fine with just our hiking boots and no other gear, though some poles would have been helpful and I wouldn't have minded some yak tracks.

Having never done the hike before we completely lost the trail on our way up the ridge and never found the 600' descent to make our way to the lake. As it was we got to the back of the ridge, barely spied the lake through the trees, far away, and down a crazy steep hill and decided to turn around.

Definitely going back when the snow is gone and I can make it to the lake with my neck intact.
 

Couldn't drive the car to the trail head due to snow. Didn't go much further thinking that if there's snow there, there's surely snow further on. Maybe try again in 2-3 weeks.

Road 63 to Blanca Lake and West Cady Ridge is closed for the next 2 weeks while work crews with excavators and bulldozers install new culverts. Barbella and I, however, did get in to Blanca Lake today for a beautiful if strenuous hike. The trail overall is in good shape, but the first mile is littered with many blowdowns, some of them huge. Gary Zink would love it! We drove up the Beckler River road over Jack Pass and down to the Garland Springs junction. The road up to that point is in wonderful shape. We hiked in past the work crews up the road to the trailhead. There is no outhouse nor any sign in forms. The trail starts out through gentle forest and the new Wild Sky Wilderness sign is posted. Then come the huge blowdowns. After a mile, the trail climbs relentlessly in many switchbacks to the crown rock on the top of the ridge. The next several hundred feet of Alpine meadows are very pleasant and we scored a sampling of huckleberries along the way. Past Virgin lake the trail descends 600 rocky ankle twisting feet through lush salmon berry bushes and woods to Blanca Lake. The lake is a stunning turquoise perfectly framed by a matched pair of mountain peaks with Columbia glacier between them. It is a picture perfect setting. It took us 3 hours to climb 2700 up and 600 down to the lake and about 3 hours back to the car. Lots of mushrooms out but all past their prime. Next rainstorm should encourage a huge crop.

USFS road 63 will be closed at mile 15 from September 22, 2008 until November 5, 2008. Federal highways contractors will repairing three washout areas from the 2006 flood. The road will not be passable during construction, and will be blocked at mile 15, this is 1.5 miles before the Blanca Lake trailhead.

questions ? call the Skykomish Ranger District (360)677-2414