As we like to do, we went out later in the day to avoid peak traffic on the trails. We arrived about 330 and there was plenty of parking at the trailhead, but we did encounter several cars coming down as we were headed up.
Once you leave Baker Lake Road, the the forest service roads are pretty rugged and narrow, so take it easy...and appreciate some of the breathtaking views of Mt. Baker as you ascend the road. Not even a whisper of snow left on any of the roads. But don't miss the roadside waterfall on your way up.
The hike to Blue Lake is super easy and beautiful and quick -- lots of flowers in bloom and the lake is a lovely alpine lake. Most of the hike was shaded and that was nice since it was very warm day. Parts of trail are gushy and wet and other parts have a lot of roots, but I don't consider that obstacles on the trail.
One note: there used to be a sign at the junction of Blue Lake and Dock Butte trails but it seems to be gone (you can see the hole where the post was). So if you're looking for the Dock Butte trail, when you see the small meadow on your right about 1/4 mile along the trail, take the right fork. If you're wanting to go on to Blue Lake as we were, take the left fork.
The only snow we saw was one spot on the far side of the lake where it doesn't get enough sun. The water was cold but not frigid. My husband took a dip. There were only a handful of people when we arrived around 4pm.
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