Blue Lake Trail #959

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · River/Creek · Views

This is a nice trail that will challenge you on the way in because of the constant but gradual climb to the lake. However, it makes for an easier hike back home, if you leave the way you came in, because it is mostly downhill the whole way back. There is a very brief downhill hike on the way in, and, subsequently, a brief uphill hike to get back out—nothing intense though.

At the Blue Lake Trailhead, which is just off Hwy 14, there is a parking lot with ample parking, but no services. Just 300 yards down the road at the Long Draw Road Winter Trailhead are restrooms and additional parking.

The trail starts out in a heavily wooded, wide track with a nice, soft, earthy forest floor as your foot path. As you get deeper into the trail, it becomes more rocky, but is generally always a good solid pathway to hike on. You'll cross three man-made footbridges along the way as the trail crosses the Joe Wright Creek and Fall Creek, and a few other very small water crossings that can be easily stepped across. As a result, much of the trail is accompanied by the sound of rushing or trickling water and makes for a nice background effect. These provide great places to stop and rest.

Because of the heavy forest, it is much of the same sights and sounds for a good 3-4 miles in to the hike, and only catching very briefly framed vistas of Cameron and Clark Peaks. Around mile 4, the forest starts to thin, and you'll be able to enjoy some glimpses of the peaks and alpine meadows, helping to keep you motivated as you get closer to the destination which is the lake itself. Once you've reached the lake, you can turn around and doubleback, or continue on to a junction with the West Branch Trail #960.