Not bad for a couple in their late 60's. Nearby, a larch arches over the lake for another irresistible North Cascade photo-op. The route to Blue Lake lies in the middle of a forest burned by the B and B Fire of 2003. It’s about protecting what sustains us. We love it because of the spectacular scenery and ease of access. The Best Winter Adventures in North America. The Blue Lake Trail in Indian Peaks, Colorado, is an epichike that takes you through some of the best alpine meadows in the region. If you are visiting in September or October, watch for larches; their needles turn golden yellow in the fall. You'll see why this is named Blue Lake. Outstanding views with minimal effort. Great quick one on a day you don't have much time. At 28m deep, this lake was formed when glaciers, flowing from the Great Dividing Range, converged and carved out a basin in the rock. With more than 6 Blue Lake trails covering 19 miles, you’re bound to find a perfect trail like the Humboldt Bay Trail North or Dennis Wendt Memorial Trail. To get to the start of the Blue Lake trail, drive through the town of Ward to the end of Lefthand Canyon Dr. To catch a glimpse of Mount Baker, ascend about a quarter mile and 250 feet in elevation. With (at least) six of them scattered around the state, telling your friends, "I'm going to hike to Blue Lake" might be met with the question, "Which one?" The Upper Blue Lake is a little more than a quarter-mile away, and sits at an elevation of 11,720 feet. It’s clear blue waters are popular with water skiers, swimmers and boaties. The trail is marked with red signs in sticks or painted at rocks. Blue Lake has a motorized trail to it that is separate from this trail. The hike quickly takes you to the shore of Mitchell Lake, a small alpine lake surrounded by wildflowers (depending on the season). The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from July until November. The Blue Lake Hike in Washington is one of the best hikes in North Cascades National Park. Blue Lake – The Best Short Hike in North Cascades NP. The fall colors are starting to show at Blue Lake. I did a little day hike called Blue Lake, about a 1.5 hour drive from Boise, Idaho. go through pay gate, and head to Long Lake Trailhead. While it’s tucked away in the shadow of Granite Mountain, it draws a large crowd due to its beautifully wild landscape and the fact that’s it’s easy to get to. Bright turquoise in colour, the Blue Lake gets its colour due to the minerals of the surrounding mountains where it is located. Know before you go. The views along the way will keep you occupied. This hike is full of top-notch mountain and alpine lake views. Begin hiking through a forest and over boardwalks to a big, open meadow at 0.9 miles. Beautiful! It fills a large, rocky cirque framed by Pawnee Peak (12,943'), Mt Toll (12,979'), Paiute Peak (13,088') and Mt Audubon (13,223').. During the springtime, the area becomes overrun by beautiful wildflowers—making the lake even more picturesque. Blue Lake is a popular hike near Cascade, Idaho. With towering granite peaks, forests, meadows, wildflowers, and of course the beautiful mountain lake surrounded by granite that reaches for the sky, this short hike is easily a classic and should be on your must-hike list. The Blue Lake trailhead is well-signed from Highway 20 and the parking lot is is just off the roadway. Blue Lake is a fantastic alpine lake along a moderate trail in the sawtooth North Cascades, featuring views of some of the most impressive peaks in the range. If you are backpacking, camping in the Thomas Lake and Blue Lake areas is only allowed in designated campsites (see the map at the trailhead}. Just 2.2 miles and 1,000 feet of elevation gain from Highway 20, this short hike is a great way to break up the long drive between eastern and western Washington. Lost Lake is a moderately…, The fantastic Lake Isabelle trail is one of the best Nederland hikes, and one of our favorites in the Indian…, Today for free and be the first to get notified on new updates. There are three lakes in the basin - the middle and upper have the best views. We decided to keep exploring and go up to the little blue lake, which is about ¾ of a mile from Blue Lake. The hike begins and remains in a dense forest most of the time. Duration: Half day. View larger (PDF, 1,110K) Stop the spread and keep Rotorua lakes free of pest fish. HOWEVER, this hike went from easy to moderate, to difficult pretty quickly. Now, you're ready to start up the trail on a hike that takes you through classic indian Heaven meadows and past 11 named mountain lakes as well as a number of anonymous tarns. Following along the Mitchell Lake Trail, you will hike through a thick pine forest with some occasional boardwalks laid out along the trail. This is a good turnaround point or you can turn left (south) here and follow this spur trail for another 0.2 mile to the Blue Lake Trailhead if you've arranged a car shuttle. Consider this a checklist as well — can you visit all of them in a season? It’s about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. In the background, you’ll also get to take in the majestic Mt. (This part of the hike is not included in the 6 mile round trip and elevation description.) Blue Lake is located in the Tushar Mountains at the base of Mt.Belknap and Mt.Baldy. Blue Lake Trailis a short but steep hike to Blue Lake, offering beautiful panaramic views, of Long Valley, Lake Cascade and the lake, from the road before you get to the trailhead. Blue Lake is not accessible by car or on a day walk. View detailed trail descriptions, trail maps, reviews, photos, trail itineraries, directions and more on … The views of Mount Baker only get better from here, so if you’re feeling hardy, continue on to the Dock Butte summit. Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. When you’ve had your fill of this charming lake, head back down the trail on the same path you came in on. We enjoyed the remarkable views of the alpine meadows and the blue lake. Become a Contributor at 10Adventures and share your adventures! Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. You can also continue hiking on the Toutle Trail from Blue Lake to the Loowit Trail. Distance: 6 miles round trip. This is visible in the cliffs behind the lake, where the glaciers have plucked out blocks of stone and carried them away. Tucked away in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in Colorado, hikers can find a secret, dazzling blue lake. The Blue Lake makes for a fantastic photo-op of this famed mountain. Quickly is reached a wide old glacier tongue that was covered by ice many years ago. The closer you get to reaching Blue Lake, the more impressive the views of the Indian Peaks become. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. The Blue Lake is a very easy 1 hour and 30min walk right around the lake. Copyright © 2021 10Adventures Inc. All rights reserved. Hikers will ascend more than 500 feet in a little over a half-mile to reach the middle lake at 11,500 feet. Hike less than 2 miles and you’ll arrive at a scenic mountain lake which you can fish for trout or brave the cold water for a swim. Hiking the Blue Lake Trail is a North Cascades favorite. Pit toilets are located in the parking lot and nowhere else that we saw. So, this was a very important hike. The tread is singletrack with a vertical gain and loss of 549 feet. With being under five miles this hike will take you very quickly to those majestic blue mountain lakes. From the lookout, you'll enjoy an excellent panoramic view of the sparkling blue water of Barrier Lake, along with the surrounding majestic mountains. Tikitapu / Blue Lake is situated 9 km south-east of Rotorua, via Te Ngae Road then a right turn at the roundabout into Tarawera Road. There were no signs so we really didn't know how much farther we had to hike to the lake but we did make it. Report any sightings of koi carp (3-70 cm) or catfish (3-40 cm). Nice elevation, views and surroundings. Hike to Blue Lake. It’s one of the closest lakes to Rotorua. Rated 4.571 /5 based on 7 customer reviews 4.6 6 miles 1000 ft gain - Out-and-Back Trail Save Add Review Get Directions Add Photo. From the lake, you’ll also spot a run off stream called Mitchell Stream, which provides a wonderful trickling ambiance sound to your visit. Trail Map | Photo Gallery. From the lower lake the trail begins to climb again. Such an amazing reward! Usually viewed from the north at the Washington Pass Overlook, Liberty Bell and the Early Winters Spires are visible over Blue Lake from the southwest. Blue Lake has some great views and wildflowers in the summer. This is a short and relatively easy hike with mild elevation gain. Elevation gain: 1000 feet. Access 650K+ miles of trail data, offline maps, GPS tracking + waypoint functionality, Outdoor Project adventures, and more, using onX Backcountry. Blue Lake Trail is a 4.6 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Chelan, Washington that features a lake and is rated as moderate. What’s even better is that it also offers…, This is a popular, family-friendly hike, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth checking out. Nice hike. We hope you like wildflowers because in the summer this trail has them in spades. Here you'll have outstanding views of Mt. I say this as the last half mile or more is very steep with small rocks and exposed tree roots. Well many hikers frequently try to swim here, it’s frowned upon and there are few accessible spots to actually enter the water. Return the same way. Keep an eye out for moose in this area! Blue Lake is perhaps the most eponymous name for a hike in Washington. Perfect combination of mountain, lakes and aspen forest. We hiked all the way up to the 3rd lake and every one was just as breathtaking as the other. Trail is fairly easy to follow and mostly flat. The Blue Lakes are located in a glacial basin in southwest Colorado in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness. It was an easy trek that goes with lots of amazing views! A large boulder on Blue Lake's west side makes for the perfect picnic perch. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. Nestled among the craggy hills of Mt Kosciuszko National Park — including some of the 10 highest mountains in Australia — and with easy access and an excellent track, the walk to this sparkling jewel is among the best Australian hikes.Distance: ∼10 kmDifficulty: ModerateHighest point: 2,000 m (Blue Lak… Beautiful trail that leads to 3 alpine lakes - it is about 3.6 miles from the trail-head and relentlessly uphill for at least the first 2 miles or so. Love this hike so much. Blue Lake Circuit is a fine choice for a soothing sulfur-smell-free hike near Rotorua. During summer, this meadow is covered in wildflowers. Blue lake is gorgeous on its own. The lower lake is I met Mathis on this hike. Continue along the trail to re-enter the forest, cross a stream, and arrive at the lake shore within an hour of parking your car. The flowers are splendid! Explore the best trails in Blue Lake, California on TrailLink. Set out on the Blue Lake trail as … Following along the Mitchell Lake Trail, you will hike through a thick pine forest with some occasional boardwalks laid out along the trail. If you want to find other great hikes in Indian Peaks Wilderness, check out the Lone Eagle Peak hike, Lake Isabelle trail, Rainbow Lakes trail or the Arapaho Glacier Trail. Blue Lake Kangkar Pulai Closure August 2020 Update Please note that Kangkar Pulai Blue Lake will be officially closed from now on (August 2020) and hiking activities will be strictly prohibited! The lake is located deep in the backcountry and it takes a minimum of two days backcountry tramping to visit it. Blue Lake, Snowy Mountains, is one of Australia’s few glacial lakes located in one of just three alpine areas in the country. Hiking trails run along both sides of the lake, but none encircle it. It goes by the riverbed during the first km. Start the trek by crossing a short series of boardwalks. Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Added by Amy Kesic. Magnificent hike! Blue Lake - 5.1 Miles Round-Trip Blue Lake (11,355') is located 2.55 miles from Mitchell Lake Trailhead in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. Because of this and the stellar lake views at the top, know that you are likely going to be hiking with company! This turquoise blue lake has a flood control structure on the outlet, and is rimmed with downed trees. You can hike in peace, but when you get to the lake you might be greeted with motorbikes. The North Cascades has a lot of longer hikes and this is definitely the best short (shorter) hike in the park. Turn right on CO-72 then quickly turn left onto Brainard Lake Rd. Located right off Highway 20 (no forest road required), the trailhead is consistently busy during weekends in the summer and fall. The water was definitely too cold for swimming - even on a hot day. No spam. Stop the spread of Rotorua pest fish brochure. Mathis, if he could talk, would say, "This is where I want to be." Toll (3956m) as a backdrop. Pass through the junction with the Blue Lake Horse Trail then go 0.2 mile more to another junction. One more uphill section with mild elevation gain brings you to a stunning view of Blue Lake with Mt. Can't believe this place is real! Short trail. In the fall, take in Incredible autumn foliage with bright orange Larch. Begin the Blue Lake hike at the Mitchell Lake Trailhead in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area inside Indian Peaks Wilderness. But trust us — the climb is worth it for the incredible lookout you can enjoy from the top. National Park Annual Pass is accepted at the gate, otherwise Brainard Lake Recreation Area is Cash Only ($11 per passenger vehicle). Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email. It’s about more than standing on the mountain top. An easy walking track circles the Blue Lake taking in beautiful beaches, native bush and the exotic conifers of Whakarewarewa Forest. From here, check out the Liberty Bell Group towering overhead. It is not a trail for beginners or those who are not in decent shape but not super-difficult either. It is a challenging hike but worth it. Best known for its spectacular fall colors and easy access, Blue Lake is a classic hike in Washington's North Cascades. Convenient parking can be found along the north side of the lake as well as near the south end. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The lake is surrounded by grassy meadows, with tall reeds that blow in the wind. Head out along one of these paths to find solitude, and perhaps some wildlife, among the mountains. Rated as easy for its short length and slight elevation gain, we clocked in 5.3 miles while climbing +960 feet in about 2.5 hours. To top it off, the grand finale of this trek is the beautiful Blue Lake with Mount Toll sitting in the background. The trail begins to gain elevation after Mitchell Lake before leveling out again in a beautiful alpine meadow. I had my eye on the Blue Lake for a while – it’s only 5 miles round trip, less than 1,000 ft of elevation gain, and from my experience hiking around that area, the scenery would … The trail provides approximately 1.3 miles of easy to moderate hiking. Some might argue it was crucial, if not critical, that I pick the right trail. According to news from fellow climbers, the famous check-in spot in Kangkar Pulai, the Blue Lake, will be “closed” as of August 2020. At 6254 feet, Blue Lake sits quietly a little over two trail miles from Highway 20. © 2020 Outdoor Project. The Blue Lake Trail is the best short hike in North Cascades National Park. Now you've got a handy reference. Blue Lake is the best example of a glacial lake in the alpine area. Hiking to the Blue gem, Blåvatnet Once is explored Aspevatn on the way back will be taken the path that leads to Blavatn. The hike starts at Kananaskis Trail — for the most part, it is relatively flat, with just a short uphill hike. Blue Lake, one of Idaho’s better kept secrets, can be found just outside of Cascade in the Boise National Forest near the summit of Snowbank Mountain and Granite Peak. Surrounded by stunning alpine forests, Mitchell Lake is a pretty spot for some rest and relaxation. To access the lake the shortest way, take the water taxi from Lake Rotoroa Jetty to Sabine Hut. Close proximity to Denver, Boulder, or Estes Park. If you sit still long enough, you just might be lucky enough to spot a moose stopping by the watering hole for a drink. It is a beautiful hike and family friendly due to its accessibility and short duration. Just 2.2 miles and 1,000 feet of elevation gain from Highway 20, this short hike is a great way to break up the long drive between eastern … Blue Lake Trail Description Begin the Blue Lake hike at the Mitchell Lake Trailhead in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area inside Indian Peaks Wilderness. From Blue Lake, hike back to the intersection with the Blue Lake/Dock Butte sign, following the arrow for the Dock Butte trail. Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. I did this hike recently with my 3 y/o son. Gives a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains and the color if the lake looks even better. Best known for its spectacular fall colors and easy access, Blue Lake is a classic hike in Washington's North Cascades. Brilliant fall colors. Toll. Coming from Rotorua, you’ll reach the north shore first, so that’s probably where you will begin. Great views. Walk from the Sabine Hut to the West Sabine Hut (5hrs) and from here to the Blue Lake Hut (3.5hrs). It’s a short hike that’s easily accessible during the spring and summer months and is only 80 miles from Boise – a short two-hour drive. With only 1050 feet of elevation gain this hike is doable for almost everyone. It’s about nourishment and learning. There are occasional views during switchbacks and great views at the very end when you reach Blue Lake. All rights reserved. A gorgeous alpine hike with wildflower-filled meadows, and impressive views this trail is not to be missed. The lake was worth the hike though and we can highly recommend this trail. By the B and B Fire of 2003 a big, open meadow 0.9! Outlet, and is rimmed with downed trees people spending time outside and this is visible the... Lake Recreation area inside Indian Peaks become September or October, watch for ;! Lake has a flood control structure on the Toutle trail from Blue has... 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