Hiking Guide to Stunning Blanca Lake in Washington

Blanca Lake is one of the more popular trails within two hours of the Seattle metro area, and I wanted to check it out and see what all the hype was about! It’s a tough hike for sure, but at an eight-mile round trip, the pain and suffering will end at some point, and you’ll be able to soak in some dramatic views of a turquoise lake, melting glaciers, and pretty mountains.

While anyone can do this hike, you should be in decent hiking shape to enjoy it. The uphill feels never-ending, and I was huffing and puffing for a solid 90 minutes.

Below, see my trip stats, trail report, and critical information about hiking Blanca Lake in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness.

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Hiking to Blanca Lake in the Washington Cascades

Blanca Lake Trail Stats:

• Distance: 8 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: 3,600 (down if you go down to the lake) – 2,800 ascent on the way up though
• Difficulty: Hard
• Time on Trail: 3.5 hours of moving time (likely faster than most people) (plan 5-7 hours overall)
• Popularity: Extremely popular, arrive early for hikes or after 4pm for a sunset jaunt

My Trip Report

Readers of this website know I’m all about chasing sunsets. But to enjoy the stunning lake color, you want sunlight to show off the magical color of Blanca Lake. So, a sunset hike was out of the question.

I left Seattle in the early afternoon and started hiking up Blanca Lake around 2:30 p.m. Minutes after hitting my watch to start tracking, the uphill had begun, and my heart rate was pumping. For the next 90 minutes, the trail was up, up, and up. It honestly felt never-ending, and I felt so slow.

That was until a lovely lady hiking down said, “You sure have a good pace.” (Little did she know I had just been breaking!) Granted, I actually did have a good pace. I did the four miles in just over two hours.

But back to the trail. It’s in great shape, and if you want to move quickly, you can. It’s just a bunch of switchbacks up the hillside until you reach the top. Then it levels out for a bit, and I munched on blueberries and caught my breath before beginning the 600-ish-foot descent to Blanca Lake.

This is surprisingly steep, and the trail is not as well maintained. Big steps and roots force you to think a bit harder.

I hung out on the main viewpoint, soaking in the sights and eating some sacks. If you want, there’s a trail that will bring you down to the water level, but I didn’t really care, so I saved energy and steps.

The return trip was much the same—but with a lot less panting. I had blueberries on the way back and cruised down the trail. My return time was under 90 minutes, and my legs felt like jelly by the time I hit the parking lot.

Overall, this was a beautiful trail, and having only a couple of other parties on it made it thoroughly more enjoyable than what I imagine weekends are like.

Planning Your Blanca Lake Hike

Where’s the trailhead?

The Blanca Lake Trailhead is 16 miles and 35 minutes northeast of Index. The drive is somewhat winding and mostly paved, with some rollercoaster-like tendencies. The trailhead is at the end of Forest Service Road 63.

Directions to the trailhead.

How far from Seattle?

With good traffic, this is about a two-hour drive from Seattle to the Blanca Lake hike. I think the maps assume you will go slower on the Index Galena Road. When I drove it, there wasn’t another soul on the road.

How large is the parking lot?

The parking lot is medium-sized, with probably room for 25-30 cars. I went on a Tuesday night, and there were still seven cars. It supposedly fills up on the weekends.

How’s the road to get to Blanca Lake Trailhead?

The road to Blanca Lake is paved for all but two miles. I had read about this being a bad road, and honestly, I wouldn’t say that. (I have a 4Runner now, but I was a former Prius owner.) It is bumpy and has potholes as you head up, but you’ll be fine if you take it slow.

At least one sedan was in the parking lot, and I’m sure plenty drive throughout the summer.

Overall, I would not say you need a high-clearance vehicle and that you should drive whatever you have available.

Blueberries are numerous in August and September near the high point

Near the trail’s high point, the blueberries were out in force! A lot of the berries right along the trail had been picked through, but if you reached a meter back, you could find some good ones. This was a lifesaver on the way up and helped me catch my breath.

But coming down, I basically had to drag myself away from munching on all the tasty blueberries!

Be Bear Aware

With berries comes the potential for bears. I wouldn’t be too concerned about black bears, but in an area where bears could frequent, it’s good to keep an eye out and not leave food or trash around. If you do see a bear, let it know you’re there and keep your distance.

If it has cubs, give it even more room, slowly back away, and ensure it doesn’t feel threatened.

Can you swim in Blanca Lake?

Yeah! It’ll be chilly but you can definitely swim in Blanca Lake. It’s fed by snowmelt and glacier melt, which gives it its unique color. As always, be careful when going into an alpine lake.

Backpacking Rules for Blanca Lake

You can backpack along the Blanca Lake trail but cannot sleep near Blanca Lake. The furthest point you can sleep is near Virgin Lake. Once you begin heading down, you’ll pass a sign that says “Day Use Only.” While it’s important (follow the rules), I also didn’t see any good camping spots.

Where to camp

A couple of large campsites are at the hike’s high point – before you read Virgin Lake. You’ll drop a couple hundred feet down to the lake (a small pond, really), and there are more camping opportunities surrounding the lake.

I did the Blanca Lake hike the first week of September, and the water in Virgin Lake left much to be desired. Drinking with a filter is fine, but don’t expect it to taste fresh.

When you go to Blanca Lake, make sure your entire party brings their filters so you can have cleaner, clearer water for your trip.

Can you get back to the glacier on the Blanca Lake hike?

You can hike back to the glacier, but there’s no official trail. People say there may be a light footpath, but it’s mostly a choose-your-own-adventure. Sticking close to the lake seems to offer your best route and probably your best chance not to get lost.

Car Camping in the Area

As you pass Index and Galena and head out on Index-Galena Road, you’ll pass San Juan Campground and Troublesome Creek Campground. While these aren’t hard to access, they’re also not right off the highway, so these might prove to be a nice gem of a site.

If you want to hike Blanca Lake and make sure you get a parking spot, camp in one of these. You’ll have a 20-minute drive to start your hike.

Wrapping up Blanca Lake Hiking Guide

Blanca Lake is a gem and one of the must-do hikes in the Seattle area. For most, it’ll be a full-day trip, allowing you to get out and immerse yourself in nature. But we know this is incredibly popular, and you and a hundred of your closest friends will also be on the trail.

If you want more peace and quiet, try hiking around sunrise or doing an afternoon hike, using your headlamps for light on the way back. However you tackle your Blanca Lake hike, you’re in for a treat, and epic views are just four miles away!

Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.

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