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Blanca Lake

4.6 (38 reviews)

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So blue!!!
Jen M.

In an area full of unending beauty and trails, it's rare that I'm moved to revisit a hike more than once. But this will definitely be an exception. This lake is like a sherbert green/blue color. UNREAL! Apparently it's due to it being a "rock flour" lake where silt from the glacier gets suspended in the water and reflects the color... but still... I've been on a lot of hikes and seen a lot of lakes, but have never seen color like this before...amazing. And just as amazing the color is the feel of it when you jump in. Yes, it is glacier water, but it is not as cold as the Puget sound. I went in 3 times and could still feel my limbs and since we went on a fairly warm day, I wasn't even cold when I got out. awesome. The hike is tough - 3000' elevation gain in 3 miles is no joke (bring lots of water!!!), but its doable and definitely worth it. I timed it - it took less than 2 hours from Bellevue to the trailhead, a little over 2 hours to get to the top (with a couple rest stops and one detour), 1 hour to swim, 2 hours back down (some areas are muddy and a bit tricky to get down) and 2 hours to drive back to the eastside. Not bad. Next time I will definitely try to stay longer at the top - that lake is just too good. Note: there are TWO lakes... I didn't realize this - the trail is well marked and easy to follow for the most part, but then after scrambling up some rocks and relocating our path, we ventured down into an open space area with some small growth trees and snow... then we saw a lake.. and it was gross. We almost turned around after hitting the first lake - I was thinking to myself, I am definitely NOT jumping in that and maybe we missed the path somewhere? ... but I am so glad we ran across some fellow hikers who encouraged us saying that we were, indeed, going to the right direction and to go about 15-20 minutes beyond the 1st lake to the second. It didn't take long before you could see shades of that water flirting with you through the trees and it's all downhill from there.

Blanca Lake - Summer 2015
Alvin L.

Blanca Lake is approx. 2 hours northeast of Seattle. The drive out there is pretty smooth until the last 20-25 minutes. The last 8-10 miles or so is on unpaved road. If possible, take an SUV which will make for a smoother ride. However, smaller cars will make it too. I have been here twice and have seen civics and corollas both times. Tip: If you need the restrooms there is a wooden box / honey bucket in the parking lot. I would recommend stopping by the Starbucks (prior to merging onto HWY 2) if you think you will need more than 30 seconds. The smell is pretty brutal! The hike itself was pretty challenging. I would say 8/10 in terms of level of difficulty. Not the best hike for beginners and families. Certain parts of the trails are extremely narrow and certain parts of the trail require you to climb. You will definitely break a sweat and work up an appetite. Bring plenty of water and pack a lunch. You will be hungry!! If you do end up making it, the view is amazing. Be prepared to take lots of pictures. It's amazing how a lake like this (turquoise in color) exist in the state of Washington. If you are adventurous, bring a change of cloths and take a dip in the lake. Be extremely careful though because the logs that you have to walk on are slippery. And beware - the water is ice cold :) cheers!!

The magical Blanca lake
Viktoriya M.

This hike is not for the faint of heart. I do not joke, I came here with a few friends on a cloudy Saturday morning. It was about a 1.5 hour drive to get here from my house. Once we got there, we immediately set out onto the trail, excited to see this Blanca lake. It starts off easy, just going up and up and up. After a while though, going up is killer and you are wondering when will you get to the top!!!! Eventually you get to the top, and then have to go down, till you reach a small brown looking lake. Don't worry this isn't the lake! You have to keep going down and down and down until finally- you see it. The lake and its views are worth the pain and torture it took to get there- it's really unlike anything you've seen before, it's so unbelievably blue/green but in an eery magical way. It looks like something out of a fairytale. It was raining a little bit the day we went so it was muddy- which sucked SO MUCH!!!!! But I think on a sunny dry day it would be nice. All in all it took us about 3.5 hours to get to the lake and 3.5 hours back. Bring food and water and there is no service on the hike so be careful and safe!

amazing
Bao-Yen T.

What a great hike, with such a beautiful final destination. That trek to get to the lake was worth every single step. This hike has been on my bucket list and I'm so glad that I conquered it! Blanca lake is absolutely gorgeous! It looks like an image off a postcard. The glacier fed robin-egg blue water is stunning and pristine. The surrounding mountains still had snow making a stunning backdrop. Difficulty: Hard yet do-able! Elevation gain: 3300 ft Round trip: 7.5 miles Time: About 3 hours up, 2 hours down I am a novice hiker. I had to take lots of short breaks. Drive: The drive from Seattle is a little over 2 hours. The FR 65 road is all gravel but nothing too bad. No sharp rocks of any sort but there were a couple of small pot holes. Parking: The parking lot wasn't too big. Probably could fit around 20 cars. I came here on a sunny Sunday morning. Knowing that this is a very popular hike, my friend and I got to the trail around 8 am. There were already 6-7 cars there. As we left around 3 pm, the parking lot was beyond capacity with many cars parked on the side of the road. Outhouse Toilets available. Trail: Overall, very nicely maintained. The trail starts off immediately with switchbacks through the sheltering forest with a moderate grade incline. All the trees from the forest gave off a very aromatic scent. After the first mile or so, after passing by the large cedar tree that had been recently cut down, the switchbacks started to get steeper. Some of the switchbacks (I counted about 30) are very long and very steep. Some parts of the trail consists of large roots and rocks. At 2.5-3 miles or so the trail flattens out once we reached the ridgeline. This was a nice mini break from all the switchbacks. It was nice to be able to catch a glimpse of the the nearby valleys and mountains. Once you pass the large rock area that you have to climb over (only 5-7 steps or so), Virgin Lake is right around the corner. I was rather disappointed with Virgin Lakes appearances. The water was rather dirty and there was so much moss growing around it. After passing by Virgin Lake, the trail goes about .5-.75 mile downhill to Blanca Lake. This section was very muddy with many large roots and rocks. The trail then flattens out again into a distinct pathway leading to the ever so amazing lake. When we got to the lake, just seeing the picturesque water was amazing and well worth the journey. There wasn't that many people so it was very nice and relaxing. As we were heading down, we passed by so many groups. I would recommended coming early to beat the crowd. Bugs: So many bugs on this trail! Bring bug spray! I got bit 4-5 times! :-( *Northwest forest pass required*

... Gorgeous.
Monica O.

Truly this hike is a lake from a dream! The minute you see this glacier fed lake peaking through the trees after your strenuous hike - your jaw immediately drops. Jumping in cold crystal blue waters that shine like silver makes it totally worth it! Don't make me mention the beautiful mountain backdrop as well! My boyfriend and I came from Renton and it was about a 2.5 hour drive out! I wish we left earlier! We started the hike around 12pm and ended around 5pm and omg, we were just dying in the summer heat. This is DEFINITELY a hike you want to start way early in the day especially in the summer! We hiked in Nikes and it wasn't even that bad. I'm a novice hiker and this trail wasn't super hard for us (had about 2 hours worth of switchbacks) but for some reason going back down was grueling & took us the same amount of when we were going up (maybe even longer!) Usually, my time going back is cut in half! Also, there's a lot of mosquitoes so I would recommend bug repellant. First there's Virgin Lake, continue on for another half mile and then you will see Lake Blanca! The lake was just breathtaking! We saw people setting up their tents and we were at the lake for an hour when we finally decided to start hiking back. I wish I brought a bathing suit otherwise I would of had a better experience. Overall, the trail was very well maintained with such beautiful scenery! There's a tiny parking lot of about 20 spaces and you need your Northwest Forest Pass (people had tickets on their cars when we showed up bcos they were using their Discovery pass). Generally speaking, I'd rate this trail between moderate-hard so it is not for beginner hikers. Will be coming back!

Gorgeous Blanca Lake!
Erica J.

Blanca Lake is the most beautiful lake I've seen in WA on a hike, plain and simple. The color is crazy!! It is a thigh-burning hike...up AND down, so be sure to bring lots of water (we wished we had more for the hike back down). Get there early and make sure you have a NW Forest Pass or you will get ticketed. For how gorgeous this lake is, it wasn't too crowded on the trail. We met several groups up and down, but I felt like fewer people were out (definitely not as crowded as Snow Lake or Mt Si). Our dogs had a blast and even swam in the frigid waters of Blanca Lake. We are sore today but it was well worth it! Just a note...the trailhead says that it is 7.5 miles round trip. My GPS said that we went 13 miles...maybe it was wrong, but the hike certainly seemed much longer than 7.5 miles!

Mallory C.

Just wow! Probably the most beautiful lake in WA! Fiance and I hiked to this lake last summer. It took us 2.5 hours to get to the lake and a little less than 2 hours to get back. We hike regularly throughout the year and this was a thigh burning hike, but well worth it! The lake was absolutely stunning! We found a flat surface on the rocky sides of the lake, had our packed lunches and took a nap/sunbathed before hiking back. Go early if you want to find parking and spend a few hours at the lake like we did. Will do it again this summer!

Epic
Leo C.

In a word, Epic. To be clear, this is not a hike for beginners or anyone that does not feel confident with steep grade, rough trail conditions, and very limited signage. Regardless of your physical condition, I would recommend starting earlier (before 10AM) or you could easily be hiking back down while it is getting dark. Additionally, the road is dirt for about 30 minutes while getting to the trailhead via NF-65, so if you are worried about dirt on your car, potholes, etc...be warned. As always, be prepared with plenty of water, and day hiker safety gear (check online for a basic list). Rewards are unlimited on this adventure. You ascend via multiple switchbacks 3000 some feet in less than 3 miles. The initial views are of the canopy, old growth, and various wildlife. After you make it to the "ridgeline," pause to take in the beauty of the cascades and what you just accomplished! The half mile or so is all downhill. The trail gets a bit confusing at the top of the ridgeline, but you have to scramble up a small rock wall (totally doable). As you start heading down toward Blanca Lake, you will first pass much smaller Virgin Lake. It is beautiful, and on a clear day, the treeline reflection impressive. Continue moving down a steep decline and quite muddy (if its been raining) portion of the trail. You will soon see the polar ice colored Blanca Lake emerge.... gorgeous. Relax and soak in this beautiful piece of the northwest, it is truly special.

Blanca Lake!
Tuan H.

I wouldn't say the hike was hard but it was definitely challenging!!! I considered myself an above average hiker but my feet didn't agree too much with the tree roots coming out of the ground. It's definitely an incline starting off and it kept getting worst our group. Our group took many breaks but It ended up taking us about 3 hours to get to the lake and about 2.15 hours to get back. The lake is absolutely gorgeous but the water was definitely cold. Driving there is horrible!!! You will drive through rocks and potholes for about 15 miles. So make sure you go there with beater!!! I would rate the difficulty a 6/10 Cheers

Nicole D.

Absolutely gorgeous lake and very much worth the trek. We went July 5th. Not sure if that influenced the amount of people at the trail that day but I would say it was decently populated. We got there around 12PM and the designated parking area was already full. This wasn't a big deal since the road was wide enough to park on the side. The last bit of road leading up to the trailhead is all gravel for about 15 mi. I'd advise against taking a freshly washed car, because it'll get real dusty, real quick! Now, getting on to the actual hike- Started at 11:45 Got to the lake at 1:45 Headed back down at 3:45 Got to the car at 5:30 It's not an easy hike but definitely doable. I wore my worn out running shoes and only managed to slip twice. (I was very careful). Wear hiking shoes if you got them, or something with good traction. I also suggest bringing floaties if you want to lounge comfortably. Also flip flops. Maneuvering around the lake involved stepping on rocks and logs in the water; I'd avoid doing it barefoot. We saw plenty of campers and ran into other hikers that mentioned a waterfall near the end of the trail. Definitely checking this out next time, it's worth a second hike!

Daniela B.

It's wonderful!! There are no words to describe what we felt when we got there ! It took us 3 hours to go up and 2.5 back down. But Gosh it's worth it!! But hey !!!!! GRAB A PASS.

View of Blanca Lake 10 minutes before the final destination
Holy C.

Left Tacoma, WA at about 7:30am and reached the Trail parking lot around 10am. About a 2.5 hour drive. A few miles from the lot is not paved--a good amount of narrow off-roading to get to the parking area. Was really busy already around this time, about 15-20 cars. If you don't have a Forest Pass, the pass is only $5. The hike itself started off very easy to mediocre and started to pick up about 40 minutes into the hike--a large amount of turns that include lots of tree roots and rocks along the path. About halfway up it will get a little busier as more hikers are along the trail, taking a break or waiting for their party to catch up. The views only get better as you elevate higher. Once you get about 3/4 up the mountain, you will notice a dark, swamping lake on the left as you climb down toppled trees and branches--this is not Blanca Lake!! It's Virgin Lake and not what you hiked up here for. ;) Once you get past the lake, there will be a little more uphill in rockier areas (watch for loose gravel). Once you get past that area, it's mostly flat or downhill from there u Tol you reach Blanca Lake. There will be an area where you get a great view of the Neon colored lake where you can capture great photos or take group photos. The hike to the actually lake is about another 10 minutes. Along the way you will notice smaller meadows and flat areas where you can camp overnight. I believe you can fit between 1-3 tents in certain areas. Through some wooded areas with smaller trees and branches, you will have finally reached Blanca Lake where you will find more hikers who have reached their destination. This was definitely worth the hike--the lake is amazing and has beautiful scenery. There are plenty of areas to jump into the lake, launch your blow-up rafts or floaties. There were also an area where you can jump from a rock into the lake (about 6-8 feet deep). The temperature was between 92-95, so the lake water was a great compliment to the warm temperature. It wasn't too cold, but felt amazing!! Just look at the photos!! I recommend this hike for anyone, The lake is worth the sweat, bruises, sore legs, and the drive out there. Amazing hike and a gem of WA state!!

September 18, 2015. Pretty cold day but still so beautiful!
Veronica F.

When I read about how this hike was difficult, I can now say it was INTENSE! At the start of the hike, the incline was crucial and I could barely breath, stopping every couple switchbacks. That was probably the worst part of the hike and when I drank the most water, so BRING MORE WATER THAN YOU'LL THINK YOU NEED! After about an hour of inclines, we reached up to a beautiful meadow and it was pretty cooling and many beautiful views. After about 2.5 hours, we reached Virgin lake. It wasn't much of a view, but it was a sign that we were almost to our destination! Blanca lake was only about 30 minutes away from Virgin Lake. And it was all downhill so it didn't kill me much. Reaching Blanca lake was exciting, the color is so beautiful and there are many spots where you can sit and eat. It was pretty cold at the time I went, so I didn't get to go swim but the view was really enough!

My friend taking in the view after the intense hike.

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Ask the Community - Blanca Lake

Are there established campsites at Blanc Lake?

There is no camping at Blanca Lake. Rangers will kick you out and give you a ticket. Camping is available near Virgin Lake and in the meadows on the ridge.

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Review Highlights - Blanca Lake

First there's Virgin Lake, continue on for another half mile and then you will see Lake Blanca!

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Wallace Falls State Park - View of the river

Wallace Falls State Park

4.6(198 reviews)
5.1 km

Very great dog friendly hike. My dog is a big fluff ball and loved wading in the river towards the…read morelast part of the trail. Well maintained. Even though the parking lot was full, there were moments where there was no one else close to us on the trailhead. Personally the middle falls had the best view though a bit obstructed for photos. I completed the upper falls back in 2016 and remembered not being as impressed so I opted out and stopped at the middle falls. My dog was also likely to resist as he was pretty tired by the middle falls. Needs discover pass. The entrance has a small water fountain but definitely bring water. There are no trash areas along the way so make a plan if you have a dog.

Great state park with waterfalls, picnic tables, and camping sites in addition to the hiking…read moretrails. You will need a discover pass or pay for parking at the kiosk at the parking lot. There are also washrooms near the parking lot. I did the the most popular 2.8-mile hike up to the top of Wallace Falls and it was pretty neat! The first part is along flat land with power lines, but the rest of the hike was through the wooded area. I would say that the view of the falls are ok - semi-obstructed so you don't get as much as the WOW factor, but still pretty impressive in their volume and height. I would do this hike again if I was in the area. This place is dog friendly by the way, but keep them leashed so they don't go over the falls, and clean up after them!

Photos
Wallace Falls State Park - During our hike, we picked some huckleberries!

During our hike, we picked some huckleberries!

Wallace Falls State Park - Middle falls view with the fence

Middle falls view with the fence

Wallace Falls State Park - Water views

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Water views

Blanca Lake - lakes - Updated May 2026

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