If I could live my life exploring Washington state, I’d be one happy girl. Last summer, I spent a week up in North Cascades National Park on an endless search of heart-pumping treks and some of America’s most naturally-beautiful landscapes. Unbeknownst to me, most of the hikes in the park are rated as difficult for the length or elevation gain. Searching for the best short hike in North Cascades, I stumbled upon the incredible Blue Lake Trail.
Blue Lake – The Best Short Hike in North Cascades NP
The Blue Lake Trail is the best short hike in North Cascades National Park. 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.
As always when hiking in the wilderness, be sure to follow the Leave No Trace principles like pack it in/pack it out and staying on trail. Don’t forget your necessary hiking essentials for the trek.
Check the North Cascades NPS website here for alerts & current conditions for the park!
Hiking the Blue Lake Trail
Distance: 5.3 Miles
Type: Out & Back
Elevation Gain: +960 Feet
Best Time to Hike: July – October
Features: Alpine lake & wildlife. Good for kids, dogs allowed on leash.
Getting to the Trailhead
The Blue Lake trailhead is located just off Highway 20 or North Cascades Highway (directions to the trailhead here). Since the Blue Lake Trail is on U.S. Forest Service land, a Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the trailhead for day use.
Click here to buy your pass online or purchase one at a visitor center/ranger station
Beginning the Hike to Blue Lake
The best short hike in North Cascades starts off on a short boardwalk through an alpine forest. Running parallel with the highway at first, the sounds of cars passing by will quickly dissipate as the natural environment takes hold.
Within the first 1.5 miles, we’ll experience a short elevation gain of +650 feet. Just as the legs start to burn, the trees open up and display a stunning meadow of Cascade Lupine wildflowers with a mountainous backdrop.
Read more here about my favorite hike in the park with the best mountainous views
As the forest closes in and takes hold of the environment again, we gain another +285 feet in elevation. Our time on the trail flies by as the cascading views of Cutthroat Peak and Whistler Mountain in the distance catch our attention.
At 2.5 miles into our trek, we can start to hear trickling water, our hint that Blue Lake is near. Coming up to a creek that flows into Blue Lake, we see the beginning of our final destination.
Blue Lake
At 6254 feet above sea level, Blue Lake sits quietly beyond the mouth of its creek. We hop on top of the makeshift log bridge and make our way to the banks of the river, climbing on top of the granite quartz that juts out into the water.
Within seconds of reaching Blue Lake, one of those typical mountain storms come rolling on through, forcing us to hide out under a tree (more like a branch) for shelter until it passes by.
We barely notice our soaking wet clothes and shivers through the enchantment of the clouds softly rolling in and around the granite peaks.
Looking for another lake hike? Read more about Lewis Lake here
Before heading into the backcountry, it’s imperative that you’re familiar with the “Leave No Trace” principles.
Read More: Leave No Trace: The 7 Rules of the Backcountry
Learn more about Leave No Trace on their website here.
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Your photos are incredible. Just looking at them makes me feel closer to nature.
Goal achieved! Thank you so much for your kind words!