Blue Lake
North Cascades
As of July 31, 2026, Blue Lake is hazy but hikeable. The trail is reported as snow-free as of July 4th, with only a few muddy spots and shallow water crossings that are easily managed. Mosquitos are prevalent, especially when not moving, with reports dating as recently as July 31st advising bug spray and protective clothing.
Mountain goats are frequently sighted, often on or near the trail, so caution is advised. Parking at the trailhead can fill quickly, with overflow parking along Highway 20 reported by July 18th. Early arrivals are recommended for both parking and a quieter experience. The lake is cold but picturesque.
generated from 61 reports
Sources
Lovely afternoon hike despite the smoky air! This was my third time on the hike but first time bringing out of town family. Reached the lake around 4:20pm and it was definitely hazy, but did not impac...
Beautiful/moderate hike! We started at 9 am and it took about 2.5 hours, including a little time wandering around the lake. We didn’t stay in one place very long because of the mosquitos, which weren’...
This hike is beautiful and well worth it! Got there about 10 am the lot was FULL. We parked along the road about half a mile away. Got done at about 2:30pm the lot was still FULL and people were still...
The trail was beautiful - it was a fairly clear day, and there were lots of wildflowers out. The water was very cold, but it was definitely worth the walk up there!The only downside was the mosquitos....
Trail is in very good condition - few muddy spots and a couple of areas with very shallow running water (nothing that good shoes can’t handle). Officially snow free.
Day one of my pika adventure in the North Cascades! Decided to check out Blue Lake to shake out my pika legs after a long journey up from the city. The trail was very well-maintained and was hikeable ...
The lake was beautiful and mountain goats were numerous. They seem quite accustomed to humans.We arrived at the parking lot at 9 a.m. and got one of the last parking spots. Cars were lined up along Hw...
Arrived at the parking lot around 9:30 AM with plenty of spaces available. The trail had a new muddy spots to cross but it wasn’t bad. There are two small snow crossings. One you can avoid if you don’...
about 10-15 small snow patches to cross. many muddy puddles but not that annoying. a LOT of mosquitoes so wear long sleeves and bring bug spray. otherwise beautiful easy hike.
Intermittant snow on the trail, with some sections you need to be careful stepping through. Lots of mud too. A minor creek crossing to get to the overlook rock at the end.A fair number of people but w...
Want to ask something specific about Blue Lake?
Use AI-powered search to dig into trip reports for this trail.
Search Blue Lake