I arrived at the trailhead at around 1pm and had to park along the side of the road. I’d recommend poles + micro pikes although I made it fine in hiking boots. The larches are absolutely stunning against the snow capped peaks! They are past their peak and needles are falling so get out there this week!

Gorgeous day on the trail!

hit the trail around 1:30 PM, which turned out to be perfect timing — people were already heading out, so there were a few parking spots opening up. I have never seen so many cars along Highway 20 for the Heather–Maple Pass hike — easily hundreds lined up! I was very glad that wasn’t my destination.

Blue Lake was busy but not overwhelming. The trail was covered in packed snow from start to finish, so I highly recommend bringing traction and poles. There were definitely some slick spots that looked tough for folks without spikes or Yaktrax, especially with overnight temps dropping below freezing — the snow is melting and refreezing daily. Also, watch out for snow bombs falling from the trees!

I saw maybe a dozen dogs, all leashed and well-behaved. Most hikers were courteous and yielded to people going uphill, though a few groups clearly didn’t get the memo. It was a bit overcast, so the lake wasn’t its usual brilliant cerulean, but still absolutely stunning. The larches still had a few golden needles hanging on.

Once you cross the stream and the lake appears on your left, I highly recommend staying right and heading uphill — that’s where you’ll find the best views of the lake and Liberty Bell. Keep going past the overlooks and follow the Tarn Loop Trail. It’s peaceful and jaw-droppingly beautiful, and since most people skip it, you’ll likely have it to yourself. It only adds about 20 minutes and is totally worth it.

Hot Tips:

1. Diablo Lake Overlook – If you’re driving from the west, stop here. It’s gorgeous and has restrooms — much better than the two extremely stinky vault toilets at the Blue Lake trailhead.

2. Late start = win – The trail is less icy and you’re more likely to find parking as the early crowd clears out.

3. Better toilets nearby – About half a mile up the road toward Winthrop, the Washington Pass Overlook has much nicer vault toilets. Plus, it’s a must-see view!

4. Hike midweek if you can – The “larch march” crowds are intense on weekends.

Overnight option – If you’re staying in the area, check out the North Cascades Mountain Hostel. It’s spotless, comfortable, and has a fantastic kitchen — all on a budget.

Happy hiking!

Hiked on a Wednesday afternoon around 4pm, the parking lot was mostly free of snow, any cars can make it. However, on the trail there were lots of snow, melting a bit under sunshine, generally on the path it was compact snow. The larches were mostly yellow colors now, gorgeous in the snow. You can also have a glimpse of the early winter spikes in the back. There was still some green larches around the lake. The reflection was nice too. I caught the sunset on my way back. Poles and micro spikes(or yaktrax)  are strongly recommended if you don’t want to slip on snow. 

Had a great hike on Wednesday 10/15! Crowded as expected, but could have been worse. We got there at 3pm and got a prime spot in the lot, as others were leaving. There were probably two dozen cars parked on the road.

We hiked with our 11-week-old in a carrier, and felt confident doing so thanks to spikes and poles. We did see lots of folks slipping without proper footwear or other necessary gear.

Reminder: Leave No Trace principles mean you shouldn’t leave half-eaten oranges on the trail, and don’t walk off the trail for photo-taking purposes (especially dumb to do when the ground is snow-covered and there are many streams in the area). I also saw many people collecting large sticks to use as hiking poles and then leaving them at the trailhead— not ideal.

Hiked on Tuesday - 10/14. Parking area full around 10:30 am, but roadside parking available within 0.1 miles (be careful of black ice on road). Trail was fully snow covered on Tuesday. Not difficult with spikes, but slippery without. Slush due to snow melt in small sections. Very beautiful.