Thomas, Blue and Tombstone Lakes — Saturday, Sep. 26, 2015

South Cascades > Mount Adams Area

This was the perfect Indian Heaven Hike – picturesque lakelets, dazzling red huckleberry bushes, a sunny blue sky and….NO mosquitos. My group hiked into Blue Lake from the Thomas Lake trailhead. This is six miles shorter than the hike out from the Cultus Creek trailhead and eliminates the grueling climb out of the campgrounds. The result was a moderate 7 mile hike with a 900 ft elevation gain. The hike began in a wooded area, and we passed three lakes within the first 0.7 miles. After several steep pitches, we broke out into a wooded plateau that showcased the lakes and fall foliage that make Indian Heaven so special. There was a confusing junction 2.1 miles from the trailhead where we met two other groups trying to decide which trail to take. We ventured to the right, which turned out to be the correct choice. Blue Lake was an enjoyable destination for a day hike. There was a nice picnic area with good views and places to sit. Blue Lake would also make a good destination for a back pack, especially if you wanted to use it as a base camp while exploring other parts of Indian Heaven.