Hike to Blanca Lake

Blanca Lake is a 7.5 mile hike in the Central Cascades of Washington. The hike has a vertical gain of 3300ft. Due to three major washouts on the road, the access road is inaccessible by vehicle and adds four extra miles round trip to the hike. We hiked on a sunny day, and would recommend bringing ample water or bringing a water filter along. The trail is covered by the trees so the sun isn't a problem. However, it was muddy and steep in some areas, so hiking boots and hiking poles would be preferable. There are many switchbacks and three or four fallen trees on the trail. We spent about an hour at the lake eating and relaxing before hiking back. The entire trip took about six hours. The lake itself is otherworldly, resting under mountains peaks and a glacier. Overall, the eleven and a half miles were worth the view we were rewarded with.

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