Yellow Pages
This could very well be the last foray of the season into the North Cascades backcountry.
Freezing temperatures and rain will make the roads and trails dicey.
And with the lake at an elevation of about 4,000 feet, snow will soon blanket the area and ice will cover the lake.
Blue Lake supports a population of trout.
A fishing license is required. The season runs from the last Saturday in April through Oct. 31.
A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the trailhead. Passes will set you back $30 for the year or $5 for one day.
Location: About 40 miles northeast of Sedro-Woolley
Distance: 1.4 miles
Destination: Blue Lake
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 100 feet
Getting there: From milepost 82 on Highway 20, about 16 miles east of Sedro-Woolley, turn north on Baker Lake Highway. Continue on Baker Lake Highway for 12 miles before turning left on Forest Service Road No. 12. After seven miles, turn left on Forest Service Road No. 1230. The trailhead and parking area are reached in four miles at the end of the road.
The Trek: After parking, head up a trail covered in hoarfrost (frozen dew that forms a white coating on exposed surfaces).
Venture across a plank walkway to reach the trail register. Sign in and set out.
Cross a boardwalk and proceed up a staircase. Any section of trail not exposed to sun during the day is frosty. If the frost is hit by the sun’s rays, the trail becomes a mass of mud.
The trail continues to climb before reaching a meadow and intersection in about a quarter-mile.
Heading to the left leads to Blue Lake. The trail straight continues to Dock Butte.
Proceed left up a staircase of roots and pass several frozen ponds.
Head downhill as the once-frozen trail becomes muddy. Hop over a dry stream bed before reaching a footbridge.
Signs of swiftly moving water are everywhere. There is lots of mud, exposed rock and flattened plant life.
Reach a fork and proceed right. Several gnarled stumps border the trail.
Reach a downed tree, a section of which has been removed to allow passage.
The trail rises and falls as it makes its way toward the lake. The steep slopes on the sides of the trail leave one wondering just where a lake could be located.
Hike up a rockery and slog through running water.
Continue up a steep section of rock and roots, atop which the trail levels out.
At a fork, continue right. Looking through the trees, one gets glimpses of Blue Lake’s crystal clear waters. Towering high above are several frozen waterfalls.
Head down a section of trail that is more of a gully complete with exposed rock and roots. Pass between a pair of trees and burst out into a clearing before reaching the lake’s shore.
Blue Lake is nestled in a basin surrounded by high cliffs. On this afternoon, massive chunks of ice crashed from the cliffs above the shoreline on the other side of the lake.
As the ice chunks slid into the lake, it was impressive as well as a bit unnerving.
A path to the left leads along the shoreline and eventually spills out onto a rocky point. The setting is certainly one of postcard quality.
After taking it all in, retrace your steps back to the rig.
Blue Lake
Vince Richardson
The trek to Blue Lake is short and sweet.
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