Lake Blanche Trail Review

Lake Blanche is one of Utah's best-kept secrets. Nestled in the mountains above Big Cottonwood Canyon beneath snow-capped mountaintops and the towering Sundial Peak lay this emerald beauty. Its beauty is staggering, and you will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to visit.

Things to Know Before You Go

This is a moderate to strenuous hike that gains approximately 2,680 ft. and is about 6 miles round trip. The majority of the trail is well maintained, but parts are rocky and slightly more difficult to maneuver.

Expect for the entire trip to take approximately five hours.

It is important to note that during the summertime this trail can be very hot. Most of the trail is shaded, but the thick forest growth limits the breeze and can make the trail feel muggy. As such, it is best to start the trail in the morning to avoid the afternoon heat.

I recommend bringing lots of water, bug spray, a lunch, and lots of snacks to eat along the way.

How to Get There

The Lake Blanche trailhead is located about 4.5 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon near the prominent S-curve in the road. Park your car on the side of the road and follow signs for the Mill B South Fork Trail. This is an easy, paved trail that runs along Big Cottonwood Creek for about .7 of a mile before it connects to the turnoff for the Lake Blanche Trail.

The Trail

As soon as you turn off of the paved trail things start to get steep! This is by no means an easy hike as you gain more than 2,500 ft. in elevation in less than 3 miles! Have no fear though, as the trail is very doable for people in moderate to good shape.

Take time as you ascend to admire the gorgeous view around you. The ascent offers magnificent views of the Salt Lake Valley below, and the Wasatch Range above. Scenery on the trail changes depending on the season, but it is always breath taking. In the Summer time you may get the chance to see some gorgeous wildflowers on your way to the top, and during early autumn you will be greeted by bright fall foliage.

As you get closer to the lake the trail opens up and you get a great view of Sundial Peak, and the Wasatch Mountain Range. The trail is rocky for the last .7 of a mile or so, and is quite steep at times, so remember to stay hydrated and take breaks!

At the Lake

After about 2.5 miles you will arrive at your destination! There are plenty of places to sit around the lake that are perfect for eating your lunch and having a little picnic. Take time to enjoy the lake; sunbathe, take a swim (if you’re brave enough), and look for moose along the water’s edge.

There are also small side trails that go around the lake to view two smaller lakes named Lake Florence and Lake Lillian. I highly recommend hiking to these other two lakes if you have the energy. They are both beautiful, and are only about a quarter mile from Lake Blanche.

When you are finished at the lake just head back down the same way you came up!

        

The Lake Blanche trail is one of my absolute favorite hiking trails in all of Utah because of its quiet, serene beauty. I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I do!