Plan with
Confidence
Regional Classic
A must do route for the area handpicked by local experts.
The North Cascades Highway, which allows access to this trail, closes during the winter. Snow may obstruct the trail well after the highway re-opens. Best hiked July - October.
Path Type
There and Back
Begin hiking through a forest and over boardwalks to a big, open meadow at 0.9 miles. During summer, this meadow is covered in wildflowers. If you are visiting in late September or early October, watch for larches;their needles turn golden yellow in the fall. Continue along the trail to re-enter the forest, cross a log bridge over a stream, and arrive at the lake shore.A large boulder on Blue Lake's west side makes for the perfect picnic perch. From here, check out the Liberty Bell Group towering overhead. Usually viewed from the north at the Washington Pass Overlook, Liberty Bell and the Early Winters Spires are visible over Blue Lake from the southwest. Nearby, a larch arches over the lake for another irresistible North Cascades photo-op. Various trails run along both sides of the lake, but none encircle it. Head up the signed, 0.4-mile Tarn Loop to extend your hike for better views of Liberty Bell over the lake. Protect this fragile environment by staying on established trails. - Description by Brandon Fralic, Outdoor Project
No Condition Reports
Pacific Crest Trail: Section L Rainy Pass to Monument 78
Pacific Crest Trail: Section L Rainy Pass to Monument 78
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