Trail stats
Distance: 8.3 KM (out-and-back)
Elevation gain: 312m
Time needed: 2-2.5 hours
Difficulty level: Easy
Parking: Yes, the parking lot costs $5 or you can park on the side of the highway free of charge
Getting to the trailhead
The trail is located in the North Cascades National Park and you will find the trailhead along Highway 20, about an hour drive from Newhalem. It is right before the Washington Pass Overlook.
The Trail
The trail is undoubtedly very popular due to its relative ease in terms of distance and elevation. It is a narrow trail that is laid out through a forested area, so it can be difficult to overtake at times. The trail is largely sheltered by the surrounding trees, so doing this on a rainy day doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be dry, but the coverage does help a little.
The trail follows switchbacks up the mountain, so the elevation gain is very gradual and never requires that much effort. Once you come out of the trees, you have a view of the surrounding mountains that you will have driven by to get to the trailhead.
Upon reaching the lake, you can opt to walk to the left hand side, or the right which has a path that goes further up to get a nice view of the lake from a height.
It was raining/hailing when we did this hike, and even with the cloudy/grey sky, the lake was still a gorgeous, deep blue colour.
Tips / Advice
Remember to pay the fee if you use the parking lot
Stop at Washington Pass Overlook afterwards for some more great views
Follow the trail to the right side of the lake for a better view
The North Cascades National Park is free to enter
