Snowshoe Lake Blanche
Salt Lake City, Utah
Details
Distance
5.6 miles
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Tyler McFall
Get amazing views of the Lake Blanche and Sundial Peak. During the winter, this trail is still fairly easy to follow by looking at the previous footprints.
Lake Blanche is an extremely popular hike along the Wasatch Range in Utah. During the summer and fall months the lake, wildlife, flowers, and Sundial Peak as a backdrop offer spectacular views.
Lake Blanche is one of the most beautiful and scenic lakes in Utah and turns into a winter wonderland once the snow hits! You won't run into as many people in the winter either. During the winter and early spring, Lake Blanche can be easily accessed by snowshoes or even small crampons. The hike is 2.8 miles each way and should take between 4-6 hours round trip in the snow. This hike is still very popular in the winter so the trail is easily accessible and easy to follow by others footprints, unless done right after a snow storm.
Park in the parking lot right before the “S” turn up Big Cottonwood Canyon and follow the trail to the lake. The nice thing about snowshoeing lake Blanche is that you’ll be able to follow others footprints. I’ve done it with snowshoes and tennis shoes with small crampons. The trail is packed down enough so you won't find yourself sinking with every step.
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Reviews
I absolutely LOVE snowshoeing to Lake Blanche each winter. There's a lot of wildlife to be seen and the views of Sundial Peak are always breathtaking. Check out the cliffs to the east to see the mountain goats sunbathing in the winter. It's quite the treat!
5.0
Went up this past wknd (Feb 21). Snow was thick... Spikes would've been ok for the first 3/4 of the hike, but last bit was intense. Was expecting to see an actual lake... Obviously missed it, went right over the lake and up Sundial Peak. It was about a 7-mile in and out for us. Trail was icy and super slippery in the afternoon so really grateful for the snowshoes (minus my battle blisters). Absolutely amazing experience... AND this is difficult, not intermediate... but I can see how it could be intermediate if conditions were better.
5.0
Great hike up to Lake Blanch on the weekend of Dec. 5-6, 2015. Snowshoes weren't necessary given the scarce snowfall that week, and the snow on the trail was packed down fairly well. The hike was a good, sustained uphill, but was not overly strenuous. The views of Lake Blanche and Sundial peak are well worth the uphill work. We saw only two or three other groups of hikers, and we also came across a moose on the trail during our ascent but it was quick to scatter once it saw us.
5.0
It's so beautiful with snow. We used crampons in March and it was perfect enough. We had no one with us once we reached the lake, and it was absolutely wonderful (not that i mind people, i love them). But, i feel like it's much longer than 2.8 each way, every time I have measured it, it comes a little over 3 miles, just thought i'd share.
5.0
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Nearby
Broads Fork Basin and Beaver Pond
Lake Blanche & Sundial Peak
Lake Blanche Trail
Broads Fork Twin Peaks
Hidden Falls
Hike Stairs Gulch
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