Lake Blanche

A steep climb through aspen and fir forest to a stunning alpine lake cirque beneath the Sundial, Monte Cristo, and Dromedary peaks. Lake Blanche sits at 8,920 feet in a glacially carved bowl that feels wildly remote for being 25 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. One of the best alpine lake hikes in the Wasatch.

Quick stats

Canyon

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Distance

6.8 mi round trip

Elevation gain

2700 ft

Time

3.5–5.5 hrs

Difficulty

Moderate

Dogs

Not allowed

Best months

Jul, Aug, Sep

Getting there & parking

No Forest Service day-use parking fee at the Mill B South Fork (S-curve) trailhead — it sits outside the fee-area trailheads of upper Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Know before you go

No dogs. Dogs are banned in all of Big Cottonwood Canyon — including dogs left in your car — because it is Salt Lake City's protected drinking-water watershed. The same watershed rules prohibit swimming and wading at the lake.

No hiking permit required.

The route

Sustained steep grade with switchbacks through forest. The final approach to the lake flattens briefly before the lake basin. Allow extra time to enjoy the lake.

• 0 mi · Lake Blanche Trailhead (Mill B South Fork) — Large parking area on SR-190. Restrooms available.
• 0.3 mi · Sundial Peak trail junction — Stay right for Lake Blanche. Left leads to Sundial Peak (technical scramble).
• 1 mi · First switchbacks through aspen forest — The trail begins climbing in earnest through beautiful aspen groves.
• 3 mi · Treeline — entering the lake basin — The cirque walls come into view. Sundial Peak rises above.
• 3.4 mi · Lake Blanche (8,920 ft) — Alpine lake beneath Sundial, Monte Cristo, and Dromedary peaks.

When to go

Snow lingers on the upper trail into late June. The lake may still have ice into July in big snow years. Fall color is spectacular in September — the aspen groves along the trail light up. Trail is avalanche-prone in winter and not recommended without backcountry avalanche training.

Check current conditions before you go:

• UDOT Cottonwood Canyons road status
• Utah Avalanche Center — Salt Lake forecast

Safety & hazards

Upper trail and lake basin retain snow well into June. Avalanche terrain in winter and spring. Do not attempt this trail in winter without avalanche training, beacon, probe, and shovel. The trail crosses multiple avalanche paths.

The lake basin is above treeline and exposed to weather. Lightning risk in afternoon thunderstorms. Start early to be back below treeline before afternoon storms build. The basin offers no shelter.

No reliable treated water on the trail. Creek water requires treatment. Carry at least 2 liters. Creek water is available but untreated — filter required.

Wildlife & geology

Mosquitoes can be intense at the lake in July. The forest zones support a diverse mix of aspen, spruce, and fir. The lake basin is subalpine — wildflowers peak in late July.

Wildlife you might see: pika (Ochotona princeps) — talus fields near lake, Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) — occasionally on surrounding peaks.

Lake Blanche occupies a classic glacial cirque carved during the Pleistocene. The lake is dammed by a glacial moraine. The surrounding peaks — Sundial, Monte Cristo, and Dromedary — are composed of Precambrian quartzite, among the oldest exposed rock in the Wasatch. The Little Cottonwood Stock granite intrusion is visible in the canyon below.

History

Lake Blanche is named for Blanche Young, wife of an early Salt Lake City dignitary. Lakes Florence and Lillian, the sister lakes in the same basin, are also named for local women of the era.

The Mill B South Fork drainage has been used recreationally since the late 1800s. The lake was a destination for early Salt Lake City hiking clubs.

Nearby hikes

• Broads Fork — Big Cottonwood Canyon
• Mineral Fork Trail — Big Cottonwood Canyon
• Donut Falls — Big Cottonwood Canyon