Portland: Blue Lake Trail
This 6.6-miler in southwest Washington's Indian Heaven Wilderness takes you to a faraway wildland splattered with lakes, ponds, and marshes.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 5.4
Waypoints
BLT001
Location: 46.0056838989258, -121.839073181152
Head E along plain into forested plateau of Pacific silver fir
BLT002
Location: 46.0043640136719, -121.832977294922
Indian Heaven Wilderness (get permit @ trail-head; pack bug dope)
BLT003
Location: 46.0047988891602, -121.829360961914
Reach narrow strip of land between Dee, Heather, and Thomas Lakes. Find established sites 200 ft. from shore, marked by cedar post blazed with tent sign
BLT004
Location: 46.004337310791, -121.827484130859
Stay R @ Y and climb small rise
BLT005
Location: 46.0037689208984, -121.821830749512
Cross first of many heavenly meadows. Late summer brings deliciously sweet wild huckleberries
BLT006
Location: 46.0028495788574, -121.818145751953
Must-see: Unmarked 200-ft. spur on R leads to horseshoe-shaped Brader Lake. Path on L continues to Blue Lake
BLT007
Location: 45.9988555908203, -121.806159973145
R @ T; bear S toward Blue Lake. In E, cool waters of Rock Lake and Little Rock Lake tempt skinny-dippers
BLT008
Location: 45.989818572998, -121.802703857422
Pass by beautiful, shallow waters of Lake Umtux
BLT009
Location: 45.9887161254883, -121.801666259766
Stay R @ offset T, continuing S
BLT010
Location: 45.9860038757324, -121.798515319824
Lake Sahalee Tyee: Lava once seeped from this shallow crater
BLT011
Location: 45.9842491149902, -121.795379638672
Trail meets PCT. Grab lunch where Gifford Peak mirrors itself in Blue Lake (4,641 ft.); retrace route to car
