If you are looking for a unique, challenging and beautiful hiking trail in Salt Lake City, Utah then this is it! Lake Blanche Trail is a 6.8 mile out and back hike with 2,700 feet of elevation gain. It’s a hard hike but it’s absolutely stunning. I hiked Lake Blanche in early June and it was a fantastic trip.
I would love to share with you my experiences hiking to Lake Blanche, as well as provide a couple of tips for your time on the trail. Before I get started though, let me tell you a little bit about myself and where I come from. I’m Steph and I grew up in Florida but moved to Utah four years ago.
I didn’t grow up in the outdoors but I have always been fascinated by Utah landscapes. When I moved here, I didn’t know much about hiking and it has been one big learning experience since! Over the past year, I have grown so much as a hiker and with my knowledge of the outdoors.
I’m no expert, but I am passionate about sharing tips to inspire others to get outdoors. I work as an event planner and plan retreats and incentive trips. It can be very time consuming with long hours and high stress at times – so I always try to plan a hike or spend a weekend outdoors before a big event. This has served me well and it keeps my body and mind fresh.
My Experience Hiking Lake Blanche Trail
Lake Blanche Trail had been on my bucket list since last summer. I created a list of difficult hikes that I wanted to do. However, I wasn’t sure that I was ready to move onto harder ones. When the opportunity presented itself to do this hike, I decided I was ready and there was no better time!
The hike to the lake took me about two hours and 45 minutes. We spent a good amount of time up at the lake having some snacks and enjoying the views. I could have spent all day up there! In total, the hike took six hours.
The trail is quite wooded and a bit rocky, but there are also waterfalls and mountain views along the way. There are also frequent sightings of moose on this trail, so brush up on your moose safety before doing this hike!
Lake Blanche is truly beautiful and is the highlight at the end of the hike. The reflection on the water is stunning and it’s such a peaceful spot to relax at. Even going on a busy day is still worth it. You will be able to find a peaceful spot away from the other hikers and enjoy the beauty of the lake.
One of the best aspects about my hike on the Lake Blanche Trail was that I did it with a group of new friends. The Instagram community is great in that way as the platform allows you to make new friends and connections so easily. There is nothing better than hiking with other nature lovers!
A Challenging but Rewarding Experience
This hike is best suited for experienced hikers and those with a good base level of fitness. My biggest tip is to come prepared. The hike is steep in parts but not impossible. Lake Blanche sits at quite a high elevation. If you aren’t used to the altitude then you might find the experience challenging.
The way down is more challenging because it’s rocky and easy to slip if you don’t have proper hiking shoes. The difficulty of this hike can also depend on things such as how well you have eaten, if you slept enough, etc. For me as an intermediate level hiker, I rate it as a 7/10 in terms of difficulty.
Responsible Hiking on the Lake Blanche Trail
When hiking the Lake Blanche Trail make sure you follow Leave No Trace principles: leave the wildlife alone, stay on the trail, no dogs allowed, don’t go swimming in the lake as it’s a watershed, and pack out any garbage. I like to pack an extra pouch for my snack wrappers or banana peel, so it’s just like a portable garbage bag that you can empty when you get home.
Need to Know Before you Go
For places to stay while doing this hike, you can easily spend a few nights in Salt Lake City. Other great spots are Sandy and Cottonwood Heights. Salt Lake City is roughly 30 minutes from the Lake Blanche trailhead and with so many accommodation and restaurant options, it makes for a fun time!
There is a small parking lot at the trailhead with flushing toilets – I feel like this is important to know! Make sure to avoid leaving anything valuable in your car. People also park along the canyon road, as this parking lot fills up.
in the afternoon and it gets hot in Utah, even in the mountains. Take your time and have breaks on the way up. There are many places to stop along the trail where you can take a 10 minute break if needed that won’t block trail traffic. Above all, enjoy yourself. This lake is stunning on a sunny day!
