Frog Mountain
5 days ago
Fall color is arriving and peaking
12 this month · 93 reports
Blanca Lake
Central Cascades
updated 1 week ago
The Index-Galena road is the most accessible route to Blanca Lake, with reports from September 12 indicating the gate was open, allowing vehicle access to the trailhead. However, the road has been officially closed to regular car traffic September 4 and August 17 due to washouts, making a bicycle or other alternative transportation necessary for accessing the trailhead. The trail itself has minor obstacles, primarily downed trees that require navigating around, as noted by multiple reports including September 12 and August 17. Water crossings can be an issue, with one report from September 4 mentioning the need to wade through a river due to a washed-out bridge. Bugs are generally not a significant problem, though some reports mention mosquitoes near creeks, particularly in July and July.
Generated from 51 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Blanca Lake
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 1 week ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
The Index-Galena road was recently open to vehicles as of September 12, though it has been officially closed to regular car traffic since at least September 4 due to washouts. Alternative access often involves biking or other forms of transportation to the trailhead.
Several downed trees across the trail have been reported, including as of September 12, September 4, and August 17. These obstacles are generally passable with some effort.
One report from September 4 indicated that the bridge was completely washed out, requiring wading through the river. Other reports suggest log crossings may be an option, but the necessity of wading has been noted.
Bugs have generally not been a major issue, with reports from September 12 and August 17 stating no significant bug problems. However, mosquitoes were noted as an annoyance near creeks in July and July.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Recent1 week ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
We took the Index-Galena road and expected to park at the gate and bicycle. The gate was wide open though so we drove up to the trailhead. On the way out they were shutting the gate and said it was ...
Recent3 weeks ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Parked at the top of Jack’s pass and biked to the trailhead. As someone mentioned earlier “This route is shorter 4.4 miles, but a lot steeper (-1150’down from the pass and 525’ up to Blanca Lake trail...
Older1 month ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
General update for hikers accessing Blanca Lake and the Quartz Creek trailheads. I just completed a four day logging work party with members of the Skykomish Forest Service. Here is a summary of cur...
Older1 month ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
We finally decided it was time to see what the winter storms had done to the roads leading to Benchmark TH. Given that this road washes out nearly every year, Scott was excited to see what our winter ...
Older1 month ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Rode a gravel bike to the trailhead which worked very well. I was committed to avoiding road walking, and was unsure how the river crossing would go from the Skykomish side with my bike, so opted to s...
Older2 months ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Access update:Based on previous trail reports I drove to the Index-Galena Rd. side, which is blocked at mile marker 10, which is 5 miles from the washed out North Fork Skykomish Bridge. I chose this b...
Older2 months ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Biked in to the trailhead from the Index-Galena road. Forgot about the washout on the forest service road, but was able to pass through it with some work.The privy at the parking area is locked. Ple...
Older4 months ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
I hiked to the TH from the gate on the index side. The road is washed out on both sides, the bridge just after fs63 is a complete mess and I don't see them ever fixing it... The washout just west of t...
Older4 months ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Road is fine for all until you get to Jack Pass. The road down from Jack Pass to the trailhead is blocked with a row of boulders. From the blockade you can see several trees down over the road.
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Just a quick status report on Forest Road 65, aka Beckler Road. I was able to drive a couple miles past where the pavement ends, although there was a lot of debris on the paved portion that you need t...