Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Why Hike This
The finish is what sets this one apart. The lake sits on an open shelf with Sundial Peak rising straight behind it, and Florence and Lillian sit just below on the same bench, so one climb buys you three lakes. That climb is a steady 2,700 feet from the Mill B trailhead about four miles up Big Cottonwood, with no flat stretch to recover on. Leave the dog home, because pets are banned in this watershed even inside your car.
The Trail
Alpine lake under Sundial Peak - the Wasatch postcard.
Pack Loadout (Hard)
3 liters water or hydration pack, hiking boots, layers, headlamp, trail mix and jerky, trekking poles, first-aid kit.
Getting There
Make it a weekend: Tanners Flat Campground (Camping, 4 mi) · Spruces Campground (Camping, 5 mi) · Albion Basin Campground (Camping, 7 mi) · Redman Campground (Camping, 7 mi)
More hikes nearby: Mount Olympus (Hike, 3 mi) · Donut Falls (Hike, 4 mi) · Grandeur Peak (West) (Hike, 6 mi) · Bells Canyon Waterfall (Hike, 6 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Lake Blanche hike?
- 6.8 miles round trip with 2707 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Lake Blanche?
- Hard. Kid rating: 2 out of 5.
- When should I hike Lake Blanche?
- Best season: June-Oct.
- Why hike Lake Blanche?
- This is the Wasatch view most people picture when they think of the range. You climb Mill B South Fork to a lake bench under Sundial Peak, with two more lakes a short walk below. It is a genuine 2,700-foot workout with no dogs allowed and no swimming, so plan it as a half day.