Blue Lake view of the North Cascade Mountains

Blue Lake is a short hike located off of Highway 20 in the North Cascades. Coming in from the west, drive 42.1 miles from Newhalem and the trailhead will be on your right. If you pass the Washington Pass Overlook, you've gone too far. From the east, drive 31.3 miles from Winthrop and the trailhead will be on your left. It's just under a mile past Washington Pass Overlook. Once at Blue Lake Trailhead (48.507872, -120.671954), this hike is very straightforward to follow. On the way, you'll be greeted by beautiful granite peaks as you pass through forests and meadows, before finally crossing over the lake's outlet to some million-dollar views. Make your way left toward the lake and onto the shoreline for stunning reflections and a unique tree that curves almost completely horizontally. For a similar perspective, reference the GPS coordinates.