Hiking the Lake Blanche Trail in Utah: A Day Hike Near Salt Lake City
If you’re looking for one of the most beautiful and rewarding hikes near Salt Lake City, Utah, the Lake Blanche Trail is a must-do. A beautiful out-and-back trail in the Big Cottonwood Canyon, known for its alpine scenery, vibrant summer wildflowers, and the stunning mountain lake that waits at the top. It’s also one of the most popular hikes in the area—so timing and preparation matter.
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Getting to the Lake Blanche Trailhead
The Lake Blanche Trail begins at the Mill B South Fork Trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon. From downtown Salt Lake City, it’s about a 25–30 minute drive:
- Take I-215 South to the 6200 S/Wasatch Blvd exit.
- Follow Wasatch Blvd until you reach Big Cottonwood Canyon Road (UT-190).
- Drive about 4.4 miles up the canyon until you see signs for Mill B South Fork Trailhead on your right.
Parking is located at the base of the trailhead, but the lot is small and fills up quickly. Street/canyon shoulder parking is permitted outside the parking lot area.
Google Maps provides great directions to this trail, but you may lose service along the way, so I highly advise downloading a map to use offline before heading out of town.
Parking & Crowds
Because this is one of the most popular trails in Big Cottonwood Canyon, parking is the biggest challenge. I had heard ahead of time that spots go fast, so I made it a priority to arrive early. I pulled in around 6:45 a.m. on a June morning and snagged the last available parking spot in the lot.
By the time I returned from the hike, cars lined the canyon road for quite a distance—so if you want a stress-free start, plan to get there as early as possible, especially in the summer months.
When parking at trailheads, always take valuables with you. Car break-ins can happen in busy, unsupervised areas. If you must leave something behind, keep it out of sight.
Amenities at the Lake Blanche Trailhead
Before you set out on the Lake Blanche Trail in Utah, it’s good to know what amenities are available:
- Restrooms: There are two port-a-potties located in the parking lot at the Mill B South Fork Trailhead. When I visited, they were clean and well-maintained—definitely a convenient option before starting your hike.
- Water Sources: The trail runs alongside a creek in several sections, so you will see running water. However, this water is not treated and is not easily accessible. Bring enough water to complete the hike.
- How Much to Bring: A good rule of thumb is to carry at least 0.5 liters of water per hour of hiking. My hike took about 3.5 hours round-trip, and I was glad to have extra water with me.
- What I Carried: I used my Osprey Raven day pack with a water bladder, which made sipping on the climb easy and hands-free. A hydration pack or multiple bottles are both good options too.
What to Expect on the Trail
The Lake Blanche Trail is a moderately strenuous hike with a good amount of elevation gain. You’ll wander through multiple terrains and be rewarded with views of all kinds on your way up to the top.
- Distance: 6.8 miles
- Elevation gain: ~2,726 feet
- Trail type: Out-and-back
- Time: 3.5–5 hours, depending on pace (I took almost 4 hours with about 20 minutes at the lake)
My experience hiking to the Lake included all of the following:
The sound and views of rushing water along the trail: When I completed this hike, in June 2025, the water that flows along the first part of the trail was really moving. It was so nice to hear the sound of rushing water while starting my way up the mountain.
Foliage & Shade: Much of the lower portion winds through dense forest with aspen and pine, providing welcome shade in the early miles. In June, the greenery was especially vibrant.
Rocky Terrain: Be ready for steady elevation gain—this hike doesn’t really flatten out until you reach the lake. The trail is rocky and uneven in places, so sturdy hiking shoes are a must. This specific spot on the trail really surprised me. There’s a bit of scrambling up rocks along the way, and once you get up to the river as well.
Wildflowers: In summer, you’ll likely see bursts of wildflowers adding color to the canyon. Here is just a handful of wildflowers I captured on my way up.
The Lake: At the summit, you’re rewarded with long-awaited Lake Blanche! When I arrived, the sun was up and the lake was glistening! I loved seeing the snow on the mountains beyond the lake and all the incredible pines. I sat, had some lunch, and then made my way back down.
Can You Bring Dogs?
No. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon, which is part of the protected watershed area supplying Salt Lake City’s drinking water. If you’re traveling with your pup, this is a trail you’ll have to hike without them.
Tips for Hiking Lake Blanche
- Arrive early. Not only to find parking but also to avoid the midday heat and crowds. Summer temperatures can make this steep climb feel much tougher.
- Bring plenty of water. There’s a creek along the way, but unless you have a filter, you’ll need to pack in your own. Even with a filter, the creek only runs along the first section of the trail.
- Bring Snacks. I always advise having some sort of snack or meal packed, no matter the length of the trip. On this hike, I brought a packet of Frooze balls, a Honey Stinger gel, and my lunch so I could eat while sitting at the lake.
- Wear sturdy shoes. The rocky inclines can be tough without appropriate traction. I wore my Altra Lone Peak 9s. They were perfect for this hike.
- Bring Trek Poles. This is always personal preference, but Trek Poles would help climb the rocky terrain and elevation gain.
- Take your time. The elevation gain is steady—pace yourself and enjoy the scenery.
Can You Camp or Backpack Here?
While Lake Blanche feels like the perfect backcountry spot, camping is not permitted at the lake itself. However, there are designated backcountry camping areas within Big Cottonwood Canyon. If you’re planning an overnight trip, make sure you check current regulations and restrictions through the U.S. Forest Service before heading out.
For most visitors, Lake Blanche makes for an excellent day hike, and with the trail’s steady difficulty, most people are ready to head back down once they’ve taken in the views. However, if you want to continue onto Lake Florence or Lake Lillian, an overnight trip may be for you!
Extending Your Hike to Lake Florence & Lake Lillian
If you make it to Lake Blanche and still have some energy left, you can continue farther up the trail to visit two additional alpine lakes—Lake Florence and Lake Lillian.
From Lake Blanche, follow the trail around the right-hand side of the lake and continue climbing. The path is a bit less defined here, but you’ll quickly come to Lake Florence, and just beyond it, Lake Lillian.
- Additional Distance: Visiting both lakes will add roughly 1.5 miles round-trip to your hike.
- Additional Time: Plan on at least 45 minutes to 1 hour extra, depending on how long you spend exploring.
- Trail Conditions: The extension is less trafficked than the main Lake Blanche Trail, so expect a slightly rougher path and fewer fellow hikers.
These two lakes are smaller and more tucked away, but they offer a peaceful bonus to your adventure. If you have the stamina, I hear it’s well worth the extra effort!
More Trail Info on AllTrails
Want even more details before you head out? The Lake Blanche Trail page on AllTrails has over 25,000 reviews and hundreds of photos from other Utah hikers. It’s a great resource to check trail conditions, read recent updates, and see what the hike looks like across different seasons.
I personally use AllTrails when I’m planning hikes. It’s handy for downloading maps, tracking mileage, and making sure I don’t miss side trails like the ones leading to Lake Florence and Lake Lillian.
Final Thoughts
Hiking the Lake Blanche Trail while in Utah was one of the highlights of my time in Salt Lake City. Between the shaded canyon, rushing river, wildflowers, and the serene alpine lake at the top, this trail packs so much beauty into a single day hike. It’s challenging enough to feel rewarding, but not so intense that you can’t enjoy it at a steady pace.
If you’re visiting Salt Lake City and want to experience the Wasatch Mountains, this is one hike I absolutely recommend. Just be sure to set your alarm early—you’ll thank yourself when you’re standing lakeside with the morning sun lighting up Sundial Peak.
What do you think of the Lake Blanche Trail? Tell me in the comments!
Katelynn is a Texas-based writer and travel enthusiast who makes the most of her time exploring new destinations while balancing a full-time 9-5 job. She has visited 12 countries and 27 U.S. states. She describes herself as a weekend warrior and shares her passion for travel, outdoor adventures, and solo journeys on her blog, KatelynnOutLoud.
None Right Now.
Wreck - Catherine Newman
Sounds and looks like a great trail and the morning sun lighting up Sundial Peak must be beautiful to watch.
I would love to be up there for a sunrise or even a sunset. Backpacking and dispersed camping is allowed so I would highly encourage that!
This is a really useful way of setting out a hiking guide!
Thank you! I’m glad you think so. I appreciate you reading the post (:
This is such an inspiring guide to the Lake Blanche Trail. The views are breathtaking! Thanks for making me want to lace up my boots and catch that sunrise.
Yes! Love that! Thanks for reading and hope you’re having a great hiking year!
Hello! This trail looks pretty much picturesque! I like the idea to visit several lakes at once. I guess the place is especially colorful & bright during the autumn.
It was so pretty and I can only imagine how much more beautiful it would be in Fall. The terrain changes often which allows for a lot of different photo ops!
Lovely scenery there! Thanks for sharing your day out!
It is so beautiful out there! Choosing only a few photos for the post was tough!
Hi! What a nice trail! I haven’t heard of it before. It looks like a truly hidden jem. I also like the idea to visit it when sunrise comes and I’m glad to hear that it’s not overcomplicated and it’s ok for beginners.
It’s definitely well traveled and easy to follow (:
It’s pretty popular on the Alltrails app, which is how I found it! There’s some really great photos on there too by actual photographers and people who visited at both sunrise and sunset.
This looks beautiful!, sorry we missed this during our last trip to SLC. Saving this for our next Utah trip.
There are just so many great options! I could have been there for a month and still not done all the ones I wanted. If you have a chance to back though, this would absolutely be on the top of my recommendation list.