Seattle's Golden Larch💛 | Blue Lake in Wind and Snow

The golden larches truly are a sight to behold. On Saturday, October 10th, we drove from Bellevue to Blue Lake for a golden larch hike—a 3.5-hour drive to the trailhead. We thought a rainy day ☔️ might mean fewer people, but to our surprise, cars lined the roadside and the trail was bustling. 💛 Visitor center closures: The North Cascades Visitor Center is closed for the season, and restrooms there are unavailable. You can drive about 5 minutes to the Skagit Information Center for restrooms and a gift shop with local souvenirs and stamp collection. 🧡 Trail details: Blue Lake Trail is relatively easy—4.6 miles round-trip with 915 feet of elevation gain. The hike takes about 3 hours round-trip. By mid-October, snow ❄️ had started falling on the trail, and temperatures were quite low, so dressing warmly is essential. 💛 Golden larch season: By mid-October, the golden larches were at their peak. On sunny days, the larches glow much more vibrantly than they do under cloudy or rainy skies—making clear weather worth the wait! 📝 Tips: Bring microspikes or traction aids for snowy or icy sections. Pack layers, gloves, and a warm hat—wind near the lake can be biting. Start early to secure parking and enjoy quieter moments on the trail. A wintry hike touched with gold—worth every chilly step! 🍂⛰️ #Seattle#Seattleguide#Seattlelife#trekking#Seattletravel#BlueLake