Alpine lakes often have an otherworldly color, due to glacial rock-'flour’ suspended in the water. Here, in the central Cascades northeast of Seattle, Blanca Lake could be more aptly named Turquoise Lake. Set in a cirque, with Columbia Glacier at its head, this lake is not far from Seattle (the trailhead is about a 2-hour drive from the city), but after climbing through steep old-growth forest for several hours to get here, you are definitely in mountain wilderness. For trail information: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/blanca-lake
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Blanca Lake and Columbia Glacier
Alpine lakes often have an otherworldly color, due to glacial rock-'flour’ suspended in the water. Here, in the central Cascades northeast of Seattle, Blanca Lake could be more aptly named Turquoise Lake. Set in a cirque, with Columbia Glacier at its head, this lake is not far from Seattle (the trailhead is about a 2-hour drive from the city), but after climbing through steep old-growth forest for several hours to get here, you are definitely in mountain wilderness. For trail information: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/blanca-lake
