Indian Heaven to Blue Lake
Skamania County, Washington
Details
Distance
6.71 miles
Elevation Gain
997 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Vic Garcia
Hike in to amazing views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Rainier. You can score a great campsite by Blue Lake. The mosquitos can get a little heavy if you go in the high season.
Crowds and mosquitoes were nonexistent as we went a bit early in the season. The trails were all covered in snow, but we were able to do some way finding with a GPS and topo map.
3.5 miles in we found a dry spot next to Blue Lake and set up shop. After dropping off our gear we climbed up Gifford Peak to catch some views of the area. We could see Mt Hood, Mt Adams and Mt Rainier along with a nice aerial view of Indian Heaven. That night we made a nice warm fire and drank too much whiskey. Falling asleep was not a problem. In the morning we did some exploring around Blue Lake before packing up and hiking out of the snowy wilderness.
To get here from Portland, head east on 84 and then cross into WA via the Bridge of the gods. Go north thru Carson and then continue into Gifford Pinchot NF. From there you will need good directions to find the trailhead - coordinates are 46.00555, -121.83761. Do your research and you’ll be fine.
If you hit this area early in the season like we did to avoid crowds and mosquitoes. It’s been said that after the mosquitoes are out for the season the place is just a pretty nightmare.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Indian Heaven to Blue Lake Reviews
Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
McClellan Falls
Camp Forlorn Lakes & Explore Guler Ice Cave
Falls Creek Falls
Panther Creek Falls
Fly Fish Lewis River, Cougar, WA
Hike to Lewis River Falls
Community
© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy