Blue Lake (Washington Pass)
North Cascades Highway, Washington · 6,254 ft
Subalpine larch ring the basin below Liberty Bell Mountain and the Early Winters Spires, which rise straight out of the far shore to the northeast. The larch here go gold in the first half of October, two to three weeks ahead of the western larch down at valley level.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Typical peak
Sep 3 – Sep 11
A few weeks out. Expect this to move by several days.
Best light
Best at sunrise
Classic view faces NE (40°)
Crowds
extreme
Expect heavy peak-weekend traffic; consider a weekday or arrive before dawn.
Getting there
Park at the signed Blue Lake trailhead on WA-20 near milepost 161, a mile west of Washington Pass, and hike 2.2 miles with 1,050 feet of gain to the lake.
What turns here
- subalpine larch
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 7Typical color progression for Blue Lake (Washington Pass). No change from Jul 31 to Aug 17. First color from Aug 17 to Aug 26. Approaching peak from Aug 26 to Sep 3. Peak from Sep 3 to Sep 11. Past peak from Sep 11 to Sep 21. Bare from Sep 21 to Oct 5.
Blue Lake (Washington Pass) is typically at past peak on this date.
Light at peak
Blue Lake (Washington Pass) on September 7, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 5:56 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 80° | 6:28 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 42 min of low, warm light | 7:09 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:00 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 41 min before sunset | 6:51 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 280° | 7:32 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 8:04 PM |
Times in America/Los Angeles · day length 13h 5m · computed from NOAA solar equations
Which way to point the camera
Sunrise: backlit
Sun behind the canopy — leaves glow translucent. The shot most people are after. Expect flare; a hood or a hand helps.
Sunset: side-lit
Side light. Best for texture and depth across a ridge, and the safest bet for contrast.
Based on the classic composition here facing NE (40°).
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.