Sundial Peak rises straight out of the water at Lake Blanche. That’s the whole frame. It’s one of the more dramatic alpine lake settings in the Wasatch and it earns every foot of the 2,700-foot climb to get there.

Lake Blanche Trail starts at the Mill B South Fork Trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon, about 4.4 miles up from the canyon mouth, and climbs 2,700 feet over 6.8 miles round trip through aspen and pine forest, across wildflower meadows, and up serious switchbacks to an alpine lake framed by Sundial Peak. It’s the signature day hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon and one of the marquee destinations on the entire Wasatch Front. The reflection of Sundial Peak in the lake is as good as alpine lake photography gets in Utah. The climb earns every bit of it.

Here’s everything you need to hike Lake Blanche.

Quick Facts

How to Get There

From Salt Lake City, take I-215 to exit 6 (6200 South). Head east on 6200 South, which becomes Wasatch Boulevard. Turn left onto Big Cottonwood Canyon Road (UT-190). Drive approximately 4.4 miles up the canyon to the Mill B South Fork Trailhead on the left side of the road. The trailhead is well-signed. Drive time from downtown Salt Lake City is about 30 minutes. Cell service weakens significantly before you reach the trailhead, so load navigation before entering the canyon.

Parking Information

The Mill B South Fork parking lot is free but fills fast on summer and fall weekends. This is one of the most popular trailheads in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Arrive before 7 a.m. on peak weekends to guarantee a spot. Overflow parking runs along Big Cottonwood Canyon Road. Walk the road shoulder carefully back to the trailhead if you park overflow. No restrooms at the Mill B South Fork Trailhead specifically.

Cell Service and Navigation

Cell service in Big Cottonwood Canyon is unreliable by 4.4 miles up and gone on trail. Download your map offline through AllTrails before leaving Salt Lake City. The trail is well-marked through the lower and middle sections. The upper switchbacks and final push to the lake require navigation attention where the trail becomes rockier and less defined. A GPS track loaded before losing signal keeps you oriented. Weather at Lake Blanche builds fast. Afternoon thunderstorm risk in summer is real at this elevation. Start early enough to be at the lake by midday and in descent before afternoon storms develop.

What to Expect on Lake Blanche Trail

The Forest and Canyon Sections

The trail starts at Mill B South Fork and immediately enters the canyon, following the stream. Aspen and pine canopy provides shade on the lower sections. The stream is audible and sometimes visible alongside the trail, adding to the feel of the canyon approach. The trail is well-worn from heavy use and the lower gradient eases you into the elevation gain before the switchbacks take over. Wildflowers line the trail margins in mid-summer.

The Switchbacks and Upper Trail

The gradient increases significantly in the middle sections. Serious switchbacks gain elevation fast. The views of the surrounding canyon and ridgelines open as you climb above the tree line. The upper trail is rocky and exposed. The final push to the lake is steep. This is where the hike separates hikers who’ve paced their energy from those who haven’t.

Lake Blanche and Sundial Peak

The lake arrives at the end of the final push and it delivers on the reputation. Clear water in a rocky alpine basin with Sundial Peak rising directly above the far shore. The reflection on calm mornings is exceptional. Lake Florence and Lake Lillian are accessible from Lake Blanche for hikers who want to push further into the Twin Peaks Wilderness. Most people stay at Lake Blanche, eat lunch, absorb the view, and start the descent with enough time to beat afternoon storms off the exposed upper trail.

Trail Difficulty and Length

Lake Blanche Trail is 6.8 miles roundtrip with 2,700 feet of elevation gain. Strenuous is the accurate rating. The gain is sustained through the switchback sections and the final upper push demands both physical fitness and energy management. Budget 4 to 6 hours. The descent on tired legs over rocky switchback terrain takes more time than it looks at the bottom. Start early. Don’t be on the upper exposed trail in afternoon thunderstorm season.

Dog Friendly?

No. Big Cottonwood Canyon is a protected municipal watershed. Dogs are prohibited on all trails throughout the canyon to protect water quality. No exceptions. Millcreek Canyon, one canyon north, allows dogs on odd-numbered calendar days with a leash requirement. For comparable Wasatch hiking with a dog, the Alexander Basin route toward Gobblers Knob is accessible from Millcreek on odd-numbered days.

What to Bring

At least 3 liters of water per person for a 6.8-mile summit hike. More in warm weather. The gain drains you and the exposed upper sections have no shade. Sun protection from head to toe. A wind and insulation layer for the lake basin, which channels cold air off the surrounding peaks even in summer. Trail shoes or boots with solid grip for the rocky upper terrain and switchbacks. Trekking poles reduce knee strain significantly on the long descent. A headlamp in case you run long. Lunch and snacks for the lake because you’ll want to stay. A camera with a wide-angle lens for the Sundial Peak reflection. A tripod for long-exposure lake shots. A rain layer for afternoon storm risk.

Best Time to Hike Lake Blanche Trail

July through September is the reliable window. Snow lingers in the upper basin through late June in most years, sometimes past it. July brings wildflowers to the canyon and switchback sections. August is peak season but also peak thunderstorm risk. September and early October are excellent: crisp air, clear views, fall color in the aspen sections, and significantly fewer hikers than peak summer. Winter is not recommended. The upper terrain holds snow deep into spring and avalanche risk is real in the surrounding high-angle terrain.

For photography, the lake reflection is best within the first hour after sunrise before wind ripples the surface. The Sundial Peak face catches morning light from the east that renders the granite with strong texture and color. A wide-angle lens captures both the peak and the lake together. A neutral density filter smooths the water for long exposures. Arrive at the trailhead before 5:30 a.m. on a still morning if the reflection shot is the goal.

Rules and Regulations

Lake Blanche Trail is in the Twin Peaks Wilderness inside the Big Cottonwood Canyon watershed, managed by the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. No dogs, no bikes, no motorized equipment, no swimming in the lake. No fee. Leave No Trace fully. The upper trail and lake basin are fragile alpine terrain. Stay on established paths and don’t shortcut the switchbacks. The lake reflection area sees significant boot traffic. Minimize impact near the shoreline. Check the Wasatch-Cache National Forest site for current fire restrictions and any trail closures before heading out.

Where to Stay Near Big Cottonwood Canyon

Cottonwood Heights and Sandy have chain lodging within 20 minutes of the canyon entrance. Salt Lake City has the broadest inventory. For hotel points check Marriott Bonvoy, IHG Rewards, and Hilton Honors. Brighton and Solitude resort lodges at the top of the canyon offer a different option: stay high, sleep above the canyon traffic, and drive down to the Mill B South Fork trailhead on the way out.

Camping Nearby

Redman Campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon is the primary established option, reservable through recreation.gov and about 9 miles above the Mill B South Fork Trailhead. Staying in the canyon eliminates the morning I-215 commute and puts you close to the trailhead. Book well in advance for summer weekends. No camping in the Twin Peaks Wilderness basin near the lake due to fragile alpine ecosystem restrictions.

Nearby Adventures

Lake Florence and Lake Lillian are accessible from Lake Blanche for hikers ready to push further into the Twin Peaks Wilderness. The Twin Peaks themselves are a serious summit objective accessible from the same basin for experienced hikers. The Broads Fork Twin Peaks route (10.5 mi / 5,285 ft) is one of the most committing Wasatch Front summit days, also accessed from Big Cottonwood.

Lower in the canyon, Donut Falls (1.5 mi / 300 ft) is the easy waterfall stop. Silver Lake Loop (0.9 mi / flat) and Lake Mary Trail (2.5 mi / 800 ft) are both at Brighton and work as rest-day options or as companions to Lake Blanche on a multi-day canyon trip. The Butler Fork Trailhead, also in Big Cottonwood Canyon, gives access to Gobblers Knob and Mount Raymond for hikers who want different summit objectives in the same canyon system.

Plan This Hike

AllTrails has Lake Blanche Trail with a downloadable map and recent user conditions. Given the popularity of this trail, checking recent reports for current snow conditions in early season, trail congestion levels, and upper basin conditions is genuinely useful for planning a successful day.

View on Alltrails

AllTrails Pro is worth it for offline maps in Big Cottonwood Canyon where signal is unreliable, and for GPS tracking on the upper rocky sections where the trail demands close attention.

Chase the Quiet

Sundial Peak reflected in Lake Blanche at 7 a.m. on a still morning in early September. No wind yet. The water is glass. Every granite face on that peak is in the surface. That moment is why you get up before the canyon is awake and push 2,700 feet before most people have finished their coffee. It’s one of the better images Utah produces. You have to earn it to see it.

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