Lake Blanche Falls in May 2013
Let me start by saying that I believe there are more waterfalls that could be classified as Lake Blanche Falls. This is the easiest and closest to the start of the Lake Blanche trail head in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The trail continues on for a ways, and climbs in elevation. Searches for Lake Blanche Falls indicate there might be taller falls along this trail.
This smaller waterfall is easily visited in Big Cottonwood Canyon. I visited last May, and there were still flurries at that time. Luckily, the main road wasn’t closed. One of the roads leading to Doughnut Falls, a very popular waterfall, was still closed, so I turned around. Hidden Falls, a really beautiful waterfall, is in one parking area along a S-curve in the road. In another parking area across the road is the start of the Lake Blanche trailhead. I wasn’t feeling particularly great, and didn’t wish to hike for a long time. I still wanted to see what was in the area, though, and so I hiked a short distance along this trail. I stopped once I saw some water flowing. The trail started going uphill at this point where the waterfall/cascades could be found.
I’m not sure that I’d go out of my way to see just this waterfall. As I’ve mentioned, though, Hidden Falls and Doughnut Falls are both close by. I also believe that on a warmer day, the hike along the Lake Blanche trailhead could be very enjoyable.
Directions:
- Head east on UT-190 (Cottonwood Canyon Road). You will enter the National Forest.
- Just past mile-marker 6 (which is not 6 miles along the path, but instead 4 miles or so), there is a S-shaped curve. There are two parking areas on the right side of the road. They are somewhat easy to miss at first!
- Park in the first parking lot. (The second leads to Hidden Falls.) From there, head east along the Lake Blanche trail, which hugs Big Cottonwood Creek. After a short distance, you should find this waterfall.
Accessibility: 10/10 (very easy hike to the falls)
Height: 10′
Length of Hike: 0.4 miles round-trip
Where in the World is Lake Blanche Falls?
The Waterfall Record 