Blue Lake via Oh Be Joyful Campground

Overview: Round Trip is about 13 miles, about 500 ft ascent at the beginning and 1500 ft ascent in the last 1.5 miles. The majority of the hike is flat and through an AMAZING valley. 

Getting There: Blue Lake Trailhead is located at Oh Be Joyful Campground on Slate River Rd, just across a river, either 4x4 vehicle to access parking lot off of trailhead - or - park in campground and wade through the river to access trailhead. Reference photos for details. 

Description: Begin hiking at the parking lot, you start through a lighter almost gladed forest, not but a couple hundred feet in - the trail turns right and you start to climb. Once you're out of the forest - you'll follow the trail along near a cliff/river edge, waterfalls will tower high above you in the distance coming down from the mountains and you'll pop in and out of trees for another mile or so - always be looking up. There will be a bit more of a climb and curve to the right, then you'll hit the wilderness sign. After here the trail starts to flatten out into the most MAJESTIC wildflower valley you've ever seen this lasts for the majority of the hike - about 3/4 miles. Again waterfalls to your left the whole way, with mountains that look like nothing you've seen before, in the far distance you'll see a range, that's where you're headed. Stop and take pictures of all the wildflowers too! You'll eventually hit a gate, I would suspect this gate is about halfway - just for the purpose of mental note. Again you'll continue on in the valley. When you hit the forest again - you'll start to climb. Reaching a fork - you'll go left into the basin where treeline breaks, waterfalls all around, you'll see the waterfall coming from the mountain in the middle straight in front of you, your lake is up there. Follow the trail through the bottom of the basin and then climb the switchbacks. You'll reach your lake in no time, the majority of the climb is here, but it's worth every step. Hike out is downhill the whole way, I'd estimate 2-3 hours to get out.