Blossom Lake sits in a basin in the Evans Gulch Roadless area just on the Montana side of the Idaho/Montana border at an elevation of 5668 feet. It can be accessed by a hike of about 3 miles (with a bit of “up” to it) on U.S.F.S. Trail 522 from the trail head at Thompson Pass, about 22 miles west of Thompson Falls Montana on highway Mt-471.
We got there before much wind came up but there was a little touching the surface toward the far shore. Earlier it would have been completely still. The forecast for that day was for a fairly good morning and thunderstorms for the afternoon.
I love these high lakes. They are very clear and pure and cold, and too far in most cases for someone to carry an inflatable boat, so they are really not exploited.
Yes, you would have liked the temperature there. We were hot from the hike up, but quickly cooled at the lake and needed jackets very soon after we got there.
The forecast for that day was for thunderstorms after noon and I chose that destination because walking back down that trail in a storm would have been very pleasant. It turned out to be a nice day although it did get cloudy later in the afternoon.
I haven’t had as many hikes this year as I had planned either, Jack, and sure missed them. Finally got to do a few this week, and today’s was a great one!
It is a beautiful setting, right on the border between Montana and Idaho (which is just over the ridge behind the lake), and it’s inside a roadless area where it has at least some degree of protection.
You’ve taken your shot from my favorite vantage point for mountain lakes: the log-clogged outlet.
I also am enjoying your alpine hiking vicariously, as a cottage building project has meant no backpacking (and hardly any biking or canoeing) for me and the Mr.
Stress disappears when admiring your photos. They are gorgeous. Reflections… fantastic. This is also a place where I could visit and enjoy the silence and let my eyes rest.
You get to see lots & lots & lots of unspoiled places like this on your hikes, don’t you! Roadless, so you have them all to yourself, too! How INCREDIBLY AWESOME is that!!! Absolutely gorgeous lake, mountains, trees, water, etc WoW! =)
These are the places that I love to visit because of their beauty and also because they are remote and lightly visited. Because they are roadless, the forest has not been exploited and is still existing in its natural state. It’s well worth the effort of making the hikes to get there!
Beautiful place and excellent photos.
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Comment by frankdejol — September 2, 2011 @ 4:16 am
Thank you Frank, and thanks for visiting!
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Comment by montucky — September 2, 2011 @ 10:34 am
Breathtaking..and what a beautiful name for this lake. Stunning!
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Comment by Marcie — September 2, 2011 @ 6:22 am
There are lots of flowers along the shore including many pink Spirea and I wonder if that’s what suggested the name.
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Comment by montucky — September 2, 2011 @ 10:35 am
I bet that water is quite nippy!
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Comment by Roberta — September 2, 2011 @ 6:34 am
It is. If you look closely at the high ridge behind the lake you can see a few snowbanks still remaining.
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Comment by montucky — September 2, 2011 @ 10:36 am
once you get my cabin erected give me a call, will ya? =o)
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Comment by Sandy — September 2, 2011 @ 8:20 am
It will be finished right after the first big snow!
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Comment by montucky — September 2, 2011 @ 10:37 am
Ohhh, it looks so peaceful and serene. I’d love to be there.
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Comment by Barbara — September 2, 2011 @ 10:07 am
This lake does get a few visitors but we were the only ones there that day. The silence was broken only by the birds and the wind.
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Comment by montucky — September 2, 2011 @ 10:39 am
Beautiful!
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Comment by Roberta — September 2, 2011 @ 12:35 pm
There are many lakes that are somewhat similar in this general region, all rather remote. This is one of the larger ones.
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Comment by montucky — September 2, 2011 @ 3:05 pm
So peaceful and quiet. One could skip a stone clear to the other side it is so smooth.
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Comment by Scott Thomas Photography — September 2, 2011 @ 1:32 pm
We got there before much wind came up but there was a little touching the surface toward the far shore. Earlier it would have been completely still. The forecast for that day was for a fairly good morning and thunderstorms for the afternoon.
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Comment by montucky — September 2, 2011 @ 3:07 pm
Beautiful. The water looks SO clear… and cold, too!
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Comment by thedailyclick — September 2, 2011 @ 1:50 pm
The trail gets some activity, but the lake is still very clean. It still has snow-melt feeding it, and the first snow of this winter is not far away.
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Comment by montucky — September 2, 2011 @ 3:10 pm
Just beautiful and so peaceful looking…
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Comment by kateri — September 2, 2011 @ 7:01 pm
We will be camping next to one pretty much like that one tomorrow night!
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Comment by montucky — September 2, 2011 @ 7:39 pm
what a gorgeous place, absolutely incredible! =)
have a great weekend
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Comment by Tricia — September 2, 2011 @ 8:18 pm
Yes, a beautiful little lake, and a pretty trail too.
I wish you a good and safe weekend too!
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Comment by montucky — September 2, 2011 @ 9:49 pm
I love this place. It is looking so wild, but at same time so inviting.
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Comment by sartenada — September 3, 2011 @ 2:27 am
Wild yet inviting is an excellent way to describe it, Matti! Thanks!
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Comment by montucky — September 3, 2011 @ 8:23 am
A beautiful lake, indeed. Love the deep, rich greens. The 2nd photo I really like!
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Comment by Anna — September 3, 2011 @ 10:28 am
I love these high lakes. They are very clear and pure and cold, and too far in most cases for someone to carry an inflatable boat, so they are really not exploited.
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Comment by montucky — September 5, 2011 @ 9:56 pm
So beautiful and serene, I can feel the refreshing cool air down there.
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Comment by Candace — September 3, 2011 @ 12:51 pm
Yes, you would have liked the temperature there. We were hot from the hike up, but quickly cooled at the lake and needed jackets very soon after we got there.
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Comment by montucky — September 5, 2011 @ 9:57 pm
looks like a picture perfect day
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Comment by silken — September 3, 2011 @ 7:25 pm
The forecast for that day was for thunderstorms after noon and I chose that destination because walking back down that trail in a storm would have been very pleasant. It turned out to be a nice day although it did get cloudy later in the afternoon.
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Comment by montucky — September 5, 2011 @ 9:59 pm
I did not get my hikes in the high country this summer and your Blossom Lake pics tug at my heart. Just beautiful. 5,000+ feet — a good strain.
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Comment by Jack Matthews — September 5, 2011 @ 11:06 am
I haven’t had as many hikes this year as I had planned either, Jack, and sure missed them. Finally got to do a few this week, and today’s was a great one!
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Comment by montucky — September 5, 2011 @ 10:01 pm
What a stunning landscape!
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Comment by Watching Seasons — September 5, 2011 @ 4:56 pm
It is a beautiful setting, right on the border between Montana and Idaho (which is just over the ridge behind the lake), and it’s inside a roadless area where it has at least some degree of protection.
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Comment by montucky — September 5, 2011 @ 10:03 pm
You’ve taken your shot from my favorite vantage point for mountain lakes: the log-clogged outlet.
I also am enjoying your alpine hiking vicariously, as a cottage building project has meant no backpacking (and hardly any biking or canoeing) for me and the Mr.
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Comment by Kim — September 5, 2011 @ 8:42 pm
I’ve also stayed home too much due to a remodeling project, but my daughter wanted to make some hikes during her visit and that suited me just fine!
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Comment by montucky — September 5, 2011 @ 10:05 pm
Stress disappears when admiring your photos. They are gorgeous. Reflections… fantastic. This is also a place where I could visit and enjoy the silence and let my eyes rest.
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Comment by sartenada — September 8, 2011 @ 11:09 pm
Thanks Matti! It was very quiet the day we were there, no one else around at all. I also enjoy the silence and beauty of such places.
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Comment by montucky — September 9, 2011 @ 10:08 pm
You get to see lots & lots & lots of unspoiled places like this on your hikes, don’t you! Roadless, so you have them all to yourself, too! How INCREDIBLY AWESOME is that!!! Absolutely gorgeous lake, mountains, trees, water, etc WoW! =)
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Comment by Tricia — September 15, 2011 @ 9:38 am
These are the places that I love to visit because of their beauty and also because they are remote and lightly visited. Because they are roadless, the forest has not been exploited and is still existing in its natural state. It’s well worth the effort of making the hikes to get there!
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Comment by montucky — September 15, 2011 @ 11:11 pm
A beautiful spot… lovely images… makes me want to go there myself!
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Comment by Victoria — September 16, 2011 @ 10:25 pm
There are a number of pretty and remote lakes like that in this part of the state. I love seeing them.
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Comment by montucky — September 17, 2011 @ 10:32 pm