The Three Sisters of the Wasatch | VRGetaway

ALPINE LAKES • WILDLIFE • VR 360

The Three Sisters of the Wasatch

A Journey of Healing Light and Unexpected Roommates at Lake Blanche

⚡ The Quick Scoop

The Vibe: A strenuous, heart-pumping climb rewarded by pure, high-alpine tranquility and deep family bonding.

Must See: The majestic Sundial Peak reflecting in the glassy waters of Lake Blanche, and the hidden vistas connecting her to her sister lakes.

The Inspiration: Watching the mountains transform in the sunset, finding comfort in nature after unimaginable tragedy, and feeling a deep, healing blessing of hope and love.

Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (A classic Utah 5 out of 5 Diamonds!)

Lake Blanche is a Utah classic for a very good reason. It’s a steep, challenging climb, but the reward at the top is one of the most stunning alpine scenes in the entire Wasatch range.

This trip all started with a personal goal: I wanted to brave an overnight hike. Todd wasn't healthy enough right now to do an overnight backpacking trip, and he definitely didn't want me trying to do it alone. So, I started calling absolutely everyone I thought I might be able to convince to do something crazy like this! I was having zero luck and was just about ready to give up when, finally, two of my cousins and my sister changed their minds.

The original plan was to hike all the way up to Red Castle. But as the date approached, the weather forecast looked absolutely terrifying—freezing cold and rainy. I frantically started researching backup spots. We looked at White Pine Lake, but heard camping there was incredibly tough. Feeling a little flustered, I asked them, "Do you guys care if we just do Lake Blanche?" I had day-hiked it before, but I knew we could camp there. To my surprise, they were all thrilled! What a treat to have this cute family gathering up in the mountains.

Chapter I

The Roaring Sprint

The hike begins on the paved Mill B South Trail alongside the magnificent Big Cottonwood River. It is one of the fastest-flowing rivers in the world, and the sheer volume of water crashing over the boulders is a deafening, humbling roar.

As we started up the trail, I quickly realized my mistake. I am normally a slow hiker who likes to take her time on the trail, setting up cameras and filming. My trail companions for this trip? Three incredibly fit, in-shape runners. Oh, and because I organized the trip, I ended up hauling the heaviest pack—loaded down with the Jetboil stove, the heavy water purifier, and half of a tent!

I was definitely the slowest of the group, but hauling that massive pack, I made it up to Lake Blanche faster than I ever have in my entire life just trying to keep up with those amazing women!

🧭 Trail Tip: The Boulder Switchback

The hike itself is a classic Wasatch challenge: it's steep! There is one very tricky switchback at the boulder field that catches a lot of people off guard. When the main trail seems to suddenly end at a massive wall of rocks, don't panic! Look for the path that cuts back sharply to your right to continue the climb.

Chapter II

The Healing Light

Despite the heavy packs and the grueling pace, this trip ended up being profoundly beautiful. My cousin is one of the strongest, most impressive women I have ever known. She lost her husband to cancer in her twenties and was left to raise three children entirely alone. She remarried 15 years later, only to go through a deeply sad and tragic divorce. And then, devastatingly, she lost her 18-year-old daughter shortly before this camping trip.

💖 A Time to Rally

This adventure into the mountains ended up being a lovely, sacred time for us to rally around her. We had the time and space to just love on her, to listen to her worries and fears, and to give her comfort and hugs away from the noise of the world.

As the sun began to set, the lake transformed into a magical canvas. The colors were breathtaking, the atmosphere was serene. I'll never forget watching the area transform with its luminescence. It's as if The Light wants to share with us a blessing of Hope and Love. If you make it up there, breathe it in deep, and feel the healing as you absorb the light just like the mountains do.

Chapter III

The Midnight Hostage Situation

As we explored the lakes, we kept running into two massive, beautiful moose almost everywhere we went. They were actually such a comforting, relaxing presence to just hang out and watch as we talked. It was comical—we had about 15 encounters with them before we even ran into the Park Rangers, who were actively hiking the mountain trying to track them down!

One of our constant, giant companions at Lake Lillian!

🫎 The Trapped Bladder

These gentle giants decided that the absolute best place to hang out was right next to our chosen campsite! We loved it during the day, but when the sun went down, that moose bedded down right next to our tents.

The hilarious reality? I didn't sleep a wink! I held my bladder all night long because I was absolutely terrified to unzip the tent, step out into the pitch black, and accidentally startle a 1,000-pound moose!

Chapter IV

A Backcountry Feast at Sunset

Lake Blanche is lovely during the day, but it truly shines at sunset when the red rocks light up. The very last time I tried to stay to see the sunset here on a day hike, I ended up having a terrifying hike for miles in the pitch dark with a known cougar roaming the canyon. It was incredibly stressful!

This time, because we had our tents safely pitched, we could truly enjoy it. We had been wandering up the mountain, exploring a hidden vista the rangers told us about, when I suddenly realized how late it was getting. The sun was dropping fast behind the mountains.

I really did not want to miss the color hitting Sundial Peak, so I took off running! My incredibly sweet sister and cousins actually brought my dinner to me at the overlook. We had all packed freeze-dried meals—they had Mountain House Chicken Alfredo, and I picked the Peak Sweet Pork. We sat there together on the rocks, enjoying the golden hour of Lake Blanche, watching Sundial Peak light up in all its glory while eating our hot camp meals straight from the Jetboil. It was simply perfect.

Chapter V

Field Notes & Trail Guide

🗺️ Adventure at a Glance

Location Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah

Distance Approx. 7 miles Round Trip

Elevation Gain ~2,700 feet (Steep!)

Time Needed 4-5 hrs day hike, or overnight

Essential Helpful Hints

🚗 Parking: The trailhead is at the Mill B South Fork Trailhead, located at the big "S" curve in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The lot fills up extremely fast. Arrive very early, especially if you are backpacking!
⛺ Backpacking: Camping is permitted, but you must be at least 200 feet away from any water source. Get there early to claim one of the limited prime, flat spots.
🚫 Watershed Rules: This is a highly protected watershed for Salt Lake City. Absolutely NO DOGS are allowed in the canyon or on the trail, and NO SWIMMING is permitted in any of the lakes.

🌸 A Hike for All Seasons

🌿 Spring: The waterfalls along the trail are incredibly powerful from the runoff. The fresh, vibrant green around the lake creates a stunning contrast against the deep red rocks.
☀️ Summer: This is when the trail truly comes alive. About two-thirds of the way up, you'll be rewarded with a massive, stunning field of bright yellow Arrowleaf Balsamroot flowers.
🍂 Fall: The colors are fantastic. You'll pass through a beautiful patch of red maples on the way up, and the bright yellow aspens around the lake are purely wonderful.

The Portal is Open

Step Into the Alpine (360° VR)

This immersive VR Getaway transports you directly into our backpacking adventure at the lakes. Experience the stunning sunset, our majestic moose roommates, and the joy of exploring this high-alpine paradise.

🔎 The VR Scavenger Hunt 🌟

While you're exploring, see if you can spot these magical moments:

Sundial's Sunset Glow: Find the exact moment when the setting sun lights up Sundial Peak in a beautiful, warm, healing alpenglow.
A Moose in the Morning: Can you spot one of our giant moose companions enjoying an early morning snack near the water?
The Hidden Vista: Experience the incredible panoramic view looking down on all three lakes from the secret spot the ranger told us about!
A Waterfall Surprise: Look for the beautiful, cascading waterfall that flows between Lake Blanche and Lake Florence.

Interactive Magic

✨ Ask the Alpine Ranger

Curious about moose safety? Want to know more about watershed rules, or just need an uplifting quote about the mountains? Ask our AI Alpine Ranger!

The Healing Mountains

This backpacking trip to Lake Blanche was a perfect reminder that sometimes the absolute best adventures are the ones you don't plan. We came for a hike and left with a story of laughter, shared discovery, profound healing, and unforgettable encounters with the true residents of the canyon. Whether you're there for a strenuous day hike or a magical overnight stay, the beauty of the three sister lakes and the majesty of Sundial Peak will leave a lasting impression. Just be sure to empty your bladder *before* the moose goes to sleep next to your tent!

Sending Love and Positive Vibes,
Shauna @ VRGetaway

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⛰️ The Three Sisters of the Wasatch: A Guide to Hiking & Backpacking Lake Blanche

The iconic and hard-earned view of Sundial Peak over Lake Blanche.

Lake Blanche is a Utah classic for a reason. It’s a steep, challenging climb, but the reward is one of the most stunning alpine scenes in the Wasatch. But this isn't just a day hike; it's a journey to three beautiful sister lakes—Blanche, Florence, and Lilian—and a destination worthy of an overnight stay. I’ve day-hiked this trail in almost every season, but my favorite memory comes from a backpacking trip with my sister and cousins. It was an adventure that began with a last-minute change of plans and ended with us becoming best buddies with a pair of local moose, discovering hidden vistas, and watching the sunset paint Sundial Peak in glorious color.

🌟 The Golden Nugget

Don't Miss This: Once you've set up camp, don't stop exploring! A friendly camp ranger gave us a fantastic tip: head around the dam at Lake Lillian and continue up the mountain. The social trail is a bit of a scramble, but it leads to an incredible, seldom-seen vista looking down on all three lakes. It's an amazing reward for a little extra effort.

TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO THE SISTER LAKES

This immersive VR Getaway transports you to our incredible backpacking adventure at the lakes. Experience the stunning sunset, the majestic moose, and the joy of exploring this high-alpine paradise.

Immersive VR 360° Journey:

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A Huge Field of Yellow Arrowroot Balsamroot Flowers

Video above is of the section of the trail with all the Yellow Arrowroot Flowers. Just click and it will come up.

Lake Blanche in the Fall

The same trail in the Fall.

You walk across this last path that has a beautiful rock wall constructed on the East side, and then there it is.

LAKE BLANCHE

LAKE FLORENCE IN BOTH SUMMER AND FALL

Panorama of waterfall to Lake Florence.

Lake Florence

Great View here of both lakes. Lake Florence is in the front, and Lake Lilian is behind. If you

are craving seeing a moose, they can often be spotted up here around these 2 lakes.

On the west side of the lake, there is this dam that is constructed out of rock, one rock at a time. If you walk past that dam you get a real treat of a GORGEOUS waterfall flowing out of Lake Blanch into Lake Florence.

WATERFALL FROM LAKE BLANCHE TO LAKE FLORENCE