The Blue Canyon Trail is very heavily used and by midsummer, is extremely dusty. Mosquitoes in the basin are quite numerous until mid-August. The Cat Hill Way Trail begins just a few hundred feet from the trailhead and provides an excellent opportunity for a 5.6 mile day loop. A longer 12.5 mile loop is possible using the Cat Hill Way Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail National Scenic Trail #2000, and the Blue Canyon Trail. It is advisable to avoid the Blue Lake-Meadow Lake area due to the large numbers of visitors. Island Lake and Horseshoe Lake are often crowded on weekends as well.

Directions: From Butte Falls, Follow Highway #821 southeast out of town for approximately 8.5 miles until you reach the junction with Forest Service Road #37. Drive north on road #37 for 8.5 miles until you reach road #3770. Head south on road #3770 for approximately 5 miles until you reach the trailhead.

Elevation: 6,200 feet

Ending Elevation: 6,000 feet

Elevation Gain: 200 feet

Distance: 5.1 miles

Usage: Heavy

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

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