I was fortunate to have beautiful weather with just a little haze from the wildfires happening east of Mt Rainier. Forest Road 59 is rough but I made it in my Prius and just took it slow. It does get better after about 4 miles. Also, HWY 7 is closed for a few miles and detours you through Eatonville. The trail was in pretty good shape except a little overgrown in the beginning. For the record, no pass is needed to park here. I read conflicting info before I headed out. Overall, a great hike!

My last time here was five years ago, and forest road 59 definitely seemed rougher and more pot-holey than I previously recalled. (The turnoff to FR 59 is still easily missed because there is no turnoff sign from the highway, only a post on the forest road with the road number.) Once on the trail, about halfway in I saw what I presume was the results of WTA work party efforts, mainly widened trail areas. Still an issue was the first 1/2 mile or so, where the brush significantly encroaches on the trail. Although there were about ten cars at the trailhead I didn't see that many people on the hike; perhaps some went the other way, towards Goat Lake. I did meet one other person who arrived at the Mt. Rainier viewpoint just before me, along with his German Shepherd named, appropriately enough, Rainier. A few paintbrush and other flowers still held out at clearings.

This short (4 mi. RT) hike is in the Glacier View wilderness just outside Mt. Rainier NP. Perhaps the biggest challenge is the road to the TH - rumors have it that it was used for training missions for the Lunar Rover. The road does seem to improve the higher and further you get. This same road is used to get to Lake Christine/Mt. Beljica. The road, Copper Creek Road is very near (just west) a favorite restaurant- the Copper Creek Cafe. I had had some struggle to find it even though I'd been there before. The guidebook showed the TH being at the very end of the road...and it is. Have faith...the road does end! I thought perhaps I was at the end when I suddenly first came upon the grand view of Mt. Rainier - but press on.
     Once at the TH all is pretty straight forward - the trail climbs, generally moderately through somewhat brushy (huckleberries!) terrain. After a long stretch of uphill travel it was discouraging to start treading downward for a goodly time. I dreaded the thought of climbing up on the way out, but when I did come out I found the ascent quite gradual. The trail is almost exclusively in forest with a couple brief hillside meadows with some lingering flowers ( most were past their prime). A few spots of the trail were quite eroded, but nothing too disconcerting. There are not any views of The Mountain until near the end. Then the trail emerges unto a small rocky platform and the grand view of Mt. Rainier. Mt. Adams clearly looms to the south as well as perhaps the most unique view - that of Gobblers Knob rising before a backdrop of the Goat Rocks. The view is as shown in the guidebook, but photo certainly used a large telephoto - fortunately I had hauled up such a critter with me.
     This trail just grant a glorious west side view of The Mountain - easier to get to than Gobbler's Knob. There is nothing but empty space between you and the icy glaciers of Mt. Rainier. As a photographer of sorts I like to get some foreground in my pictures - that's difficult to come by at this narrow lookout site. Like the the title -it's a glacier view.

After growing up here & now living in other states across the country, my two brothers & I met for a long overdue reunion & immediately made our way to Mt. Rainier. This trail is well worth the hike to see the spectacular view at the top of both Mt. Rainier & Mt. Hood. The sky was mostly clear with just a few low clouds, the temperature in the mid 50's, perfect for this trails steep inclines. The majority of the trail is pretty easy once you pass the first & longest incline. The last 100 feet is pretty vertical but it makes the pay off even better.

The wildflowers were still blooming in the sunny meadows that pop up along the way. There were no waterfalls, streams or lakes along the trail but are a few on the gorgeous drive to the trail head along Copper Creek Road, which also holds a stunning view at the first crest which is about half way between the highway & the trail head.

Some areas on the trail are very narrow with some very soft dirt & also some spots with loose rocks & tree roots that one could catch their toes on, but basic safety knowledge allows you to avoid accidents by just watching your step. Bring enough water for each person & be sure to be off the trail before sundown. This is not a hike you want to do in the dark.

Keep your eye out for interesting photos, the variety is plentiful. Pretty wisps of pale green moss that covers tree branches & trunks, intricate spider webs that catch the light in the sun, mushrooms & fungus on down stumps that create unique formations & colorful dew & sap drops. The lush green landscapes, rock formations & moss are beautiful. The abundance of downed trees, as well as the remnants of deteriorating stumps left behind after its tree has toppled give you unique views of the inner bones in the split trunks.

We encountered a few bees, one of which seemed to encircle me for about half the trail, but he was a gracious host and never stung me.

We arrived at the head of the trail about 2:30 pm & returned just after 6:00. Unfortunately, there were zero sightings of wildlife other than a few small birds except for the spritely chipmunk at the entrance to Copper Creek Road & the beautiful Black Tail Deer grazing along Hwy. 706 about a mile from there on the way out. She was also gracious & allowed me to take a good series of close-ups to make up for the lack of sightings on the hike.

I've been inside the park many times before, usually along the Paradise route which we also did just a few days before this trip & had the luxury of seeing a young Black Bear foraging in the outstanding display of wildflowers & numerous full flowing waterfalls. Paradise is always a treat & lives up to its name each time. However, Copper Creek Road & Glacier View Trail provide a view that takes your breath away! There was also the added bonus of escaping the traffic & crowds that the volcano draws on holiday weekends, generally the thing we seek to get away from when we head to the mountains.

Whereas my latest trip to Paradise found me packing out three small bags of others' wads of gum (deadly to birds & small mammals), cigarette butts, plastic cups & other garbage tossed along the roads & lookouts, Glacier View drew the type of people that appreciate, respect & maintain this beauty by not littering, trampling vegetation off trails & being mindful that it belongs to the wildlife that inhabit it & we are merely guests which must leave it in its full glory.