This short trail loops through wildflower meadows and offers grand views down onto one of the park's largest glaciers--the Nisqually. Unfortunately, this glacier is retreating faster than most, too, so it is shrinking more each year. Take the kids to show them this changing landscape--it's a great lesson in climate change.

To ensure you find the proper trail, when you leave the visitor center stay left at any trail junction you come to (unless that trail obviously drops straight back to the parking lot). The Nisqually Vista Trail leads west away from the visitor center, climbing a gentle slope through flower fields for 0.3 mile.

The trail splits here. Go left to do the loop section in a clockwise direction. The trail angles out along a ridge crest before turning north to reach the rim of the tall wall above the Nisqually Glacier. Or it used to be above the glacier. The retreating ice field now resides farther up the valley--directly below your vantage point are vast mounds of moraine and the milky waters of the Nisqually River.

The trail follows the rim of this steep slope for a short distance before curving back to the east, passing a small tarn (Fairy Pool) before rejoining the initial trail to close the 0.8-mile loop. Follow the trail 0.3 mile back to the visitor center.