Palisades Lakes
Aug 09, 2009
by
ann
—
last modified
Aug 09, 2009 09:52 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Palisades Lakes
- Region: Mt. Rainier -- NE - Sunrise / White River
- Agency: Mount Rainier National Park
- Avg Rating: 3.33
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
Two 11 year old boys and I drove to the turnoff just before Sunrise for the hike to Palisades Lakes. The weather was partly cloudy with only the lower half of Rainier visible.
Both boys perked up when after about an hour we reached Clover Lake--a large, shallow, attractive lake surrounded by heavily blooming flower meadows. Nearly every step lead to a frog hopping out of the way. The boys begged to stay and play at the lake. I said I would leave them there to play while I hiked to the Palisades. I went over a ridge and discovered misty rain. I hiked in light rain past several more lakes and flower meadows to the Palisades to see the cliffs, then returned wondering if it had been raining on the boys. Nope it was still dry, although they were not, from playing in the lake. They had discovered frogs, and their gelatinous globes filled with eggs, camp robber birds, and many other interesting things. They begged to stay longer, so I waited while they swam and explored around the lake.
Lots of innocent insects, but at least for today the cool weather had eliminated the biting fly and mosquito problem.
Most of the blueberries are still small and green, but we found one patch of ripe berries, and some small red huckleberries.
No Rainier view on this easy hike except from the trailhead, but unlike the Sunrise trails, this trail is not very crowded, and the meadows are beautiful and not trampled.
Both boys perked up when after about an hour we reached Clover Lake--a large, shallow, attractive lake surrounded by heavily blooming flower meadows. Nearly every step lead to a frog hopping out of the way. The boys begged to stay and play at the lake. I said I would leave them there to play while I hiked to the Palisades. I went over a ridge and discovered misty rain. I hiked in light rain past several more lakes and flower meadows to the Palisades to see the cliffs, then returned wondering if it had been raining on the boys. Nope it was still dry, although they were not, from playing in the lake. They had discovered frogs, and their gelatinous globes filled with eggs, camp robber birds, and many other interesting things. They begged to stay longer, so I waited while they swam and explored around the lake.
Lots of innocent insects, but at least for today the cool weather had eliminated the biting fly and mosquito problem.
Most of the blueberries are still small and green, but we found one patch of ripe berries, and some small red huckleberries.
No Rainier view on this easy hike except from the trailhead, but unlike the Sunrise trails, this trail is not very crowded, and the meadows are beautiful and not trampled.
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