Think Mount Rainier, and the images that instantly come to mind usually include open meadows, wildflowers, glaciers, and grand views. Green Lake, though, proves there's more to the park than that. This wonderful trail stays with the cool shadows of deep old-growth forests. You'll explore the quiet waters of a cool mountain stream and the deep, dark pool of a forested lake. No sweeping vistas. No alpine meadows. No glaciated peaks. Just rich forest ecosystems and trout-rich waters.

From the trailhead, it's an easy, 1-mile-long walk through spectacular old-growth forest to spellbinding Ranger Creek Falls, just off the main trail. Stop and enjoy the pounding waters of the falls before moving back up the forest path as it continues upward on a gradual incline toward Green Lake. About 1 mile past the falls, you'll suddenly find yourself stepping out of forest onto the lakeshore. The trees push right down to the water's edge, and frequently they fall into the deep waters, taking the woods right into the lake.

Enjoy it with the kids--they'll relish a cool dip in the lake on a hot summer day. Just be sure to warn them of underwater logs so they don't dive and get tangled in the submerged branches.

The trail faces perennial threats due to the frequent flooding damage to the Carbon River Road. That road provides access to the trailhead, and because this quiet one-way trail lacks the high-profile grandeur of some other area trails, the Carbon River Road frequently is last to be repaired. The trail today remains in good form, but hikers need to keep using it--even during those periodic road closures (at these times, a short mountain bike ride gets to the trailhead with no trouble), to ensure its longevity.