Hiked up to Spray Park to see the wildflower display, were not disappointed! The road in had some small areas of washboard but nothing that any car couldn't handle. Trail starts out mellow, we took the side trips to Spray Falls and the lookout on the way up. After the waterfall the trail goes up and up until you hit the meadows. There is one small muddy portion just before the footbridge into the park itself, hard to really avoid and still stay on trail. 

Seemed like the flowers were really going strong, not sure why other reports mention that the show is winding down. Bugs were noticeable and landed on our bags but no one got any bites (we put repellant on at the car). Saw one Cascade Frog in the park on the way back down. Not too many hikers out today despite the full parking lot when we arrived around 9. Everyone was courteous and seemed to be enjoying themselves. This hike appears on several "must do" lists both regionally and nationally, and I can certainly agree with that!

This report includes a video taken along the boot trail toward Observation Rock. Started out at 8am (Tuesday) with ample room for parking in the lot following a bone rattling drive up the Mowich Lake Road. The trees along the road are dingy with road dust and our suspension complained over the washerboard surface of the road. On the trail, our first encounters with other hikers didn't happen until exiting the forest at the entrance to Spray Park, about 2 miles from the TH. Plenty of wildflowers to admire but just as many have already gone to seed. We hiked over to the junction with the trail to Knapsack Pass and looked down over the view of Mist Park; then, doubled-back to go south along the trail toward Observation Rock. We went as far as the stream crossing, about 0.7 miles, and chose not to walk across the snow because the stream was flowing beneath it. However, we noticed a faint trail of melted-in boot marks that continued southward over this snow-bridge area. (The video was taken next to this stream.) There are ripe blueberries/huckleberries in the meadows along the trail to Observation Rock. By the time of our departure around 12:30pm, there was a steady stream of hikers and backpackers entering Spray Park.

The road was mostly good, a bit like a washboard in places, but very dusty. 

There is a toilet at the trailhead. 

It was a bit of a smoky haze in the air, so I couldn't see The Mountain that clearly.  Wildflowers are still blooming, but probably not much longer. 

Bugs were not too bad until I got to Spray Park.  Ironic how you need to spray at Spray Park. 

The NPS was ticketing vehicles that did not have a National Parks or National Forest Pass.

Day hike to spray park and the beginning of Seattle Park. We arrived at the Mowich Lake parking area at 930 on a Wednesday morning. Got one of the last spots in the parking lot. Put toilets at trial head we’re reasonably clean and stocked with TP. We headed out on the Spray Park trail, took both the Eagle Cliff and Spray Falls diversions. The falls were very lovely. We had shade and a light breeze for most of the walk up to Spray Park. But this section is still a slog of switch backs with lots of roots and rocks. But the payoff when you hit Spray Park is totally worth it. Tons of flowers. Avalanche lilies are fading, lots of blue lupine and many others I can’t name. The bugs were irritating but not terrible. We had permethrin treated clothes, 25% deet spray and face nets. We turned around 4.5 miles from the trailhead when we hit the third snowfield and the trail got much harder to follow. We made it back to Mowich Lake by 230, in time for a late picnic lunch and refreshing swim. All in all a great day

We had a great hike today. The road is totally fine- a few short sections of washboard and a couple rocky areas and otherwise just flat gravel with no ruts or potholes. In our small Kia we made it at mostly 20-30 mph.

We arrived at 11:30, right when the early hikers are leaving, and snagged a great parking spot.

The bugs are unbelievable- even with multiple applications of Deep Woods Off we all had several bites, and those huge annoying flies were very persistent as well. But it’s still worth it! Also be ready for plenty of dust on the road and trail.

The woods are lush right now with queens cup, Dutchman’s breeches, shooting star, and a few bear grass in bloom. As you get to the meadows, there are millions of avalanche lilies in full bloom, and countless other types of flowers. What a beautiful part of the mountain!