A snow, flower, and bear report for Spray Park and 3 of the bootpaths that branch off of the trail. The Spray Park trail has about 10 snow fields totaling about 1/4 mile of snow. The bootpath that goes from the highpoint of Spray Park south towards Echo and Observation has one short (60 feet) snow patch. The bootoath that heads north towards Knapsack Pass has a few short snow fields over the first 2/5 mile, but it then turns into all snow. The bootpath to Mt. Pleasant has one small snow patch in the flat portion and a larger one at the beginning of the uphill. 

I got to spend 20 minutes watching a cinnamon-colored black bear forage in lower Spray Park (see the attached video). I wondered if it was one of the cubs I saw there last year. What a thrill and a pleasure. I love my zoom lens! 

The Spray Park area looks like it is is going to be lovely with lots of flowers over the next few weeks. There are a lot of blooms and variety right now, with a lot more to come. The first link is a video with flower highlights (0:00-2:37 Spray Park trail, 2:38-5:25 bootpath to Echo, 5:26-6:31 bootpath to Knapsack, 6:32-6:52 bootpath to Pleasant).   On the caltopo map (2nd link), the path to Echo is yellow, Knapsack is blue, and Pleasant is orange. 

There are a huge number of avalanche lilies in lower Spray Park. Other early flowers are out in large numbers: (yellow) Strickland's tauschia, (pink) bog/alpine laurel, pink and white heather, shooting stars, and white marsh marigolds. There are a lot of patches of magenta paintbrush, bird's beak and Rainier lousewort, and a few spots of lupine. 

The bootpath towards Echo and Observation has great flowers right now. There is lots of dwarf mountain lupine, cliff and magenta paintbrush, bird's beak and Rainier lousewort, alpine asters, partridgefoot, speedwell, and more. 

The bootpath towards Knapsack Pass is mostly recently melted, but at the start of it, there are some stunningly thick areas of heather, magenta paintbrush, Rainier lousewort, and lupine.

The bootpath towards Mt. Pleasant has really thick avalanche lilies. patches of paintbrush, and lots of flowers to come. 

The road is in great shape, the only times I had to go below the 30 MPH limit was around the tight turns. 

Went with kids (16,11,8) and they survived but was a little tiring for them. There actually was parking at noon on a Sunday and the trail wasn’t too busy. The road is slight washboard, but the potholes that were there a couple months ago are filled in. No snow until you get to the top, and even then is mostly off trail and patchy. We had no problem walking across the small amount without spikes or anything. We saw a bear walking around, but he didn’t mind us. Tons of avalanche lillies blooming, and at the top you can find some others starting, like Indian paintbrush. Wear waterproof shoes since the melting snow made the trail wet in spots, otherwise you can just turn around a little sooner at the top.

Went with kids (16,11,8) and they survived but was a little tiring for them. There actually was parking at noon on a Sunday and the trail wasn’t too busy. The road is slight washboard, but the potholes that were there a couple months ago are filled in. No snow until you get to the top, and even then is mostly off trail and patchy. We had no problem walking across the small amount without spikes or anything. We saw a bear walking around, but he didn’t mind us. Tons of avalanche lillies blooming, and at the top you can find some others starting, like Indian paintbrush. Wear waterproof shoes since the melting snow made the trail wet in spots, otherwise you can just turn around a little sooner at the top.

Dust everywhere!

Mowich Lake area is part of Mt. Rainier National Park. National Forest Pass and Discovery Pass from Washington State are not part of this area. You'll need a Mt. Rainier pass good for a week, or an annual pass or an "America the Beautiful" annual or senior pass.

You must pay in advance to driving through 11 miles of dust before arriving here.

If the passes aren't confusing, feel bad for the rangers this time of year patrolling vehicles in the parking lot. I am sure the envelopes I saw hanging off wipers were just courtesy envelopes and then to the lady in the argument with the ranger, yes, drive down the road. I'm sure rangers do not carry cash or permits.

We had a lovely stay overnight at Mowich CG. It also requires you pay in advance. People I spoke with thought you could just camp for free. Pay at Carbon Ranger Station or online at www.recreation.gov. You need a permit to camp too.

Spray Park was lovely with wildflowers just beginning. 

Any trees that were blown down have been removed between Mowich, the Eagle Roost BC Camp and lower Spray park.

The trail from Mowich to South and North Mowich Rivers post a bridge out on the Wonderland Trail. 

Did an overnight hike camping at Eagle's Roost. Was able to grab a permit just two days before, likely because we went the first weekend the Mowich Lake Road was open. Hiked 2 miles in to Eagle's Roost on a relatively flat trail. Saw bear scat near second stream crossing. Headed up to spray park and enjoyed wildflowers! No bear sightings, which seems to be the anomaly from most other visitors. No real sign of when to 'turn around' but we enjoyed wandering in spray park for a bit. Headed back down and camped at Eagle's Roost, maybe about 4 other groups of campers on a Saturday night. Had to walk .2 miles to the water source near the Falls. Ranger told us on the way in that a young cub was very curious about food near Mowich Lake so be careful with food storage!