Road: Some potholes and rocks sticking up. Passable in sedan.

Parking: Front-end-in parking nearly full at 9;15 am. A few parallel parking spots still.

Trail: Good condition. 2-3 snow patches still to cross.

Bugs: Pseky when I stopped.

Flowers: Haven't hit peak bloom yet.

A fun group of 11 Mountaineers went up Knapsack Pass, over to Spray Park, explored 2 of the bootpaths south off of the main trail, and returned to Mowich on the main trail (our 12 mile route is in the first link). The off-trail portion after Knapsack was mostly snow-covered, but there was still 150 yards or so of boulders to get through (the snow is melting quickly, the 2nd link is a video that will give you a little feel for this portion). The main trail is snow-covered for about 100 yards, all of this was easy to traverse. Nobody in our group used their spikes, but many had poles.

We saw 95 species of plants in bloom, thanks Paul for the list! The flowers and views going up to Knapsack Pass make the boulder crossing worth it. This is the only trail in the park that has Columbia lewisia (photo 2). There are lots of thick areas of shooting stars, monkey flower, bird's beak and Rainier lousewort, magenta (and a few pink) paintbrush, and many more. Heading over to Spray Park there are thick areas of Rainier lousewort, pink heath and white heather, and magenta paintbrush (with a few white ones). Our timing for the bootpath towards Echo and Observation was great; there was lots of dwarf lupine and cliff paintbrush in bloom (some of it prettily fading to orange, photo 4), along with alpine asters and daisies, and many others. Spray Park is a little under average, especially the lupine. But, there are loads of flowers, from bunches of avalanche lilies to the first gentian, and everything in-between. There are many pretty flowers in the forest, especially in the wet areas (sierra larkspur and Scouler’s corydalis).

FLOWERING PLANTS IN BLOOM (95 species)

white (38)

vanilla leaf (Achlys triphylla)

baneberry (Actaea rubra)

sharp-tooth angelica (Angelica arguta)

woolly pussytoes (Antennaria lanata)

alpine / American bistort (Bistorta bistortoides)

white / elkslip / alpine marsh-marigold (Caltha leptosepala)

white mountain heather (Cassiope mertensiana)

mountain paintbrush (Castilleja parviflora var. albida)

heartleaf spring-beauty (Claytonia cordifolia)

Siberian spring-beauty (Claytonia sibirica)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

mountain / thread-leaf sandwort (Eremogone capillaris)

cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum)

white-flowered hawkweed (Hieracium albiflorum)

Gray’s lovage (Ligusticum grayi)

partridge-foot (Luetkea pectinata)

rusty saxifrage (Micranthes ferruginea)

stream saxifrage (Micranthes odontoloma)

alpine / Tolmie’s saxifrage (Micranthes tolmiei)

coiled-beak lousewort (Pedicularis contorta)

one-sided wintergreen (Orthilia secunda)

little prince’s-pine (Chimaphila menziesii)

rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia)

spreading phlox (Phlox diffusa)

clasping twisted-stalk (Streptopus amplexifolius)

queen’s cup (Clintonia uniflora)

thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)

many-flower Indian pipe (Monotropa hypopitys)

bear grass (Xerophyllum tenax)

white rhododendron (Rhododendron albiflorum)

dwarf bramble (Rubus lasiococcus)

five-leaved bramble (Rubus pedatus)

Sitka mountain-ash (Sorbus sitchensis)

dwarf huckleberry (Vaccinium cespitosum)

pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)

foamflower (Tiarella trifoliata)

Sitka valerian (Valeriana sitchensis)

avalanche lily (Erythronium montanum)

yellow (17)

mountain arnica (Arnica latifolia)

forked wormwood / mugwort (Artemesia furcata)

Strickland’s tauschia (Tauschia stricklandii)

lesser yellow penstemon (Penstemon confertus)

northern / Rocky Mountain goldenrod (Solidago multiradiata)

shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa)

fan-leaf cinquefoil (Potentilla flabellifolia)

alpine gold daisy / fleabane (Erigeron aureus)

seep monkeyflower (Erythranthe guttata)

large mountain monkeyflower (Erythranthe tilingii)

alpine lake agoseris (Nothocalais alpestris)

bracted lousewort (Pedicularis bracteosa)

Mt. Rainier lousewort (Pedicularis rainierensis)

youth-on-age (Tolmiea menziesii)

yellow mountain-heath (Phyllodoce glanduliflora)

spreading stonecrop (Sedum divergens)

arrow-leaf / triangle-leaf / bog groundsel (Senecio triangularis)

reddish: pink to red to red-purple (22)

magenta paintbrush (Castilleja parviflora var. oreopola)

cliff paintbrush (Castilleja rupicola)

Scouler’s corydalis (Corydalis scouleri)

Jeffrey’s shooting-star (Primula / Dodecatheon jeffreyi)

Columbia lewisia (Lewisia columbiana)

alpine willowherb (Epilobium anagallidifolium)

willowherb, probably Hornemann’s or smooth

(Epilobium, probably hornemannii or glaberrimum)

Lewis’s monkeyflower (Erythranthe lewisii)

mountain bog laurel (Kalmia microphylla)

leatherleaf saxifrage (Leptarrhena pyrolifolia)

little-leaf montia (Montia parvifolia)

woodland penstemon (Nothochelone nemerosa)

bird’s-beak lousewort (Pedicularis ornithorhyncha)

sickletop lousewort (Pedicularis racemosa)

red columbine (Aquilegia formosa)

Pacific / western coralroot (Corallorrhyza mertensiana)

rosy twisted-stalk (Streptopus lanceolatus)

candystick (Allotropa virgata)

pink mountain-heath (Phyllodoce empetriformis)

false azalea / fool’s-huckleberry (Rhododendron menziesii)

rosy spiraea (Spiraea splendens / densiflora)

Cascades blueberry (Vaccinium deliciosum)

bluish: blue to violet to blue-purple (13)

harebells / Scottish bluebells (Campanula rotundifolia)

Columbian monkshood (Aconitum columbianum)

Jacob’s ladder, showy or low (Polemonium pucherrinum or californicum)

subalpine daisy / fleabane (Erigeron glacialis)

mountain bog gentian (Gentiana calycosa)

broadleaf lupine (Lupinus latifolius)

dwarf lupine (Lupinus lepidus var. lobbii)

tall bluebells (Mertensia paniculata)

alpine aster (Oreostemma alpigenum)

small-flowered penstemon (Penstemon procerus)

Davidson’s penstemon (Penstemon davidsonii)

Cusick’s speedwell (Veronica cusickii)

alpine speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii)

green (4)

broadlip twayblade (Neottia convallarioides)

alpine mitrewort (Pectiantia pentandra)

slender bog orchid (Platanthera stricta)

green false hellebore (Veratrum viride)

orange (1)

orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca)

BIRDS

Hermit Thrush

Varied Thrush

Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Spotted Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Horned Lark

American Pipit

Canada Jay

Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

BUTTERFLIES

Anise Swallowtail — quite a few

blue, species uncertain

fritillary, species uncertain

MAMMALS

Hoary Marmot (Marmota caligata)

Beautiful wildflowers galore and stunning rainier views! Bugs were not bad until the meadows, where the mosquitos seemed completely resistant to bug spray and were out with a vengeance. We ran into a bear about .2 miles from the trailhead on the way back in. It seemed kind of spooked by us then ran towards us on the trail (we had bear spray ready and were backing up) but then veered off and went up the hill on the other side of the trail. Definitely bring bear spray and bug spray and be ready for a gorgeous day on the mountain!

This is one of my favorite hikes in MRNP and we try to do it at least once every season in search of avalanche lilies and gorgeous Rainier views. It's hard to time it right for wildflowers but generally speaking mid-July to early August is your best chance. The trail is in excellent condition thanks to MRNP staff and the volunteers.

We got to Mowich Lake at 7:30am and were surprised to see the cars parked at least half mile on the road leading to the TH. The line stretched for 2 miles from TH, I have never seen anything like this before so plan to get there early if you go. The gravel road is in great condition and there were no potholes etc. but still rough for a sedan.

The hike itself wasn't very crowded probably because there are so many other hiking and water activity options available from here. It is fairly easy till we get to a junction for Spray Falls (save that for return leg unless you are doing a loop). Prior to that you'd have a great Rainier viewing spot at Eagle's Roost viewpoint. Great spot for some early pictures. The trail climbs gently for next mile plus through switchbacks while you listen to streams gurgling and distant waterfalls. Suddenly you are in meadows and with smattering of wildflowers and a great view of the mountain. From here on for another mile it's like terraced garden with huge swaths of wildflowers on both sides of trail, remnants of snow patches left from winter and crystal-clear creeks and pools. Avalanche lilies are out in spades and will probably peak in a week or so and so are other flowers - Indian paintbrush, lupine and purple lilies etc. It was a perfect summer day to enjoy the flowers and the mountain. We made it all the way to snow line and decided to have lunch and turn around (walking on snow in sneakers is no fun!). On the way back we took the customary side trip (0.1 mile) to Spray Fall which is in its full early summer glory. Water is cold but couldn't resist getting wet and refreshed. If you have time, explore Mowich Lake which is lot of fun by itself, we saw lots of people in inflatable kayaks and paddle boards.

Bug spray, sun hat and sunscreen is highly recommended if you go. Also plan to get there bright and early unless you like walking on gravel road full of dirt in the air from passing cars for an extra mile or so. It's a good trail for kids too. Enjoy the beauty of nature.

Oh and as a bonus we spotted a bear checking us out from above the trail, Not sure if we'd have noticed unless a Ranger alerted to us.

Did a day hike from Mowich Lake up through Spray Park, then down through Seattle Park to Cataract Valley before turning around and returning the way I came. Everything the previous Spray Park trip report (July 13th) was true for this day too - including the wildflower explosion and the bear sightings close to Mowich Lake! The section between Spray Park and Cataract Valley had a few snow fields - I set off at 8am having camped at Mowich Lake the previous night, reached the top before descending around 11:15am, and despite a mix of sun and clouds the snow was already quite soft making crossings a breeze. Mosquitoes were HUNGRY that day starting in Spray Park and going on up - within a minute after each time I stopped it was like a cloud of buzzing descended. Suggest bringing long sleeves/pants just for that purpose alone. And poles for the snowfields will make things easier - I was glad I had mine but they're not absolutely critical if you're just on a day hike. I had the trail mostly to myself (and the mosquitoes and the bears) the whole way up except for maybe 2 other people, and then on the way back down met a few groups but not too many. The road up to Mowich only opened on July 12th, and the conditions were the best I've seen compared to previous years. Thanks to the crews who keep these trails reachable! 

As for the bears: The first sighting was a large bear within 2 minutes of leaving Mowich Lake camp (around 8am) and then a smaller bear at the second stream crossing from the camp (~0.75 miles from Mowich Lake camp) on the way back (around 3pm). I was sitting by the side of the trail at the stream having a quick snack and the bear in the photo slid down the bank to the stream about 30 feet from me - we both startled each other but thank goodness I had seen bears before so remembered to (mostly) stay calm and back away slowly. We were both very much on our way along the trail by the time I pulled out my phone and that screen shot of a video is zoomed in quite a bit. Seems like most groups I came across had seen bears either close to Mowich Lake camp or up in Spray Park.