This was a beautiful day with only a few people and very few insects. The Mowich Lake Road was snow free and also the trail into Spray Park.There were minor patches of snow to the Seattle Park junction. We encountered many wild flowers including shooting stars,pasque flowers and bear grass. The hills in Spray Park are alive with white lilies. The view was awesome. Lizzie

The road to Mowich lake is snow free as well as the trail up to Spray Park. There are minor patches of snow on the trail to the Seattle Park trail junction. Many wild flowers abound including, but not limited to pasque flowers, shooting stars and bear grass. The hills were alive with white lilies. Very few bugs,cars or people.

Trail was clear and in good condition. Very dusty and dry. Flowers were past their prime...a few bluebells left an the onset of some paintbrush, but that's about it. Well-used trail...ran into 100+ people throughout the day. Many flies buzzing around, but didn't notice mosquitos. Very few bites, anyway. Nice Sunday day hike in any event.

I have taken many day-hikes around Rainier in the past couple years, but Spray Park has to be the most satisfying thus far. After reading all the positive (and numerous) reviews of this trail, it sounded like something worth checking out. The trail begins near the Mowich Lake campground and immediately drops in elevation. The path quickly levels out and eventually beings to rise and drop in elevation modestly for two miles until you reach the Spray Falls junction. Like everyone else has been writing, take the short jaunt to Spray Falls. It is not something to pass up. Except for a brief steep incline, these first two-miles are relatively easy on the legs. After Spray Falls, you begin a series of 12 switchbacks to the lower Spray Park region. The last two are quite long. Trail condition varies, but mostly consists of roots and rock. Elevation gain becomes gentler as you enter the heart of Spray Park. A wide-open meadow with acres of wildflowers, ponds, boulders, and marmots will suddenly come into view. There are a few trails that branch off to other areas, each with unique viewpoints. The only problem is deciding where to stop for a brake. Mt. Rainier appears to be so close, you'll want to head straight toward it. Keep going on the main trail and you'll eventually ascend above the tree line where you'll have open views of the northern Cascades. I stopped at a vista just before the pass that separates Spray Park from Seattle Park that offered a great view of Echo Rock. Takes about an hour and a half to reach Spray Park from Mowich Lake. Spray Park is a photographer's dream. It's remote enough to still offer solitude, at least on weekdays. Arrive at the trailhead early and allow several hours to explore the park. Come prepared for mosquitos.

A perfect day to hike Spray Park, probably the best of many days I've spent at my favorite flower garden. The cool misty weather discouraged both hikers and bugs (to some extent). Cloud banks moved around quickly, alternating with pockets of sunshine and peek-a-boo views of the the surrounding ridges, parks and the mountain, making it seem even bigger than usual. The flowers are at their prime, and although I don't know what they are all called, we saw lupine, hot-pink paintbrush, shooting stars and avalanche lillies, plus a lot of other varieties, and the best brightest display of pink heather we've ever seen.(Are the yellow flowers with ""trunks"" and ferny leaves a yellow variety of elephant head? We couldn't find it in our flora guide.) A couple varieties were clearly past their bloom, but most are in full bloom today. With the ever-changing weather, we layered up and down with fleece, hats and rain gear several times throughout the afternoon, and during our lunch on the ridge between Spray and Seattle Parks. As usual, I was amazed at the number of people coming up the trail later in the afternoon, while we were heading back to the car, who were in tennis shoes, jeans, a sweatshirt tied around their waist, and nothing packed along. No water, no food, no rainjacket. I know that this is a popular enough hike to attract tourists and people who don't regularly hike.But it's a sad wonder that more people don't have a modicum of common sense. That said, we had a great day of hiking. I highly recommend doing this hike on a ""rainy"" day, both for solitude, for the intensity of color that the flowers have on an overcast day, and for the surprise views you might get of the mountain which will only seem like a bonus. Bugs: yep. Mosquitoes were only held off by the mist and wind. No flies, really, and all the bees were nose-down into the flowers. Parts of the trail were super muddy, not deep enough to suck your boot off, but yucky enough to splatter our calves with mud.