Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake — Sunday, Jul. 6, 2025

What a gem on I-90! I haven’t been up here since 2021 since the wildfires made it impossible to see very much! It’s nice to see it on such a gorgeous day and be able to see the lake in its full beauty.

The road up is much improved since 2021. It used to be a washboard-pothole mess. Now it’s just occasional potholes that can be avoided or driven over with a bumpy ride. I was in my Impreza and it was just fine.

I arrived at the lot at 9 and it was already full. I got one of the first spots on the road. Vault toilet clean and fully stocked with TP. Please remember your NW Forest Pass/America the Beautiful Pass (not Discover Pass). I saw people with tickets.

While the lot was full, the trail was peaceful and not crowded. I think I interacted with 5 groups. The trail starts off really pleasant for the first mile+ and then gets steep… like 45% grade steep. Be prepared to engage those glutes and core! I had plans to trail run. It became a hike real fast.

I’d say two-thirds is shaded and in the woods. Towards the top, it’s open and talus fields that require some concentration to navigate but the rocks are pretty stable. From those fields, I had a stunning view of Mount Rainier. The wildflowers are also looking gorgeous. I saw some paintbrushes, lupin, and some others I’m blanking on… pops of red, yellow, purple, magenta dot the trail side.

I reached the “summit” with a welcome chorus of pika and then descended down the other side back into the woods. It felt so nice to shake out my legs and run for a bit. I reached the lake pretty quickly and took a quick break on a rock by the lake. It was gorgeous and much clearer than the last time I visited.

After my break, I headed back down. Normally I look forward to the downhill but this trail is so steep, I had to hike some of it because my knees and quads were speaking to me or the trail was too rocky. Nothing too eventful on the way down but way more people on their way up. When I got back to the car, the lot was still full and cars were parked about a quarter of a mile down the road.

Stats:
- 7 miles
- 2200 ft elevation gain
- Moving time: 2 hrs 30 (hike/trail run)
- Total time: 2 hrs 50
- Poop bags: 💩💩