We got to Longmire a little before 8am on a sunny Sunday and found plenty of parking. (Timed-entry reservations aren't required for the Paradise corridor of the park this summer, although they're required for the Sunrise corridor.) We ended up seeing a total of about 10-12 people on the trail, so this is a good one for solitude.
The first few miles of the trail are in the woods and ascending at a steady incline, with a couple good views of Helens through gaps in the trees. Around the 3-mile mark the trail emerges into alpine meadows. The wildflowers are stunning currently - so many different colors. This part of the trail is quite steep, and the bugs also got annoying at higher elevations; definitely bring bug spray.
As you climb through the meadows you'll see Helens, Adams, and Hood on a clear day. The views were lovely yesterday. Rainier is right in front of you when you reach the saddle, although the views are better if you continue down the trail to the right (a bit past the sign that shows where the maintained trail ends). We also spotted Paradise from up there. Poles were helpful for the steep descent.
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