Naches Peak Loop — Tuesday, Sep. 30, 2008

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon

My husband (LookingGlass) & I hiked the Naches Peak Trail as recommended, clockwise, so you will be facing Mt. Rainier further along the hike. The hike is easy. It's only 500 ft. of elevation, roughly 4.5 miles roundtrip in a loop and takes about 3 hours to hike, which includes a lot picture taking. I've done this trail before in the summer, but it looks totally different in the fall when the fall foliage colors come out from the bright red huckleberry bushes. It's really breathtaking. There are few fun & easy short spur trails that offer different views than from the main trail. The lakes were beautiful, particularly Dewey Lake, then you turn a bend and there's Mt. Rainier in all it's glory. It's always astounding, no matter how many times I've see it before. There was talk of bear in the fields eating huckleberries days before. After taking tons of pictures, we neared the end of the hike and then there it was, an enormous bear, munching on berries along the slope below us. I sat there and watched the bear in awe with it's luxurious dense dark brown coat, with a smattering of tan fur on it's back and a light brown nose. I've seen bear before, but never so close. Sometimes the bear watched us, but briefly, then went back to eating berries. The berries are getting soft and most are gone along the trail, but the color is still there.