Trip Report

Naches Peak Loop — Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon

Trip Report By

enumhikers

Type of Hike

Day hike

Snow

Snowfields to cross - could be difficult

Wildflowers blooming
Hiked with kids

Mt. Rainier from Naches Loop, about midway on hike. Photo by S. Griggs

The Naches Loop trail is now walkable. There are a few patches of snow, but our group had no problems. If you start at Tipsue Lake, and go around the lake and up, you come out at the bridge across the highway, and get to look at the mountain as you walk. The wildflowers are not in full bloom yet, but we saw Avalanch lilies, the lupine and paintbrush are not at full bloom, anemone - both in bloom and going to seed, bistort, valarian, spirea, phlox, several tiger lilies, Cusick's speedwell, small flower pensteman, heather,and larkspur. This is a 4.5 mile trail, with no steep parts,so it's ideal for young hikers. The views of Mt. Rainier are spectacular. There are bathrooms at both the lake, and trail head.

Mt. Rainier, with spirea in foreground. Photo by S. Griggs

Bear Grass in bloom, with bees polinating. Photo by S. Griggs

Avalanch lilies. Photo by S. Griggs

Comments

Naches Loop

Thank you so much for your report! I had an out of town relative I wanted to take there but after reading the park service web page updated the same day you were there, they said the east side of the loop is about 50% snow-covered. The west side is about 20% snow-covered. But after reading your report, we decided to go and were pleased there were only a few patches of snow on the east side and none on the other side. I have no idea were they got those figures. And although the flowers weren't in full bloom, it was still a nice display and my relative was impressed!

Posted by:

birdandcat on Aug 07, 2010 10:16 PM