Grand Park via Lake Eleanor — Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River

I wasn't sure if this was an official trail head, but apparently the Park has put up a trail head sign. So, here goes ... To get to the trail head, drive 10 miles up the FS 73 road from Hwy 410. There's a gravel lot across the street from the Eleanor Creek sign. The sign is hardly readable and the lot holds about 6 trucks, or 10 Prius's. It was full when I arrived, so I parked up the road on a pull out. As soon as I got out of my Jeep, the mosquitoes attacked. I quickly covered myself with deet. The trail itself isn't marked here, but begins on the east side of the creek. At .1 mile up the trail is the National Park boundary and sign. At .44 mile you will have to cross some wetlands. Look for some wooden sticks propped next to a tree. These will help you keep your balance as you try to walk across the little logs. Good luck! And, leave the sticks close by. You'll need them to get back later. The trail climbs about 500 feet over the course of 1 mile and dumps you out at the group campsite at Lake Eleanor. Turning left, away from the lake, will put you on the Lake Eleanor Trail and towards Grand Park. There has been some serious trail clearing over the first mile. All the blow downs are cleared. Great work and thanks to the lumberjack, or lumberjill, as it may be! Now heading away from Lake Eleanor, the trail drops a few hundred feet and after .5 mile pops you out into a nice little meadow with Mt Rainier peeping over the trees. This is worth the 3 mile RT trek right here! But, I kept going. The little meadow turned out to be a .25 mile long micro swamp. Geez, my boots are soaked and the bugs are eating me. From the other side of the meadow, the trail dropped a little more, crossed a little creek (this is the last chance to get water), then made a mad climb up and out of the gully. The climb came on fast and hard. It is about .75 long and mostly still covered in snow. It is easily crossed and the snow is completely gone by the time you walk out into Grand Park at the 2.5 mile point. From here on it's a walk in the park. Really! And, Oh my! The mountain was out in all her glory today, along with the mosquitoes. I applied three coats of deet and still managed to collect a half dozen bites. At 4.25 miles is the junction with The Northern Loop Trail. I turned west (right) and walked about .4 mile to where the trail opens up to an amazing view of Mt Rainier. Wow!