Bench and Snow Lakes — Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon

This is a short, easy hike with a few ups and downs, some views and some lakes. The full hike all the way past the maintained trail up to the little waterfall at the end of snow lake is about 1.2 to 1.4 miles, including the little cutoff to bench lake. We were there early, before the fog had lifted. Bench lake looked as if you might step off into nothing; the fog blending perfectly with the glass-smooth surface of the lake. Snow lake shows up at the top of a small climb and the trai follows along side it past the 'maintained trail' to the small, but pretty waterfall in the shadow of unicorn peak. Lupine, avalanch lillies, indian paint-brush, open and shaded hiking, and several glipses of Rainier on the way back. Add a couple lakes and a stream or two and you have a perfect hike thats short enough to have your day afterword, or even another hike.