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Trip Report

Greenwater and Echo Lakes — Saturday, Mar. 26, 2016

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

Trip Report By

5

Type of Hike

Day hike

Trail Conditions

Obstacles on trail:
    Trees down across trail,
    Difficult stream crossing(s),
    Bridge out,
    Muddy or wet trail.

Road

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs

No bugs

Snow

Intermittent snow - not hard to cross

Trails Hiked

It was a beautiful sunny day! Trail was fun due to the many obstacles in the way. People with short legs might need the assistance of their taller friends in one or two places. We hiked in to Greenwater Lake and beyond with a small hope of making it to Echo Lake. However, around mile 3, the trail opened up into a beautiful primitive campground, and our rudimentary search for the trail revealed nothing...I'm thinking it may have continued upstream along the river. This hike is rated 'Hard', but I have been on 'Intermediate' hikes more challenging....perhaps after that mile 3 is when things get tougher? As far as passes go, you need an America the beautiful or National Park pass of some sort. There was a box present on site with a sign saying to put your fee in the envelope....but no envelopes or lock on the box, which leads me to believe they are doing away with that as with other parks. Stop in Greenwater on the way up, Wapiti Woolies, that sells coffee, winter clothing and raw honey. People there were VERY helpful, knowledgeable and friendly!
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Comments

road

How bad was the road getting to the trailhead and was there much snow?

Posted by:


zasxdcf2 on Mar 28, 2016 12:41 PM

Belliesoflove on Greenwater and Echo Lakes

The road was fine. Dry, no snow. Just patches here and there farther up the trail. Only one part of the trail had snow on it, but we didn't make it all the way to Echo lake.

Posted by:


Belliesoflove on Mar 28, 2016 03:51 PM

Beyond the campground

Hi, read your report, and I know exactly where you got mis-tracked. You descended into the camp ground area. Walked right up to a fire pit in front of you, the stream to the left of you, and a large tree laying across the stream.

As you started down the small hill towards the fire-pit, there was a faint trail that veered off to the right. Follow that, and you would have picked up the trail in about 250' It's very hard to see, as the area is very compacted.

Thanks for the report!

Posted by:


AndreH on Mar 29, 2016 09:54 PM

Thanks!

I will be back to try that, thank you!

Posted by:


Belliesoflove on Mar 30, 2016 08:14 AM