With spectacular views of Mount Rainier along half of the trail, you think that would be the main attraction. But the wildflowers stole the show this trek up to Crystal Peak!
Parking in the lot along the road was straightforward. Note there is not a privy at the trailhead (and please don't leave toilet paper behind in the area near the parking lot).
The first 1.5 miles shares the trail for Crystal Lakes through a second growth forest that at first seems a bit dull. If you look closer, though, right now there are mycoheterotropic plants emerging from the ground! Once the trail splits toward the peak, vanilla leaf blankets the forest floor, marking a shift in the feel of the trail as you leave the crowds behind.
Once you get your first glimpse of Rainier, the views keep improving further up the trail. The wildflowers right now are SPECTACULAR! Slopes covered in lupine, columbine, lilies, bear grass, paintbrush (some magenta!),... we stopped often to admire the colorful varieties and take in the smells. The trail is exposed along the long switchbacks up to the peak so bring plenty of sunscreen. Views from the top of the peak were stunning. Buzzing flies created only a minor nuisance and didn't seem to be biting. After waiting about 15 minutes for a few groups to depart, we had the peak to ourselves on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.
One additional note: the trail is covered in loose dirty which can create a cloud of dust behind the person in front of you. I had to keep a little distance when descending to prevent inhaling too much dirt/dust. I found my poles came in handy as well.
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