This is one of those hikes that will test your willingness to endure Type II fun, although for what is definitely a huge payoff at the end. It's all part of the Wonderland Trail, so suffice to say there are a LOT of ups...and downs...and then more ups...and then more downs. The trail is much more challenging than the description here makes it seem...We've never seen so many absolutely wrecked Wonderland backpackers as we did on various parts of this trip: Bumped, bruised, and bloodied.
That being said, whether you decide to lounge in the alpine meadows at the high point of this hike and soak in the in-your-face Rainier view, or drop down another mile or so into the glory that is Indian Bar, the rewards for all of the efforting this trail takes are ample. Right now is a perfect time to go - while most of the wildflowers are past prime, there are still shows of lupine, daisy, monkeyflower, bistort, paintbrush, and cornflower in the high alpine meadows, and the berries along the way are off the hook! (See pic below). It took us forever to get to our destination because we kept stopping to munch. So good!
One thing to note is the lack of water - the only source is at either Nickel Creek, approximately one mile from the Box Canyon trailhead, or down in Indian Bar, which is approximately 7.5 miles from the trailhead. You'll need to schlep a goodly amount, as on a hot day this hike will definitely take it out of you. Another thing to note is that this is an excellent trail to escape crowds; there's rarely more than a handful of people to be encountered. Winning!
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