Naches Peak Loop Trail is at the top of Chinook Pass which borders Okanagan/Wenatchee National Forest on East side and Mount Rainier National Park on West side. The east side of the trail is also called the Pacific Crest Trail which crosses in the same place. My video is inaccurate at first meaning because I was saying I was hiking counter-clockwise when actually it was clockwise and this is the way I recommend you hike this trail. Several beautiful lakes along the trail gives a bit more excitement to this hike. Mount Rainier/Tahoma will be in your face the whole time on the west side of this hike. The flowers were in bloom which is always the case in July and August when the snow finally melts off. Snow lingers here 8 months out of the year and Highway 410 which crosses over Chinook Pass is closed in Winter anyway. Tipsoo Lake at the other end of this trail is actually located in Mount Rainier National Park so be aware that half this trail is in National Forest and half in the National Park. A reminder that no pets are allowed on trails in National Parks but are allowed in National Forests. This was a fantastic hike and worth doing. Hiking it clockwise requires way less uphill climbing.
P.S. Make sure you have your Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass in the windshield based on where your parked. I saw some tickets on windshields. Checkout the video of this hike by clicking on the link below. It is Twenty-one minutes long but the views all along in this video are fantastic so watch it all the way thru or check out over 350 hikes I have done on my VIMEO Channel at https://vimeo.com/mikemorrison
As always get out and see this beautiful state and enjoy your hiking.
Take Care,
Mike
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