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Trip Report

Knapsack Pass, Spray Park — Friday, Sep. 15, 2023

Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich
Knapsack pass

Started at Mowich Lake campground and went clockwise up knapsack pass around around through Spray Park. This was a great hike that had a little of everything. We saw a marmot, a bear, a snake, and many birds. Another group told us they saw mountain goats as well. Bugs were extremely minor and we didn't get bit once. Going clockwise puts all the gain at once at the beginning which I think was a fun way to do it. Made it from the trailhead to the ridge at the pass in 1.5 hours. The slowest going part is getting over all the boulders after the ridge at Knapsack. There are many routes but the cairns are a decent guide. Once over the boulders, keep scrambling, staying to the right and once through it, you will find the trail again and see great views of the valley below. Eventually, if you follow the trail you will intersect with the spray park trail which you take a right on to follow back to the trailhead, nearly downhill the whole way. Very worth it to take the short spur out to the falls on the way back too and get cooled by its mist.

Total mileage was somewhere between 6 and 7, if you count all our meandering. Overall, this was an amazing hike and I will have to do it again.

The top of the ridge
The meadows
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