Grand Park via Eleanor Lake at Mount Rainier National Park Fall Hike

We decided to hike up to Grand Park in Mt Rainier National Park from Eleanor Lake. We drove up FS Road 73 for 10 miles off of Hwy 410 to the small parking area by Eleanor Creek. There is no trail sign on the road, but the trail can easily be seen from the parking area. On one side, the sign says Eleanor Creek elev 2980 and on the other side Eleanor Creek elev 4340 (the latter is the correct elevation).
The hike to Grand Park can be between 6 - 10 miles round trip with 1,100 ft of elevation gain, depending on how far into Grand Park you want to go.

 The trail starts in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, and enters into Mt Rainier National Park within 0.25 miles.

One mile from the start of the trail, you reach Lake Eleanor (panoramic view of the lake)

 There was a little bit of fall color along part of the lake shore.

The trail then heads east from the lake through the forest over a small ridge, then continues to the southwest.

In another 0.5 mile, the trail goes through a small meadow. Then continues through the forest.

At 3 miles from the trailhead, you reach the northern end of Grand Park, we could see Mount Fremont in the distance. The trail continues along the western edge of Grand Park, and within 0.5 mile, Mt Rainier comes into view.

The top of Mt Rainier was covered in clouds while we were at Grand Park today, but the views were still impressive. We could see the lookout on Mount Fremont, First and Second Burroughs, Skyscraper Mountain and Third Burroughs in front of Mt Rainier. It was fun to see where I had been hiking yesterday.

Grand Park is about 2 miles long. Panoramic view of Grand Park looking north, back along the trail we came up today:

 At 4.5 miles from the trailhead, the trail joins the Northern Loop Trail. We headed south along the trail in the direction of Berkley Park, Grand Park continues another 0.5 miles along this trail.
 We hiked a short ways through the forest beyond Grand Park and found a place out of the fragile meadows to sit and eat our lunch. We had a good view of Mount Fremont here. After lunch, we returned back the way we had come.

 A moth found in the meadow.














Some of the many fungi seen along the trail today: