Another beautiful fall day this week, so we headed up to Chinook Pass near Mt Rainier for a beautiful and easy hike: the Naches Loop Trail. About 3.5 miles with 600 ft of elevation gain.We started along the loop at Tipsoo Lake, which is in Mt Rainier National Park, just below Chinook Pass. We found lots of frost and patches of ice on the trail. We decided to walk around Tipsoo Lake before heading out on the Naches Loop Trail.
The walk around Tipsoo Lake is beautiful with views of Mt Rainier, Yakima Peak, and Naches Peak.
Pano looking west.
I love reflections of Mt Rainier in various Lakes, tarns and ponds:
High up on Yakima Peak, we saw 4 mountain goats.
We decided to hike the Naches Loop Trail clockwise from Tipsoo Lake. Once you cross Hwy 410, you have left Mt Rainier National Park and enter the Wenatchee National Forest, part of the loop is on the Pacific Crest Trail. Behind us is Yakima Peak.
Looking across Hwy 410 to the Pacific Crest Trail on the other side of Chinook Pass heading north towards Sheep Lake.
fall colors,
and water flowing under frozen falls.
We enjoyed walking around the large tarn here.
Pano from the north east side of the tarn, Naches Peak on the other side.
There was a frozen rock wall,
with many interesting frozen features.
More fall foliage as the loop continues around Naches Peak.
The eastern portion of the loop,
here you can look down on Dewey Lake.
We found more fall foliage with brighter colors on the southern side of the trail.
Wide angle photo as the trail opens up with views of Mt Rainier.
The trail goes by another tarn on the east side. We sat here to enjoy our lunch,
but were soon driven away by pesky gray jays.
Along this portion of the trail, there are great views of Mt Rainier,
as well as distant views of Mt Adams (seen here) and also of Mt St Helens.
Naches Peak as seen from Upper Tipsoo Lake.
Naches Peak, back at the start of our trail today at Tipsoo Lake.
Some of the fall foliage we saw along the trail today:
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