Weather forecast for wet and cloudy, we decided to do a section of the Wonderland Trail that had great fall colors and little views. We hiked from Box Canyon to Longmire, about 12.8 miles with 2,300 ft of overall elevation gain. The fall colors were stunning. We started on the Wonderland Trail from the Box Canyon parking area. We would not see any people on this section of the Wonderland Trail until we reached Reflecion Lakes.
Views looking down into Box Canyon where the Wonderland Trail crosses over the canyon.
After walking around the Box Canyon Trail, the Wonderland Trail goes over the tunnel on the Stevens Canyon Road. We had some nice color as the trail dropped down toward Stevens Creek
Some views of Stevens Creek as we hiked towards Maple Creek
Bridge over Maple Creek
Shortly past Maple Creek, the trail would open up and we had marvelous fall color.
The trail goes past this lovely mossy rock formation
The trail goes in and out through the forest, with nice openings to these views!
The rocks from this scree field have been used to build a rock wall along the trail.
Fabulous view along Stevens Creek in the mist.
From here the trail was out in the open for some time, and the colors were vibrant!
We walked under the foliage.
Wide angle view looking across Stevens Canyon
Approaching the section of the Wonderland Trail over the old landslide. The trail seemed to be in the same condition it was in when I did this section two years ago.
looking back at the old landslide section of the trail
looking down Stevens Creek
The trail goes right past Martha Falls
The Wonderland Trail goes across Stevens Canyon Road on the way to Louise and Reflections lakes.
Back in the forest, we went by some lovely little streams
The rain drops looked like gems on the colorful huckleberry leaves.
This section of the trail was lined with ripe huckleberry bushes, they were so colorful and delicious! Glimpse of Louise Lake
Looking down on Louise Lake
another view of Louise Lake
Fall color as we approach the smaller of the Reflection Lakes
Color and views along the larger of the Reflection Lakes
Wide angle of Reflection Lakes, Mt Rainier hiding behind the clouds.
Color along a stream entering Reflection Lakes
After our lunch break, as we were leaving Reflection Lakes, the clouds broke enough to give us a view of some of the glaciers on Mt Rainier.
western end of Reflection Lakes, from here the trail again crosses the road and enters the forest on our way to the Paradise River.
Took the short 0.1 mile side trail up to Narada Falls before continuing on the Wonderland Trail.
lots of different fungi along the trail today
Madcap Falls
Carter Falls
Some more fall foliage as we near the Nisqually River
log crossing over the Nisqually River
Nisqually River as we crossed the log bridge, no view of Rainier this afternoon
lovely walk in the forest down to Longmire.
This turned out to be a fabulous hike with very little rain and lots to enjoy on this cloudy day!
Some of the wildflowers, berries and fungi we saw along the trail today:
Some views of Stevens Creek as we hiked towards Maple Creek
The trail goes in and out through the forest, with nice openings to these views!
Fabulous view along Stevens Creek in the mist.
looking down Stevens Creek
The trail goes right past Martha Falls
The Wonderland Trail goes across Stevens Canyon Road on the way to Louise and Reflections lakes.
Back in the forest, we went by some lovely little streams
The rain drops looked like gems on the colorful huckleberry leaves.
This section of the trail was lined with ripe huckleberry bushes, they were so colorful and delicious! Glimpse of Louise Lake
Color and views along the larger of the Reflection Lakes
No comments:
Post a Comment