We drove up the Westside Road at Mt Rainier National Park, to hike up to Indian Henry's Hunting Grounds via the Tahoma Creek Trail, about 11 miles round trip with 2,600 t gain.
It was cloudy when we started hiking up the closed Westside Road. Along the road we saw fireweed,
asters and
ripe thimbleberries and huckleberries!!!
About 1.3 miles up the closed Westside Road, we turned off to the not maintained Tahoma Creek Trail. Several sections of this trail have been washed away in floods. It is important to have route finding skills and understand the risks of flooding due to glacier melt higher-up in the mountain.
There was fast running water in Tahoma Creek, but we did not need to cross it today. We were happy to see the clouds lifting.
In order to avoid crossing the creek, we did go up the steep bank following the track of previous hikers.
There were both ripe red and blue huckleberries along the trail.
It is obvious that this trail is no longer maintained by the broken bridges, and overgrown trail.
There were at least 4 sections where the trail was washed away and we had to descend to the creek bed and reascend to the old trail. Some sections had lots of roots for handholds, but other areas were loose dirt and rocks.
a couple of small waterfalls near the east end of the trail.
After 2.2 miles. the Tahoma Creek Trail joins up with the Wonderland Trail. We continued south to the Tahoma Creek Suspension Bridge, 1.8 miles to Indian Henry's Hunting Grounds.
The suspension bridge is very bouncy and a bit scary!
View of Tahoma Creek from the suspension bridge
After crossing the suspension bridge the trail is mostly in the forest, but it is beautiful with several creeks, including this cascading creek.
We started to get some peek a boo views of Mt Rainier as we gained elevation.
The wildflowers at Indian Henry's Hunting Grounds were fabulous!
some views of the Ranger Patrol Cabin in front of Mt Rainier at Indian Henry's Hunting Grounds
We loved this hike!
Back on the Westside Road, we had a view of Mt Rainier that was hidden by the morning clouds.
some of the other wildflowers and flora we saw along the trail today:
asters and
ripe thimbleberries and huckleberries!!!
About 1.3 miles up the closed Westside Road, we turned off to the not maintained Tahoma Creek Trail. Several sections of this trail have been washed away in floods. It is important to have route finding skills and understand the risks of flooding due to glacier melt higher-up in the mountain.
Back on the Westside Road, we had a view of Mt Rainier that was hidden by the morning clouds.
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