Third Burroughs

I love to hike out to the 3 Burroughs Mountains from Sunrise at Mt Rainier NP every year, and I had the opportunity to do so today! We had fabulous weather and found the wildflowers still in bloom. The route we took was about 9.5 miles with an overall gain of 2,500ft.
My preference is to start on the Sunrise Rim Trail out to the Emmons Overlook. I love the views we hike into along this route. We drove up through the clouds today, having them part right before Sunrise. We enjoyed seeing Mt Rainier above the clouds.

Even in the forest, there were wildflowers in bloom along the trail.

We hiked around Shadow Lake, before continuing to the Emmons Overlook. Little Tahoma and the top of Rainier in the distance.

Lot of gentian in bloom along Shadow Lake.

Looing back at Shadow Lake as we hiked back up to the main trail.

lupine, lousewort and asters near Sunrise Camp

Ground Squirrel hanging out near the camp

Marmot scurrying up the hill near the Emmons Overlook

View of Mt Rainier, Emmons Glacier and a gorgeous unnamed lake below Emmons Overlook. Gorgeous views less than 2 miles from the parking area.










The reason I hike clockwise on the Burroughs Loop Trail is to have this view in front of me while hiking up to First Burroughs

continuing up to First Burroughs

Silver lumina in bloom along the trail

















Panoramic View from First Burroughs, Second Burroughs to the right

Even a couple of paintbrush blossoms bring a smile to my face.

Mount Rainier is so close on Second Burroughs, it doesn't quite fit into a standard photo view













Panoramic View from Second Burroughs, Third Burroughs to the right of Mt Rainier

Stones around a bench on Second Burroughs, be careful the squirrels are very aggressive here.

To the far north we could see Mt Baker and Glacier Peak, nearer is Skyscraper Mountain and Mount Fremont

Trail leading down from Second Burroughs and over to Third Burroughs












As we hiked up Third Burroughs, to the north, we could see Mt Baker, Glacier Peak and Mt Stuart.

Amongst all the rocks, it is not barren, we found several varieties of wildflowers in bloom, including paintbrush,

and penstemon.

















Panoramic view from the north end of Third Burroughs

Winthrop Glacier extends well below Third Burroughs from Mt Rainier.

very small paintbrush

We returned back to First Burroughs and continued clockwise on the Burroughs Loop Trail towards Frozen Lake below Mount Fremont

We then continued along Sourdough Ridge to Sunrise Parking area, enjoying the display of wildflowers in bloom

and the views of Mt Rainier, First Burroughs in front of Mt Rainier

some more wildflowers up on the Burroughs Mountains: