Van Trump Park+

We drove up to Mt Rainier National Park to hike up to Comet Falls, Van Trump Park and continue on the "unmaintained" trail for about a mile. Overall, we hiked 7.6 miles round trip with 3,500 ft of gain, 700 ft of gain in the last 1/3 of a mile! We saw waterfalls, wildflowers, mountain goats, views and a rainbow! We didn't come across other hikers until we were on our way back down to Van Trump Park on our hike out.

The trail starts in the forest and soon crosses Van Trump Creek. View looking upstream from the bridge crossing.

Looking downstream from the bridge, Christine Falls drops from this creek. Road seen in the background.

The trail follow Van Trump Creek upstream, there were some views of the creek through the trees.

As the trail continued through the forest going up and up, we found ripe huckleberries to snack on.

Log bridge over Van Trump Creek, with Van Trump Falls in the background.

View of Comet Falls from down the trail.

We were happy to see lots of wildflowers in bloom near Comet Falls.

Views of Comet Falls further up the trail, with rainbow!

The trail then goes up hill over several switchbacks up through the forest with some open areas with wildflowers.

We took the trail turn off into Van Trump Park.

The trail continues for 0.3 miles where the sign notes going further is on an unmaintained trail.

Shortly after the sign, the trail enters the open meadows of Van Trump Park, we took a short break here, enjoying the view.

The trail meanders though the park, we were happy to see so many wildflowers.

The trail would go up to the right of the far line of distant trees and continue up to the top of that "hill" on the far right.

Loved seeing the paintbrush and lupine lining the trail.

We could smell the lupine as we hiked along the trail. Heavenly!

At the higher elevation, we also found heather in bloom.

Zoom of some waterfalls across Van Trump Park.

The last bit we did was up the "hill" on a steep slope filled with loose dirt and rocks, we were very careful with our footing. This photo was taken on a lesser steep slope where I felt comfortable taking a picture.

At the top of the "hill"we took a lunch break and enjoyed the views. Here looking up to the side of Mt Rainier and the Van Trump Glaciers.

Pano looking south: In the far distance was the Goat Rocks, Mt Adams, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens; in front of them the peaks of the Tatoosh Range, and below were Van Trump Park and Mildred Point.

 zoom of Mt Adams

zoom of Mt Hood

zoom of the glacier above us

Across the way, we saw a herd of mountain goats (blurry zoom photo)

We had fun watching these goats scampering around on the snow (blurry zoom photo).

We found a "safer" route down off the "hill".

As we returned down to Van Trump Park, we again enjoyed our saunter through the wildflowers and the views!!! 

Another view of Comet Falls as we hiked back down, we were surprised to only see two other hikers by the falls.

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today: