Paul Peak

I drove up to the park entrance before Mowich Lake at Mt Rainier National Park to hike the Paul Peak Trail. This trail does not go up to the top of Paul Peak, but goes around Paul Peak while dropping down to join the Wonderland Trail. 6.2 miles round trip with 750 ft loss/gain. I did not see anyone else on the trail today, it was very quiet.

View of Mt Rainier from the road going up to the park entrance, The road was in horrible shape, lots of pot holes.

This hike is all in the forest. Small stream crossing the trail.

There were only a couple of snow patches on the trail by Meadow Creek.

Log bridge over Meadow Creek

There were several trees down on the trail, most were easy to step over. This one was a crawl under or go off trail and around 

These two trees fell and dragged there large root balls over the trail, it was safer to go off trail and around.

On the switchbacks going down towards the Wonderland Trail, there was an opening between the trees with a view of Mt Rainier.

zoom of Mt Rainier

another view seen a few switchbacks down the trail

End of the Paul Peak Trail at the junction of the Wonderland Trail

violets were the only wildflowers I saw in bloom along the trail this morning