3 Burroughs

We drove up to Sunrise at Mt Rainier National Park, we decided it we could see Mt Rainier we would do the hike to the Three Burroughs. We were happy to see The Mountain on this gray cloudy day! Our route was 9.5 miles with about 2,450 ft of gain. We also saw a few wildflowers still in bloom.

We started along the Burroughs Loop Trail going clockwise. One of the views along the early part of this trail.

Most of the first 1.5 miles is in the forest, here we saw saw asters, pasqueflower seedheads and paintbrush.

We took the short side trip around Shadow Lake. Little Tahoma and a faint Mt Rainier reflecting in Shadow Lake.

Between Shadow Lake and the Glacier Overlook, we found lot of delicious ripe blueberries.

View of Mt Rainier from Glacier Overlook. We could see the beginning of the White River emerging from under Emmons Glacier and a beautiful green tarn down in Glacier Basin.

This is one of my favorite trails in Washington State. love all the views of Rainier.

Panoramic View along the trail:

View of Rainier from First Burroughs

Looking north toward Mt Fremont and the Fremont Lookout from First Burroughs

There was a large herd of mountain goats below Mount Fremont

panoramic view from Second Burroughs

From Second Burroughs, the trail descends 400 ft before gaining 800 ft up to Third Burroughs, lovely view of Rainier coming down from Second Burroughs

Mt Rainier would come and go from view as we went up to Third Burroughs

Rainier completely disappeared behind the clouds while we were goin up and on Third Burroughs, but as we took a break, we watched the clouds part.

Wide angle view of Rainier from Third Burroughs, great view of the Winthrop Glacier below.

We walked to the north end of Third Burroughs, no views for us, but a nice view of what appears to be the edge of the world. Snow patch far below.

chipmunk in the rocks

As we hiked back to Second Burroughs, I would look back and watch as the clouds gathered and receded around the mountain.

View to the north between Second and Third Burroughs

Three mountain goats on top of First Burroughs as we continued on the Burroughs Loop Trail

We were back in the clouds as we descended down First Burroughs

The clouds parted further down the trail and we saw Frozen Lake below. 

Frozen Lake

Sitka Mountain Ash back at Sunrise

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today: