Drove up to Chinook Pass to hike along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) up to Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap, then took the spur trail into Mt Rainier National Park to the overlook of Upper Crystal Lake, this was about 7 miles round trip with an overall gain of 1,200 ft. On the drive up to Chinook Pass, stopped along the roadside to take this photo of Mt Rainier and Tipsoo Lake.
Fall Color along the PCT above Highway 410, for the first half of my hike I only saw 3 PCT through hikers, and had the Crystal Lake overlook to myself. Coming back, the trail was much busier.
This deer ran across the trail then stopped to watch me from behind some branches (zoom)
Looking back along the PCT towards Chinook Pass and Naches Peak on the left and Yakima Peak on the right.
Sourdough Gap up on the ridge behind Sheep Lake.
Chinook Peak reflecting in Sheep Lake
Fall color along the trail heading around the lake and up to Sourdough Gap.
Trail photo with some interesting rock formations up the hill.
Near Sourdough Gap, looking down on Sheep Lake, with a distant Mt Adams and Mt St Helens.
zoom of Mt Adams, Mt Snowy and the Knife Edge in the Goat Rocks
zoom of a distant Mt St Helens to the left of Yakima Peak
A snow capped Mt Rainier peeking out to the right of Chinook Peak as the trail nears Sourdough Gap
View of Cascade Peaks to the northwest as seen through Sourdough Gap
Looking back to the southeast through Sourdough Gap
Along the PCT, west of Sourdough Gap, the spur trail to Mt Rainier National Park continues straight, where the PCT follows switchbacks down to the north.
View of Mt Rainier and Crystal Peak from the trail in Mt Rainier National Park
A rocky peak
From the overlook above Upper Crystal Lake, I took a break and enjoyed the solitude.
zoom of Mt Rainier
Returning along the trail to Sourdough Gap,
there are some nice bright red huckleberry bushes.
The late morning sun brightened the fall colors along the trail heading back to Chinook Pass.
Naches Peak as seen form the PCTThe wildflowers are mostly down blooming, here are a few I saw along the trail with some fall color:
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