We drove up to Paradise at Mt Rainier National Park to hike the High Skyline Loop Trail starting along Deadhorse Creek, overall 6.5 miles with 1,800 ft gain. We started in the clouds, but were soon hiking above the clouds. Lots of wildflowers in bloom and lovely views of Mt Rainier.
The Deadhorse Creek Trail has lots of wildflowers, in the beginning there were many avalanche lilies, paintbrush and other wildflowers.
The beargrass is starting to bloom.
In the hazy cloud, the colors of the wildflowers were so bright!wildflowers along Deadhorse Creek
pasqueflower seed heads and heather as we continued up the trail.
We came out of the woods and found ourselves at the edge of the cloud, with a wonderful view of Mt Rainier.
Clearer views as we continued up the trail.
Douglas ground squirrel up on a boulde
Looking back, the Tatoosh peaks were barely above the clouds.
Love seeing the wildflowers grow along the rocks,
and so do the marmots.
Wildflowers and Mt Rainier, fabulous!
Further up the trail, we had a good view of the Nisqually glacier and
this waterfall (zoom).
Before the steep trail up to Panorama Point, there was a small snow field to cross.
Wildflowers at the higher elevation on the trail.
Great trail! Since the distant views were mostly cloudy, we decided to skip Panorama Point, and took the Pebble Creek Trail to the High Skyline Trail.
We had several more snow fields to cross, but were able to enjoy close up views of the mountain, as did the tiny marmot in this photo.
Looking back towards the Tatoosh Peaks
Heather growing at 6,900'
Another snow field to cross
Back on the High Skyline Trail above Panorama Point, we stopped of a lunch break.
On our way down the trail, we saw this snow tunnel/snow bridge (zoom).
Continuing down the trail, Mt Rainier is mostly hidden by the contours of ridge lines.
We came across scattered meadows with wildflowers in bloom.
Several more snow fields along the way and getting views of Little Tahoma along with Mt Rainier.
More heather fields
Another Douglas ground squirrel
As we descended to the Paradise River basin, we started to reenter the clouds.
Our last view of Mt Rainier for today, as we crossed the Paradise River.
We found lots of wildflowers all along the trail back to the start.
Paradise River above Fourth Crossing and
at Fourth Crossing.
Small waterfalls along the trail
Hiking on the trail through the meadows.
zoom of colorful waterfalls high above us in the rocksEdith Creek
Deer above the lower parking areasome of the wildflowers seen along the trail today:
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