Naches Peak Loop

Drove to Chinook Pass in Mt Rainier National Park just before sunrise to hike around Tipsoo Lake and the Naches Peak Loop Trail before it got hot today. After hiking around Tipsoo Lake counterclockwise, I hiked the Naches Loop Trail clockwise, 3.5 miles with 500 ft of overall gain. Lots of wildflowers in bloom. Very view people on the trail when I was there early this morning. The skies were a bit hazy from wildfires, but the air was not smoky. View of Naches Peak across Tipsoo Lake and flower filled meadows along the trail

zoom of Mt Rainier reflecting in Tipsoo Lake

Wildflowers below Yakima Peak

wildflowers along the trail between Tipsoo Lake and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) portion of the loop

On the PCT Section of the loop, the sun is red from the smoke

Looking back at Yakima Peak across the highway

some of the meadows along the trail

Views of the tarn on the east side of the loop

More meadows along the trail, first one below Naches Peak

View down to Dewey Lake, where the PCT continues southbound, and the Naches Loop Trail reenters Mt Rainier National Park

Tarn on the west side of the loop

zoom of one of the views of Rainier along this section of the trail

back at Tipsoo Lake to complete the loop

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today: