Sheep Lake, Sourdough Gap and Crystal Lake Overlook

Drove up to Chinook Pass this morning to hike a short ways on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap, then going a bit further to enter Mt Rainier National Park to overlook Upper Crystal Lake, Crystal Peak and Mt Rainier. This was about 6.7 miles round trip with 1,200 ft of overall gain. The views were beautiful and the wildflowers plentiful! The trail from the parking area to Sheep Lake is mostly forested, with some open areas.

Looking back at Yakima Peak

Across Highway 410 is Naches Peak

Wildflowers in the rocks

Sheep Lake

Chinook Peak reflecting in Sheep Lake

Wildflower meadow above the lake

Rock formations above the trail on the way to Sourdough Gap

Peak of Mt Rainier betwwn ridelines near Sourdough Gap

View from Sourdough Gap, looking down at Sheep Lake and over to Mt Adams and Old Snowy in the Goat Rocks

zoom of Mt Adams and Old Snowy

Sourdough Gap and views on the other side of the gap

zoom of a marmot below the trail towards Upper Crystal Lake

View of Mt Rainier behind Crystal Peak with a partial view of Upper Crystal Lake

Other rocky peaks

One of many butterflies seen along the trail

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today

On the drive out of Chinook Pass, I stopped to enjoy the view of Mt Rainier across Tipsoo Lake