Mt Eddy via Deadfall Meadows Trailhead

We drove up FSR 17 in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest to hike up Mt Eddy from the Deadfall Meadows Trailhead. We also did a side trip to the Deadfall Lakes for a 8.5 mile round trip hike with 2,600 ft of gain. We didn't see any other hikers on our way up the trail, and only saw 7 on our way back down the trail. Amazing day with gorgeous views!

The meadows appeared dried, but we did find some wildflowers along the way.

There were 4 creek crossings in the lower meadow and a very muddy section.

The trail joins the Pacific Crest Trail after 1.5 miles and 800 ft of gain.

Two Deadfall Lakes are in the Middle Deadfall Meadows, this is a pano of the larger one.

We continued up to the Upper Deadfall Meadow where we saw two more lakes, this is the smaller one.

Mt Eddy is seen behind the larger lake in Upper Deadfall Meadows.

reflection in this lake

It is another 1.5 miles with an additional 800 ft gain to Deadfall Summit, view to the west and one of the lakes we passed below.

view to the southeast

From Deadfall Summit it is another mile with 1,000 ft gain to the top of Mt Eddy.

some views along the way to the top

Old fire lookout remains on the top of Mt Eddy (9,025ft)

We loved the views up here!

Mt Shasta and Black Butte to the east

zoom of Mt Shasta

view to the north

View from the west end of Mt Eddy

Looking East towards Mt Shasta from the west end of Mt Eddy

View to the southwest

zoom of the Trinity Alps to the southwest

zoom to the southeast with Castle Crags and a very distant Lassen Peak

Heading back down Mt Eddy with views of some of the lakes in Deadfall Meadows

Trail below Deadfall Summit

View of Mt Eddy form one of the lakes in Upper Deadfall Meadow

zoom of a hawk on a snag above the trail

We returned to the lakes in Middle Deadfall Meadow, pano of the larger lake

The small and lower lake in Middle Deadfall Meadow

some of the tall pines in Lower Deadfall Meadows

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today:

  

  

  

 

  

 

Berkley Park

We drove up to Sunrise at Mt Rainier National Park to hike to Berkley Park to see the wildflowers. We hiked up Sourdough Ridge to Frozen Lake, continued on a small portion of the Wonderland Trail to the Northern Loop Trail through Berkley Park. Our turn around point was at Berkley Camp. We returned up to Frozen Lake the way we had come, then continued on the Wonderland Trail, joining the Sunrise Rim Trail on our way back to the parking area. Overall 8.5 miles with 1,700 ft of loss and gain. Lots of wildflowers on a beautiful sunny day. View of Mt Rainier from the trail leading up to Sourdough Ridge from the parking area.

Along the Sourdough Trail there are some gaps in the ridge, giving us views to the area below and to the north.

zoom of views of Cascade Peaks to the north 

Further along Sourdough Ridge, we had good views of Mt Rainier and First Burroughs and to the far left of the photo, Shadow Lake.

Mt Rainier and some wildflowers growing below the trail

Another view of Mt Rainer and First Burroughs

Frozen Lakes has a lot less snow from when we were here 2-1/2 weeks ago, Mount Fremont in the background.

other end of Mt Fremont, Skyscraper Mountain in the background 

Douglas ground squirrel on the rocks by the trail

View of Mt Rainier, Second and Third Burroughs from along the Wonderland Section

We saw many marmots in the meadows today, I was only able to get photos of the ones that were resting. We watched some young marmots running across the fields and well as several adults.

Colorful wildflowers along the upper portion of the Northern Loop Trail heading into Berkley Park.

One of several marmots in the upper meadow

Wildflowers and views as we hiked down the trail:

We saw lots of gentian beginning to bloom in the meadows just before reaching Berkley Camp, our turn around spot.

More views and wildflowers as we returned up the trail:

After reaching Frozen Lake, instead of taking Sourdough Ridge back to Sunrise, we continued down the Wonderland Trail for a ways. More wildflowers along the trail.

Shadow Lake

wildflowers along the trail to Shadow Lake

Wildflowers in the meadows along the Sunrise Rim portion of the trail:

Views of Mt Rainer as we neared the end of our hike

some fungi seen in Berkley Park today:

 

some of the many wildflowers seen along our route today: