Northern Loop Day 2: Mystic Lake to Carbon River Camp

The second day of our Norther Loop Trail backpack is along the Wonderland Trail, from Mystic Camp to Carbon River Camp. This was about 5 miles with 400 ft gain/2,800 ft loss. We were glad this was a low mileage day as the wildflower fields were so beautiful, we were able to take our time and enjoy all the beauty around us!!! We only hiked 0.2 miles from the camp up to Mystic Lake to stop on eat breakfast, enjoying the views.

Wildflower field on the south side of Mystic Lake

This short 0.6 mile section of trail up to Moraine Park is divine? We love hiking through fields of wildflowers

elephanthead lousewort and lupine

paintbrush and lupine

beargrass, lousewort, bistort and starting to see Mt Rainier

pasqueflower going to seed

As the trail climbs, we begin to see more and more of Mt Rainier along with the wildflowers.

Easily to see why we took our time on this short section of the trail

At 6,000 ft, on the Wonderland Trail west of  Mystic Lake and the beginning of Moraine Park, is a boot track to this lovely mountain tarn.  

The next mile and half of the trail through Moraine Park was full of wildflowers.

enjoying this bit of hiker heaven!!!

Moraine Creek

crossing Moraine Creek through a rainbow, our entire trip was an enchanting adventure!!!

Moraine Creek further down the trail

Dick Creek on the trail, we were able to cross on rocks, has I did not want to cross on the wet logs.

butterfly on yarrow

The Carbon Glacier is massive! Here we heard both rocks falling of the glacier and large boulders tumbling down the river.

zoom of the snout of Carbon Glacier

stonecrop along the trail

we enjoyed some ripe thimbleberries

arnica, fireweed, foxglove and thistle along this rocky portion of the trail

lovely view looking up at the Carbon River emerging from beneath the Carbon Glacier

We didn't see this warning sign until we were below the glacier, as we never left the trail we were not in danger.

Suspension Bridge over the Carbon River leading to Carbon River Camp.

view of the Carbon River from the suspension bridge

On the trail we saw wintergreen,

and ate some ripe blueberries and

salmonberries.

We crossed Cataract Creek on our way into Carbon River Camp

 

Northern Loop Day 1: Sunrise to Mystic Lake

The Northern Loop trail is in Mt Rainier National Park. With the side trail to the Natural Bridge from Windy Gap, we hiked 37 miles with 9,800ft of loss and gain over 4 days. Half of the trail is along a portion of the Wonderland Trail. We started our backpack trip from Sunrise, hiking clockwise on the loop to Mystic Lake the first day: 9+miles with -2,700'/+1,900'. We started a little before 8 AM heading up to the Sourdough Ridge Trail and only saw 4 day hikers. Beautiful view of Mt Rainier from the Sourdough Ridge Trail.

Here we joined the Wonderland Tail at Frozen Lake, 1.5 miles from the parking area at Sunrise.

From the trail above Berkley Park, looking towards Mount Fremont.

Lots of lupine, parsley and bistro along this section of trail, Skyscraper Mountain to the far right.

Beautiful field of wildflowers on our way to the saddle at Skyscrapper Mountain.

There was a small patch of snow on an exposed slope east of the saddle by Skyscraper Mountain, we were able to cross on the rocks above the snow.

marmot on the saddle below Skyscraper Mountain

Gorgeous view of Mt Rainier on the trail leading down from the saddle at Sky Scrapper Mountain.

From here down to Granite Creek, we would see lots of wildflowers in bloom. Harebells and cinquefoil

Lots of lupine along with our last view of Mt Rainier before descending into the forest.

Through this forested section we would also see fleabane and paintbrush in bloom.

lots of arnica

Granite Creek, beautiful shady spot to resupply our water.

The trail descends along the lower portion of the Winthrop Glacier, here it is covered in dirt and rocks. We saw and listened to rock falling of the glacier as we hiked past.

Old Desolate behind the Winthrop Glacier, some areas of ice exposed below the dirt and rocks on the glacier.

bridge over Winthrop Creek below the glacier

In the rocky section in the middle of the Winthrop Creek drainage area, we had a nice view of Mt Rainier behind Winthrop Glacier.

Old Desolate

Crossing of the West Fork of the White River in the Winthrop Creek drainage area

On the way up to Mystic Camp, we crossed several small creeks and saw some lovely patches of wildflowers.

After setting up our tents at Mystic Camp, we hiked 0.2 mile up to Mystic Lake for our dinner. We saw some avalanche lilies scattered along the trail.

Mt Rainier hiding behind Mineral Mountain at Mystic Lake, lots of paintbrush and lousewort in bloom.

wide angle view of Mineral Mountain and Mystic Lake

frog in the lake

another view of Mystic Lake with a field of wildflowers

loved the wildflower fields around Mystic Lake, here gentian is starting to bloom among the lousewort and paintbrush. A wonderful way to end our first day of backpacking on the Northern Loop Trail!