Perched on a plateau at 5600 feet, Grand Park Trail takes you through 2 miles of grassy meadowlands and wildflowers, with the epic backdrop of Mt. Rainier. Going through the old growth forests via Lake Eleanor is the best way to reach this paradise. The 9-mile Mt. Rainier Grand Park Trail also connects with the North Loop Trail taking you to a breathtaking view of the northside of Mt. Rainier, the valley and adjacent peaks. This trail has it all!
Directions and Tips – Mt. Rainier Grand Park Trail
From Enumclaw, drive east on SR 410 for 25 miles. Turn right on FR 73 for 9 miles. Continue on FR 7360 for 1 mile to the crossing at Eleanor Creek in small parking lot near the trailhead.
Tips: During summertime, be aware of mosquitoes. At the trailhead and through the forest there are swarms of mosquitoes and large flies. I highly suggest wearing long pants and top with insect repellant. But, not to worry, once you reach the meadows in the open space there are a lot less mosquitoes.
July is the best month for wildflowers!
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Mt. Rainier Grand Park Trail Hike
Length/Elevation Gain: 9 miles with elevation gain of 1100 with highest point 5630
Please continue reading, even though the beginning is a bit grim, as it gets infinitely better… At the onset of this hike, I feel like turning around and going home. Swarms of mosquitoes enswathe us in a cloud of fury. I am fully covered, but they attack my hands and face. Thankfully, I am with a group of 6 and succumb to peer pressure and carry on. We begin the hike by walking on rocks and ford across the Eleanor Creek and through slogs of mud. Then, we gain distance from the creek to dryer terrain. About a mile into the hike, we stop at the pristine Lake Eleanor. On a hot day, this is a good place for a swim in it’s clear, blue-green, glacial waters.
The trail takes you on through old and second growth forests of hemlocks and firs, up and down ridges. These are moderate climbs, but nothing too strenuous. We stop for a mosquito repellant dousing and nagging complaints. After 1.7 miles we step out of the forests into a small meadow with Mt. Rainier looming beyond the thinning trees. As you continue to walk the wildflowers multiply and the trees thin out more and more to open space. Initially, we see swaths of white Avalanche Lily wildflowers. As I later learn, this is just a threshold to the grand and even more extraordinary meadows. And thankfully, the mosquitoes were fading into a memory shadow, enlightened by incredible beauty and awe.
Then, like going through a portal or threshold we step out of the last small grove of trees into the 2-milelong sea of meadows and wildflowers.
We walk along a dirt path, consciously not stepping on the fragile meadows. The green expanse is speckled with magenta, yellow, purple and white with the majestic, snowy Mt. Rainier looming ahead of us. It reminded me of various movie scenes with paradisiacal themes, like The Wizard of Oz or The Sound of Music. Should I sing, “We’re off to see the wizard… or the hills are alive with the sounds of music”?
Spring and summer are the best months for wildflowers, especially July at Grand Park. We are fortunate to see colorful wildflowers, such as, Lupine, Bistort, Arnica, Bear Grass, Flox and Magenta Paintbrush in the open meadow. And in the forest shade we see swaths of white Avalanche Lilies.
We walk in absolute bliss taking in the awesome scenery along flat terrain. The fantasy-like expanse opens my mind to dreams and possibilities. To the left of Mt. Rainier we see the Mt. Fremont Lookout Point across the deep valley between us and Mt. Rainier. We all are smiling and effervescent with the infinite download of Mother Nature at her best. It is truly one of the most extraordinary moments of my life feeling so humbled by the unfathomable beauty and grandeur of this setting.
Next, we come to a T section of our path and a sign with arrows pointing left and right for the Northern Loop Trail.
At the advice of a group member, we go right to the incredible ledge for a panoramic view of her majesty. Firstly, we walk through a thick grove of mysterious trees with a light green sage colored lichen draping from branches. This feels like a bewildering portal of limbo between the meadows and viewpoint. In awe, we all take it in with wonder.
Then, we see some open space ahead outside this grove and step onto a ledge of infinity. Seriously. Before us is a ledge looking over the massive valley 5,600 feet below and the majestic Mt. Rainier right in front of us, rising to 14,410 feet. Beside her we intimately trace Mt. Rainier’s northside and her adjacent peaks and landmarks, such as, Fremont Lookout, Skyscraper Mountain, the Burroughs, Winthrop Glacier (center) and Willis Wall to the right.
All smack in front of us, like we can just reach out and touch it. I am not exaggerating to say this is one of the most panoramic views of my entire life of traveling to 105 countries. Magnificent! What a perfect place for a lunchbreak. Interestingly, our guide explains that you can see Grand Park when hiking Dege Peak or Fremont Lookout Trail, saying a lot about it’s massive size in this humbling region.
Then, we reluctantly turn around and head back through the mysterious grove that cools us with its comforting shade.
Going back to the T section we continue on straight to the other direction past our entry path. We walk toward Fremont Lookout Point and observe the wildflowers until the trail ends. Then, we hesitantly backtrack. Walking away from Mt. Rainier through the meadows and wildflowers toward the forest is a little sad. I am intermittently turning around for another last look at this magical scene.
Then, we backtrack through the smaller meadow portal with Avalanche Lilies. It is like a surreal de ja vu, returning back to our source. I don’t even dread the mosquitoes, because I am filled with such bliss and healing from Mother Nature. It feels like I was downloaded with the spiritual truth from Heaven, Nirvana and Paradise all in one cosmic shebang.
All beautiful things in life have some kind of shadow, otherwise you wouldn’t recognize the light. In other words, it’s the Taoist Yin and Yang or balance of Life. Hiking in nature teaches us this.
So, we graciously return through the yin, cool shade of the old growth forest and even the pesky mosquitoes. Nothing bothers me because I have seen the light! We tramp up and down the ridges, past the blue-green Lake Eleanor, over the creeks and mud. Finally, I see the cars peaking through the trees, symbolizing our last leg of the journey.
But, I realize it isn’t over yet. We all decide to meet up for ice cream down the rocky steep road in Greenwater at Wapita Outdoors, a store and ice cream/coffee shop. What a perfect setting with my hiking friends to end our shared journey. And one final recommendation, order their scrumptious Huckleberry Ice Cream.
Read More!
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