This hike almost didn't happen. It was spontaneous and unplanned. The sun was out and I suddenly had this terrible realization that summer was almost over and soon the rain would be back for months and months. We jumped in the car around noon and made very good time, getting to the park entrance around 1:30pm, and getting up to Reflections Lakes soon after.
We didn't really know what we were doing, and started hiking around one of the lakes on the trail. It wasn't very strenuous. We hiked toward what turned out to be Paradise, in search of a mysterious waterfall that seemed to no longer exist. Finally we asked some other hikes for their opinion and realized we needed to go the other way.
We hiked back about a mile and found a trail head.. I believe it was called "upper loop". We then hiked a nice 45 minutes or so up and down gradual hills through stunning, empty and lush forest. There were meadows of wildflowers and spectacular views of Rainier and the Tatoosh Range. Maybe it was so deserted because it was a week day, but Evan and I absolutely loved the emptiness, the feeling of really being out in the wilderness together. Toward the end of the hike we stopped at Faraway rock, which had such an amazing view it was hard for my brain to digest all the beauty. Here is some more information:
Snow Free: July through October
(the pictures here are from google images and are not ours... though we hope to get a camera soon!)
(the pictures here are from google images and are not ours... though we hope to get a camera soon!)