Mount Rainier National Park has long been hailed for the abundant, colorful wildflower species surrounding the peak, and photographer Donovan Tracy has documented around 250 of them — all displayed on his new website, flowersofrainier.com.
The project started about two decades ago, with a challenge that the avid Mount Rainier hiker and then Seattle resident set for himself. The book "Wildflowers of Mount Rainier," a guide to about 130 species, had recently come out, and Tracy wondered: Could he photograph each of them himself?
The fruits of his photography endeavor — crisp images and detailed descriptions of hundreds of species — along with recommended hikes; printable, flower-focused maps; and other resources can be found on the site he launched this spring. The website is in some ways similar to the book "Alpine Flowers of Mount Rainier," which Tracy co-authored with University of Washington Herbarium manager David Giblin. But it features more flower species and hundreds of additional photos, often documenting a plant's life cycle.
The project is meant to fuel people's curiosity and appreciation for the national park, Tracy said. He hopes it also provides "a little respite" of the mountain's serenity for those who can't visit as frequently as they'd like.
Here are four of the recommended hikes, often brimming with wildflowers, to check out before summer ends. Note that wildflower season can vary depending on a given year's weather, and remember Mount Rainier National Park's new timed-entry reservation system, which limits the vehicles entering the Nisqually, Stevens Canyon and White River entrances between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. this summer.
Panorama Point
Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center; Paradise Road East, Ashford
Round-trip distance: 5 miles
Elevation gain: 1,300 feet
Pass required: National Park Pass
The popular Paradise area is known for its flower-filled meadows and mountainous views, and this loop is a classic way to experience them. Indeed, Panorama Point is "perhaps the quintessential Rainier wildflower hike," Tracy writes on the site, leading nature lovers past "the incredible Paradise flower fields that John Muir so admired."
Starting near the area's visitor center (where you can pick up a map if you don't already have one), continue along the Skyline Trail. Hikers climb more than 1,000 feet within the first mile, encountering Mount Rainier views that almost feel "too close to be true." Keep in mind that Paradise is named such for a reason; you can expect company on the trail and packed parking lots, Tracy warns, making an early, weekday trip best.
Spray Park
Mowich Lake Road, near Mowich Lake
Round-trip distance: 8 miles
Elevation gain: 1,700 feet
Pass required: National Park Pass
Reaching Spray Park's trailhead requires visitors to endure the long, gravel Mowich Lake Road and the hike may be a test of one's fitness, but the rewards are "views, views, views," according to the Washington Trails Association. Starting near the Mowich Lake campground, the first part of the hike takes you through dense forest and up a series of switchbacks.
But for hikers who prevail: "The splendid flower fields are reached after a somewhat strenuous hike," Tracy writes, here in "one of the supreme subalpine landscapes in the park." Other treats include stunning views of Hessong Rock, Fay Peak and Mount Rainier and a creek and a waterfall you'll pass on the way.
Naches Peak Loop
State Route 410; the trailhead is 0.7 miles east of the Tipsoo Lake parking area
Round-trip distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation gain: 600 feet
Pass required: Northwest Forest Pass
This is a loop with many draws — mountain and lake views, grassy meadows, a "wildflower nirvana" (as Tracy puts in) and, when in season, possibly some huckleberries. Naturally, it draws lots of hikers, too. Tracy recommends conquering it early on a weekday for less congestion.
Hikers begin at Tipsoo Lake and climb a hillside on the northern flank of Naches Peak, allowing them to look down at the lush valley below, before winding around the peak and descending again. Along the way, you'll pass an unnamed lakelet to wade in if you choose and a viewpoint with Dewey Lake over 600 feet below. (Hiking clockwise is recommended for the best views of Mount Rainier.)
Berkeley Park
Sunrise Visitor Center; Sunrise Park Road, Ashford
Round-trip distance: 7.7 miles
Elevation gain: 1,700 feet
Pass required: National Park Pass
Starting near the Sunrise parking area, hikers taking on this trail climb a set of large stairs through a green valley, peer into Huckleberry Valley from a ridgeline, pass along the rocky side of Burroughs Mountain and descend into a lush valley.
The hike explores what Tracy calls "one of the true floristic surprises in the park" and is "one of the wildflower wonders of the north side of The Mountain."
The route may start out quite crowded as hikers head to Dege Peak and other, closer-in destinations — the 4-mile Dege Peak hike is another good option to take in the area's mountainous views without trekking so far.
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