Skyline Trail Loop
4 days ago
Fall colors arriving, wildlife abundant
10 this month · 121 reports
High Lakes Loop
Mount Rainier Area
updated 4 weeks ago
The High Lakes Loop trail is reported to be in good condition with no snow and suitable for all vehicles as of late August. Wildflower season is in full swing, with various species noted, though some reports indicate they are past their prime by mid-August. Wildlife sightings, including marmots and bears, are common. Bears were seen grazing in meadows and near the trail in late August and mid-August, while marmots were frequently observed sunning themselves, August 15. Parking at nearby Reflection Lakes can be challenging, especially on weekends, with lots filling early August 15, July 27. Some visitors suggest an early morning or late day visit to avoid crowds.
Generated from 13 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about High Lakes Loop
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 4 weeks ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
No trip reports on this trail in 4 weeks, so everything below is at least that old.
Wildflower season was in full swing in late July and early August, August 2, August 3. By mid-August, some reports indicated the flowers were past their prime but still visible.
Marmots have been frequently seen sunning themselves and were noted as abundant in mid-August and late August. Bears, including juvenile black bears, were observed in meadows near the trail in late August and mid-August.
Parking at Reflection Lakes can be extremely challenging, particularly on weekends, with lots reportedly full by 6:30 AM or 7:00 AM, August 15. Some reports suggest parking was available at the smaller Reflection Lake on a Saturday morning in mid-August.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
Today'sTacoma Mountaineers Hiking & Backpackingtrip was all about Marmots and Wildflowers. Was it a Miles sighting?Sometimes a day at Mount Rainier is about the wildflowers.Sometimes it is about the s...
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
Today’sTacoma Mountaineers Hiking & Backpackingouting was another reminder that sometimes the most important work in the mountains is simply slowing down and paying attention.We spent the day supporti...
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
Our group fromTacoma Mountaineers Hiking & Backpackingcollected data for the UW MeadoWatch program today.There are Mountaineers days when the goal is to climb something. And then there are days when t...
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
Started hiking around 8 am on Saturday morning. Of note, the gate on the Paradise side was staffed before 7 am this weekend. Sunrise is closed due to wildfires. We waited about 15 minutes at 650 am to...
Older2 months ago
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
I read that the parking at Paradise was full by 6:30 AM over the weekend. We got a really late start on this Monday day hike, and were told at the entrance station that they filled by 7 that day, so: ...
Older3 months ago
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
Parked on Stevens Canyon Rd near Pinnacle Peak TH and hiked a loop around Reflection Lakes. Pretty busy for a Tuesday midday, but we found a parking spot without issue. Trail has a few blowdowns but t...
Older3 months ago
Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
Went down to Tahoma during the free national parks day... it was crowded as expected, so I used earplugs after parking. It was a bit confusing, as the trail description warned, so I'll try to explain ...
Older12 months ago
Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
Parked at the westernmost parking lot at Reflection Lakes, followed the High Lakes Loop clockwise, and then finished up with the short-but-sweaty hike up to Pinnacle Saddle. The trail on both hikes wa...
Older23 months ago
Mount Rainier Area
Feeling like this was one of the last good days of the year to go to Rainier we got up early and trekked out to the Mountain. Had to wait an hour to get past the checkpoint (about 9am) but it’s always...
Older24 months ago
Mount Rainier Area
We hiked the loop counterclockwise, starting at the trailhead across the road from Paradise Inn. There were muddy spots on trail until the Narada trail junction. Bog gentian still in prime bloom, pl...