Botanize with our team of eco-instructors as we discover the summer bounty of our near Cascade peaks. Timed to capture many species of native wildflowers and the early berries, we’ll geek out over ~100 species, tiny to grand. Part of the trail we’ll explore was burned in 2017, resulting in dense patches of extraordinary summer wildflowers (and special woodpeckers!). Other sections have forested patches with shade-loving specialties, and we’ll see some classic alpine meadows featuring heathers and their associates. In addition to plants, there are stellar views of Mt. Rainier and surrounding peaks all along the way. We will provide a detailed plant list, further reading recommendations, and carry many reference field guides for on-trail group discovery and study.
Difficulty & logistics: This trail starts high, so our vehicles will do most of the work for us. It’s a relatively easy alpine hike, with ongoing gentle ups and downs. We’ll do the “botany crawl,” mixed with spurts of actual hiking, for ~4-6 miles round trip (some may choose to hike up to a view, while others may prefer to explore the meadows and snack on any early berries below). Pack lunch, snacks, & plenty of water. Off highway 410, plan for 2.25-2.5 hours of driving (each way) from Olympia. Parking at the trailhead requires a NW Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass.
9:30 a.m. to late afternoon (check-in 9-9:25 a.m.)