Reflection Lakes Field Trip

Reflection Lakes are a picturesque set of small tarns at about 4800’ on the south side of Mount Rainier. This hike is noted for its particularly rich alpine flora: a gorgeous display of blue lupines sprinkled with five species each of Pedicularis (louseworts) and Penstemon, paintbrushes, monkeyflowers, beargrass, American bistort, pink mountain heather, western columbine, and mountain spiraea. This is the Paradise area, where alpine flowers typically bloom a little later than elsewhere in the Cascades, but due to the low snowpack last winter, we can expect the flowering season to be pushed back this year. We may see Gentiana calycosa in bloom.

The hike starts at 4800’ and people should expect to climb 1200’ feet on a good quality trail, doing about 4.6 miles (possibly more depending on interest). Limit of 12 attendees.

Contact the leader to sign up: slruffner57@gmail.com

This will be an all day hike. End time is approximate.

Where: Reflection Lakes, Stevens Canyon Road, Mount Rainier:

https://www.google.com/.../data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2...

Leader: Sandra Ruffner

Date and Time: Tuesday, July 21, at 10 am at the trailhead.

Meet at the Green Lake Park & Ride, north parking lot at 7 am: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VPf4jx9UiMzmkrYUA