The Glacier Basin Trail is utterly magical in every sense of the word. I must have taken hundreds…read moreof pictures and several videos while hiking this trail. This hike has everything that your little heart could ever desire! A forest full of giant trees. Vibrantly green shrubs. Waterfalls at practically each turn. Majestic views of not only the snow covered mountains, but the gorgeous aqua hues of the White River down below. The rushing river running parallel. Rampant wildlife. Colorful wildflowers. Inclines and elevation galore. I mean, shall I go on?! Just stunning. Glacier Basin is located near the White River entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. The trail begins just behind the White River Campgrounds. It's starts off mildly inclining through a lush forest, but the incline picks up speed and continues to incline until you reach the camp. It's about roughly 9 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation in total if you add in the the detour to the Emmons Lorraine Trail. Do it! It will add another 1.5/2miles to the hike, BUT... this is where you'll find that incredible view of the Inter Fork White River. It's funny that it's called the "white river" because it's stunningly aqua from the top of Emmons Lorraine. The Emmons Lorraine trail is a turn off that's about a mile into the Glacier Basin Trail and includes a river crossing and a steep incline up a narrow hill. It looks a bit intimidating, but it's really not. Just sit on your bum for the really gnarly parts coming down (at least that's what I did). Continuing on the Glacier Basin Trail, it's basically a straight shot up the hill for another 3 miles until you reach the top. There are a few spots with some switchbacks, but it's mostly a ridge-like trail. AllTrails has rated this hike as moderate, but it's definitely on the harder side of moderate if not difficult. What makes this hike so enjoyable though is the fact that there's so much scenery. Every time I took a break, I was either greeted by a beautiful mini waterfall or vibrant wildflowers. The views are very motivating and it keeps you going. Once you reach Glacier Basin Camp, you'll be met with the most stunning views of snow covered Mount Rainier and the rushing waters of the White River right next to it. This hike took me about 5 hours in total to complete (including breaks, lunch, and detours). It's definitely a day hike, so bring enough food and water to keep yourself nourished. Also, make sure you have some really comfortable hiking shoes/boots and hiking poles for the way down if you have bad knees. Coming down can be just as tough as hiking up because of the steepish downhill for 3 miles straight. This one is definitely going in the books as one of my favorite National Park hikes and my favorite Washington state hike thus far. If you're looking for a challenge and a great way to see the beauty of Mount Rainier National Park, Glacier Basin Trail is a great option.

As a Seattle native, I can say that this is my favorite hike I've ever been on. The hike has a fork…read moreabout a mile in. If you fork left, there is a relatively short (~30 min) but steep trail that leads to the glacier basin. The water is a bright teal with mountains in the background, one of the best views I've ever seen. My friends and I went swimming in the basin, which was very cold but also very fun. If you stay on the main trail, it is an additional 6 miles that is moderate-difficult and took about 3 hours to get up. At the top, there is a really pretty meadow and campground. You will need a Mt. Ranier National Park pass ($50 annual or $30/week) to enter. I went on a weekday in the morning and had no trouble finding parking. The main trail was quite empty, but the left fork had a couple other groups. However, we more or less had the place to ourselves. Overall, 10/10 would reccomend!

We were told about this trail by a local who walked through the Ghost Town several years ago. This…read moresounded like a fun adventure so we took a hike. First: the parking area is chained shut and 'tow' signs are in the drive way area that leads to the parking lot. We drove over a one-way bridge (traffic signals control traffic direction) and found a parking area on the right. This area also has the same 'tow' signs but the lot had several vehicles and many people were in the area so we parked. It's a shady lot with a spring water dispenser straight from the ground. (A sign asks that you Venmo money for any water you take from the Spring) We walked back over the bridge, past the gate and onto the trail. Second: the initial hike is a wide incline covered in gravel. This leads you up and around to a Coal Car where the trail divides. The Ghost Town is to your right. The mine shaft and grave yard are to your left. Both trails continue to lead up. One of the hike pages I looked over described this as an 'easy' trail for kids. Regarding climbing over obstacles, the path is clear and it is an easy hike if you go toward the ghost town. However, the grade is pretty steep in that direction. The direction of the mine however has several trees down and most we had to climb over. The trail there is not well maintained. The Ghost Town: This pathway is mostly wide and gravel covered making it the easier of the two trails. We found one foundation covered in undergrowth on the right that you can climb the steps onto a small foundation. You have to really be looking to see the steps. On the left is what looks almost like a retaining wall on the hillside. That's all we saw of a 'town'. The path continues to climb up and around. It may lead out to the road on the opposite side of the hill but we did not walk all the way and I make that suggestion based on maps. This trail is mostly full sun. The Mine Shaft and Graveyard: We came back and took the left branch of the trail where it divides at the Coal Car. This trail runs from wide and gravel covered to single file while walking through raspberry bushes (prickers). Thankfully we had rain jackets on so those tiny thorns did not snag our shirts and I kept my hands above my head to save my skin. Be prepared for that. This trail is mostly shady. It takes a while to reach the mine shaft which includes a plaque with some mine information. The shaft is quite large, goes straight down, is surrounded by a metal railing and topped with a lattice of rebar. The sign suggest you drop a rock in to hear how deep the shaft is, however as this must have been done hundreds of times, rocks nearby are scarce. Bring your own rock with you. Once you have spent all the time you'd like at the mine shaft, take the trail to the left of the mine shaft plaque to continue on to the graveyard. There are a couple of places along the way that will make you wonder 'is this it?' It's not. Just keep going. It's another longish hike in a more gentle upward direction. The path veers off to your right at several points, one of which leads to a wet low area, but overhead here you will see remnants of some coal car rails. There is a trail leading up a steep incline that will take you to the top of the rails if you'd like a closer look. The 'up' is easier than the 'down' on this steep pathway. The graveyard is further ahead, past this coal car rail. Just keep walking. You will see on your right, at the base of a tree, a toppled over headstone that looks like a small obelisk. This, and a wooden sign erected by a local group stating they fenced in a grave, are the main visible signs of the graveyard. The area is completely overgrown, including the fenced in grave. After climbing over trees and fending off thorny raspberry bushes (without the joy of eating some of the berries) this was a disappointing hike. The trail ends here. Some of the downed trees have had a path chopped or cut out so you can walk around or through them but most your scramble over. I am not sure what is happening with this land or why the lot is closed with no explanation sign. I could not find information in a search of local news sites. I do wonder however if it has anything to do with a downtrodden looking 'resort' on the other side of the bridge. They offer you access to a waterfall for a small fee. I believe you can access this waterfall from the chained lot if you take the trail directly down to the river on the left. But this is just speculation. I did not take them up on their offer. If you are here for a nice, uphill hike, take the path to the right at the coal car and enjoy a wider path with some views of the surrounding area. That is a pleasant hike in and of itself. Just don't expect to see a 'ghost town' and you'll enjoy this hike. Happy hiking!

While the hike in and out was nice, easy for kids (of at least aged 5 years), and relatively quick,…read morethe ghost town wasn't really worth the effort (destination).

Way, way better than I expected!!…read more Every time I go to Mt Rainier I pass the sign for Mud Mountain Dam, and every time I chuckle at myself that people would want to go there because it sounds super lame. WELL! I had energy left after my Mt Rainier hike, so I decided why not? It's on the way home and the worst thing that happens is I never come back. I was always under the impression that you had to hike in, but after following the road a ways I came to a developed parking lot and what appeared to be a look out point. Nice looking, new playground for the kiddos. Bathrooms are available and a huge props to the people that maintain them!! The buildings were older and a bit run down, but the facilities were *clean*! Even smelled nice, I was really shocked! Lookout point is right off of the parking lot and is ADA accessible. There are several educational signs along the way and in the lookout shelter and some really lovely views! There's also a trail. Pretty short, 1/2 mile? Switchbacks all the way. There's a new chain-link fence for safety and the trail ends at a little lookout point that gets you a lovely view of the dam. Most definitely not worth a special trip, but if it's already on the way it's not a bad idea to stop by and check it out!

Presently under construction, for the play ground. Once completed though, it looks like it will be…read morefun for little ones. The trail is still open. Beautiful walk. I do not recommend using a bike or a stroller on the trail, lots of cliffs without fencing. A very muddy beautiful walk.

A MUST when visiting Mt. Rainier / Crystal Mountain resort - it was the perfect way to admire what…read morethe wifey had just accomplished, running down the gigantic mountain, the ride up is about 10 - 15mins, all worth it!!! breath taking views of Mt. Rainier, do dress accordingly, it was pretty windy and about 10 degrees colder up on the mountain. there is a restaurant/restrooms observation chairs and a beer garden at the top! but the view!!! stunning, the greens/whites/ snow peak colors with the sky blue in the background. as usual parking could be hit or miss, they do have several parking lots but the closest one to the gandola ( the paved one ) is on the smaller side, they have other lots designated by letters ( which also unpaved ) Info on Gondola here: https://www.crystalmountainresort.com/things-to-do/activities/mt-rainier-gondola

Came for the day while friends skied. Beautiful, sunny and gorgeous! Snow already melting - this…read moreis the last day of the season. Gondola tickets $54 each and you get 2 round trips.

There's no flaming geyser are here anymore. It's a beautiful park though. Beautiful green grasses…read moreand you can hike to the river.

Flaming Geyser is a great, well-maintained state park in the Auburn area. The "flaming geyser"…read moreburns a bit like a candle, what I feel like is the main draw to this park would be its great walking/hiking trails never to the river or in the forested areas. Great areas for picnicking too.

This park is clean and peaceful, I've come here 3x now and loved it. I paddleboard here and it's…read moregreat especially since there are no houses and boats. There's a playground off to the side, bbq grills and several benches.

One of absolute favorite parks to visit. I come here just to get away and relax and get lost in my…read moreown thoughts whenever I need a break. I brought my boyfriend with me the other day and he loved it too. The bathrooms are clean, stocked and overall well maintained which is a huge plus for me because park bathrooms are usually pretty icky The trail is an easy peasy, 99% flat 1.4 miles with a few off trails leading to water access. This place is gorgeous on bright days but also on gloomy, rainy WA days. The girl at the booth who sold me a Discover Pass on July 4, 2016 was very friendly. She's the only park worker I've ever interacted with in the dozens of times I've been here. If you're in the area and looking for an easy and beautiful stroll, definitely stop in here.

What a great park! Excellent river side hang out and spot to go swimming. Today was no exception…read more Slightly more crowded on this visit than a year ago. But still a very enjoyable experience. No walk today just hanging out water side with my bestie. A short walk down to the all rock beach. Be sure to bring a thick towel, a chair, or a pillow. There is small rapids here that is fun to float down. Water shoes highly recommended! And please pack out your trash. There is a bathroom next to the parking lot along with plenty of picnic benches of waterside isn't your style. The beach area has shaded areas which are perfect to avoid the sunshine. The water is very cold as well. Be careful and mentally prepared for it! Discovery Pass needed. Enjoy your life! SYOY!

There will never be a place I love more than this place. On the planet. But I come from the angle…read moreof having grown up here. My grandmother still lives within walking distance so when I say my childhood is in this water, it's no joke. I can still walk up the rock in the middle of my favorite swimming hole (at 43) like an easy set of steps and cannonball people with great enthusiasm. This park is a standalone experience. The Green River is ideal for fishing, kayaking, floating, swimming, and generally anything you'd like to do with a river except drinking. Don't do that, they pull a lot of bodies out of every year. I'd hazard a guess nearly all of those bodies made bad life choices with no respect for moving water. There is an excess of swimming holes along the stretch of river the park encompasses. This might lead you to think the fishing is also great. It is, but if it's swimming season, stick to early and late fishing because people will not respect your ill-timed line in the middle of the day. (This feud is as old as time). The camping in the park is limited although the implementation of yurts is adorable and fun, and they do accommodate RVs and tents as well. It's a great place to have an event, the availability of bathrooms and faucets has always been the standard I judge other parks by. Parking is limited, get there early or access it by taking the Long Walk. The rangers these days are young and friendly, and they deserve respect for the idiots they often have to put up with. I suggest getting the year pass for entry, you'll want to return. The park is exceptionally clean and well maintained, it hasn't changed much in the 40+ years I've known it because it's a solid setup. This is a beloved area. If you want to get drunk and stupid go upstream to the bridge or up the headworks road or downstream to Flaming Geyser area or Auburn. It's not a rowdy place, it's families doing family things. Whatever your swimming skill, there are beautiful places to put your body in the water either carefully and gently, with momentum aboard flotation apparatus, or from tall places. Respect the class IV rapids, they're easy to avoid. You can chase the sun around to all the different spots if you're apt to sunbathe, or avoid it entirely. The simple trail from one end to the other is a faerieland walk under beautiful canopy all year round. The water is pristine, the critters are adorable, and it attracts a nice style of people from many different places. Please respect it and enjoy, we're proud of this little jewel.

Waste of time. Falls? More like a little spring...blocked by wire fence and overgrown scrubs.read more

You can see the waterfall over a fence but it is partly obscured by overgrowth. Not a great photo…read moreop either though the waterfall is very nice. There are no trails to walk other than the two viewpoints at the parking lot. It is just a quick stop.

I live there and every time I go there is so many people that I know very family friendlyread more

I love Lake Tapps and not just because it is close to where I live, but the boat launch area is…read moreseamless the parking is great and they expanded it recently. The park area is pretty and inviting. I have never had any issues getting in or out of the lake. It's also nice to have a restaurant that you can pull up to in a boat to tie up for a quick bite or a drink (Al Lago). The scenery is hard to beat when Mount Rainier is out in her full glory.

Bellevue Botanical Garden is a beautiful place. And the fact that it is always free too! It's open…read moreevery day even holidays! To be a small botanical garden, there's a nice walking path and many, many beautiful flowers and plants to see. There are often local community events hosted here. Activities for the young to adults. They have classes that you can find and sign up for on their website as well. And the classes are affordable!! You may even see people taking wedding photos here because again it's beautiful. The park is ADA friendly. The path is dirt and pebbled but can be navigated with a wheelchair. There are bathrooms on site and a small shop. I have never purchased bulbs or plants from here but I know there is a big community around that. The coffee shop in the garden can get busy. But a benefit is we were able to charge my husband's wheelchair there on a visit. While the park is open every day, the coffee shop is not. Definitely this should be a spot for all locals. And not just a one time visit either.

This was a nice little find. We got here late as my sister had to take her son to this de's appt…read more By the time we got to Seattle, it was already 1 pm. Once the entire family met up, we climbed back into the car and headed to Bellevue. Not sur if it was due to the time. But we were surprised there was a lot of parking available. We spent a good 2-hrs here which included getting lost and finding other street entries into the botanical park from a school and from other busy street corner at the bottom of the park. Nice and shaded, quiet little creeks, plenty of seating for those that were inspired to journal, plenty of elderly people using this time to exercise and stretch. We enjoyed the different areas like the swinging bridge, the Japanese garden and even the little cafe they have there. Fairly priced items and plenty of tables to enjoy a refreshment and snack. By the time we were done, the gift shop was already closed. So I took the opportunity to drop a donation into the box instead.