Search trip reports
Placeholder Routes & Places

Trip Report    

Day Hike - Crystal Peak (Mount Rainier)

Seattle branch hike to Crystal Peak on August 7 with a group of 9 hikers.

David Bradley David Bradley
August 07, 2016
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • Trail in good shape.  No issues, not even a blowdown.  The lower two thirds of the trail are in thick trees, and the final third is mostly open to the sky.  Wildflowers are in bloom along the upper third.

This route is known for its panoramic views and it did not disappoint.  Blue skies and good visibility meant that Adams, St. Helens, Hood, Glacier, and Rainier were all visible from the summit, as was the full range of the Eastern portion of Rainier NP.  Butterflies were in abundance at the summit.  Pleasant temperatures and a modest breeze made for comfortable hiking.  A textbook example of what this trail can be on a clear sunny summer day.