Field Trip 4 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course - Dewey Lake, Naches Peak Loop & Pacific Crest Trail

65th Street Park and ride at 5:30 AM or 8 AM at the  Chinook Pass Parking lot.  This is the parking lot for the PCT Trail, Naches Peak and Sheep Lake and is on the left, just over the pass after you go under the large stone and log park bridge.  There is an earlier parking lot before you reach the pass which is  not where we will meet.  Both parking lots have restrooms.  This trail is about 4 miles long with about 700 ft of up and down elevation. The trail is largely in the sunshine so bring plenty of sun protection and water as well as bug repellant.   A highlight of the trail in addition to the abundance of wildflowers is the spectacular view of  Mt. Rainier as you round the peak. You will need a Discover Pass for the parking lot. 

Mt. Rainier National Park has many trails that lead to premier wildflower gardens.

After this field trip you may identify these species and more:
1. Broad-leaf Lupine
2. Common Paintbrush
3. Beargrass
4. Gray Jay
5. Blue (Butterfly)
6. Red Columbine
7. Glacier Lily
8. Tiger Lily
9. Thinleaf Blueberry
10. Sitka Mountain Ash
11. Sitka Alder
12. Alaska Yellow-cedar