Highlights

1. High, unobstructed alpine views at the top. Always fun to see the iconic Cascade peaks and Rainier as well as Stuart from different perspectives.  
2. About a 1/2 mile trail of wildflowers at and near the top.  (Yes, with wildflowers come bugs. Just be prepared.)
3. Definitely a workout--especially early in the season.

Lowerlights

1. Some steep sections. Harder coming down over the loose rock.
2. Solitude was not to be found on a Monday.  Though not crowded, we encountered six parties.

Glad to have done it, mostly for the views and perspective at the top.  For a trailhead that required us 2 hours to get to, probably won't do it again. Would give it 3.5/5 stars.

Trail was in great condition, with one recently fallen log that we walked along with no problems. Wildflowers are coming out, and so are the bugs around Joan Lake. Gorgeous views all along the way and we only encountered half a dozen or so groups on the whole trail.

Eighteen years ago (gasp) we went on our very first hike together, and revisited the destination this weekend. I had nearly two decades to forget that Scorpion is, indeed, strenuous. The trail starts out up, and continues somewhat relentlessly to the top of Sunrise, before you lose a few hundred feet, only to gain them back going up Scorpion itself. Nearly two decades ago in September, the glorious meadows dropping away from the trail near the summit of Scorpion were obscured by clouds, but we could tell there was a lot to see there. Coming back this past weekend, the weather cooperated. Not only were there fields upon fields of flowers (a few lingering glacier lilies, tiger lily, paintbrush, lupine, phlox, asters, I think some parrot's beak, the beginnings of pearly everlasting, and more -- kind of a greatest hits of west slopes flowers), the views were unobstructed by clouds, and we could see from Glacier Peak in the north (some of the best views of Glacier I've ever had) to Rainier in the south, with, again, a bit of a greatest hits of peaks. 

Trail was in fine shape. There's a large tree down along a portion of it about a mile or so in, but it's not difficult to cross, as you simply walk along its length.

While the hike is definitely strenuous, my 76-year-old dad rocked it (granted, he still runs nearly every day). Weather was perfect, flowers were coming out (probably still a couple weeks from peak, unless you want to see glacier lilies, in which case go right now), and a grand time was had by all.

What a hidden gem! I was able to access the trailhead with no trouble in my Honda Accord. I arrived at 11am on Saturday and happily snagged the last parking spot. The trail takes you through an upward trek in lush and cool forest - it was a steeper start than I was expecting but I’d rate the trail at moderate. The last mile or so the trail winds in and out of wildflower meadows with breathtaking views of the central cascades. Mosquitos were vicious blood suckers - especially up top but the 360 views of the mountains made up for the blood loss.

FOUND: A trekking pole that looks like it's also a tent pole, so I'm thinking someone might be missing this. We left it at the trailhead - see photo.

This is one of my very favorite hikes. It features a well-maintained trail through Wild Sky forest, 360 degree view of near and distant Cascades all the way from Mt. Rainier to Glacier Peak, and a viewpoint surrounded by a meadow of wildflowers. It's simply breathtaking. Granted the road to the trailhead is long, steep, and bumpy (though I think any car could do it if they take it slow), and the trail is quite a bit of up and down, but it's all well worth it to me. The only obstacle in the trail is a very long large tree that's pretty easy to walk across - see photo. There are a couple very small patches of snow if you're desperate for water (there's no water other than that unless you go down to Joan Lake, which we didn't do this time but a few years ago I did it and enjoyed a swim though it was pretty buggy). The bugs were an annoyance and seemed to be better when we sat on a snow patch. I recommend long sleeves and pants and/or bug repellant. I was grateful to have trekking poles on the steep ascents and descents. The ground was so soft on much of the trail my son hiked shoeless.