Brooks Memorial State Park — Monday, Jun. 6, 2022

We had hiked the Lady Slipper Trail at Brooks Memorial SP on 5-23 and the Mountain Lady Slippers' leaves were just pushing through the ground and seemed to be 10 days to two weeks from blooming so we returned today to the park to camp for 2 nights to hopefully see some blooming. After setting up camp, we hiked the Lady Slipper Trail and found 20-25 blooming plants, a few embryo and some plants with leaves but no buds! Lupine, balsamroot, yellow desert parsley, larkspur and a few spotted coral root were also seen. The TH parking is across HWY 97 at the end of a park road which passes the Ranger Station, maintenance area and a home which appears to be unoccupied now. There is a porta potty in the parking area. We took the trail from the parking area to the first sign with the trail names. We took the Nature Trail left to the Lady Slipper Loop Trail which we completed for a total of 2 miles with 250 feet gain. The bursitis in my left knee told me I had walked too far, but it was worth the pain to see the many lady slippers! We saw no other hikers. 

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://www.parks.wa.gov/482/Brooks-Memorial