A bit late on reporting this snowshoe trip but we had a blast! I usually snowshoe this trip a couple times per season and it's always great. Our group arrived about 9:45am at the Narada Falls parking lot and most of the outer edge parking spots were filled. The comfort station was stocked with TP and the water was cold there! We started our trip about 10:30am after spending time gearing up.
The challenge with this route always seems to be the first few steps up beside the comfort station. There were some steps cut in but those were suitable for folks in spikes or boots, and were more challenging to manage with snowshoes, but everyone made it up without a problem. Most of us used our heel lifters on our snowshoes to get to the landing beside the comfort station.
This route is marked with poles through the forest so you can easily find your way. We took our time ascending up to Stevens Canyon Road then snowshoed out a little beyond the intersection with Paradise Valley Road. This is your first good view of Mt. Rainier and she was showing off her snowy self well today. We turned back to the intersection and snowshoed up Paradise Valley Road and followed the marked route up to Inspiration Saddle to avoid the avy danger along Stevens Canyon Road. This is a nice gradual climb with some areas that are more level to give yourself a break. It also has several nice views of Mt. Rainier to keep you company as you make your way to the saddle. On our way up we encountered some winter campers that had camped the night before on Mazama Ridge and were returning to Paradise. They looked well rested considering the cold weather. We descended from the saddle to the lake through some slippery areas and as we approached the lake it was just beautiful. We snowshoed along the southern end of the lake to find a nice sunny spot with a view of the mountain near the peninsula for our lunch. There were lots of folks out enjoying the sun and the mountain views.
After our lunch break, we returned by the same route. We covered about 5.5 miles and 900 feet of gain in 4 hours including about half an hour lunch break in the sun. When we reached the trailhead with the partially cut steps, we found that it was easier to slide on your butt rather than try to walk down in snowshoes. The parking lot was packed full when we returned and people were circling for parking. This is a beautiful trip, but remember to come early to park if you plan to adventure farther than just the falls themselves.
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