Sheep Lake — Saturday, Jun. 20, 2015

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

Sheep Lake really provided the bang I was looking for to see wildflowers and butterflies. From the trailhead up to the lake, wildflowers were in prime display. Bear Grass, Columbia Lily, Magenta Paintbrush, Avalanche Lily, Glacier Lily, Elephant’s Head Lousewort, Fleabane, Penstemon, Bluebells, Common Larkspur, Lupins to name some of the varieties.. This is an easy trail so it wasn’t surprising to see families with young children walking or being carried in back packs. With only a 400 foot gain and a 2.1 mile trek you are standing on the shore of this beautiful Alpine lake and surrounding meadows. Groupings of Fir trees around the lake offer privacy for camping. Tents were noted in most of those choice locations on this day. Butterflies were in abundance.