Greenwater and Echo Lakes — Friday, Jun. 5, 1998

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

Greenwater river trail to Echo Lake - 14 mi. 1600 ft. vert. rise in, 400 vert. rise out. Trail in very good condition, a little mud, no washouts, all bridges operational. This is a beautiful tree walk, in fine old growth the entire way with the raging greenwater river loud and visible beside the trail. The river goes in and out of 3 small lakes on it's lower section. There were good campsites and a few fishermen. Starting at 2500 ft. only 700 ft is gained by the 5 mile mark, our lunch camp on the river bank by a major waterfall. After lunch our Tacoma Mountaineers group Went up the remaining 2 miles over the 4100 ft. [a few snow patches] high point and down to Echo Lake. Here we rested and had our only mountain views of the trip. Personal first: saw calypso lily. Other flowers of note: lots of fine trillium, canadian dogwood, vanilla leaf, small solomons seal, & hookers fairy bell. Bugs are not out yet. We were on the trail from 9:30 to 5:30.