Snoquera Falls Loop, Palisades — Friday, Jun. 13, 2008

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

We started out at the trailhead on Highway 410, 1/4 mile east of the SKookum Falls overlook. The trail goes steeply up on a good grade past a beautiful waterfall, up some stairs to the top of the falls then into forest with a couple of loops out onto the Palisades to view the White River valley and across to Suntop.LO Then across a clearcut, back into the woods to cross Snoquera Creek-Snow patches from here on-probably will melt in 2 weeks- ice axe not needed but poles helpful! Then up to glorious views from the higher Palisades across to Mt Rainier. After traversing the ridge-through patchy snow we came to a shelter and junction with Ranger Creek trail. The trip down the gully with a little stream and larger snow patches was a little harder. Just as we were about to run out of the snow patches we encountered a large blowdown which was passable but required a little negotiation to figure out the trail. There were other small step across blowdowns before. From there on, down Ranger Creek Trail and across the White River Trail was easy walking. Except for the time we went through the Camp Sheppard area on the White River Trail, we encountered only 2 people, one a polite mountain biker, . A great day 15.8 miles and about 2900 gain.