Spray Park Loop

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Swimming · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This loop follows mostly singletrack trails with a soft running surface. What makes it special? Here's what:

1. Eagle Cliff Viewpoint: An awesome view of Mt. Rainier.
2. Spray Falls
3. Spray Park: Filled with wildflowers and provides unobstructed views of Mt. Rainier for about 2 miles.
4. Suspension Bridge Crossing: An amazing experience of crossing a suspension bridge over the Carbon River.
5. Numerous waterfalls on the climb up along Wonderland Trail.
6. Mowich Lake itself.

A National Park Pass is required at the trailhead. The trailhead has one public restroom. Because you run a portion of the Wonderland Trail you'll meet lots of interesting people with big backpacks on their multi-day hikes.

The loop starts at the beautiful Mowich Lake by following the Spray Park Trail. On the way, you get an awesome view of Mt. Rainier from the Eagle Cliff Viewpoint. The loop goes slightly to the right and follows Spray Falls Spur for 0.1 miles to the magical Spray Falls.

From Spray Falls, retrace your steps back to the Spray Park Trail which starts climbing up to Spray Park itself. Once at the park which is filled with wildflowers in season, you'll enjoy an unobstructed view of Mt. Rainier for about 2 miles. The trail then becomes Seattle Park Trail, and you start a long, 7 mile and ~4000 ft descent.

The trail then joins the Wonderland Trail where you take a right and cross a suspension bridge over the Carbon River. Once across the bridge, the Wonderland Trail meets the Northern Loop trail where you take a left and continue 1 mile. After 1 mile, take a left to another trail and cross the Carbon River again over a log bridge crossing to join the Wonderland Trail again.

Then you start climbing again for 3-4 miles through the woods, with numerous waterfalls on the way. Close to the Ipsut Pass, you'll get a beautiful view of the valley behind you.

After Ipsut Pass, the trail descends all the way back to the Mowich Lake with about 0.5 miles along the lake.

Typical Pacific Northwest forest with Spray Park meadows blooming with numerous wildflowers during summer months. You might encounter mountain goats and bears.