Saturday, June 29, 2019

Silver Falls & Grove of the Patriarchs, Mount Rainier National Park

I have a new favorite hike in Mount Rainier National Park. It's a combination of two connecting trails: one that leads to Silver Falls and the other to the Grove of the Patriarchs. I think my pictures will show why I enjoyed these trails.

We started at the Ohanapecosh Campground and hiked along the Silver Falls Loop until we reached this viewpoint.


The path climbed above the river. We looked down on the upper reaches of the falls and dramatic pools and rapids below.



The path led downhill to the trail to the Grove of the Patriarchs. We crossed a footbridge across the Ohanapecosh River to get there. One person at a time, please, because the bridge is bouncy!



Here are a few of the giant old-growth trees in the Grove of the Patriarchs. This area is easily accessible with a parking lot only a 1/4-mile walk away. We saw several families along the path.


This photo of me shows the size of the root system of this fallen giant. Nature's sculpture.


We crossed Laughingwater Creek several times... once on a log bridge (with a handrail).



The Ohanapecosh River at the campground that shares its name... and the end of our trail.


More information about these trails can be found at the Washington Trails Association website:
HERE

To see photos from other hikes and walks at Mount Rainier, click on the Hikes/Walks tab above.




Zoom in to see the trails.


I'm linked with:
Jo's Monday Walk -  Johanna at Restless Jo - Link HERE
Our World Tuesday - Link HERE
Saturday Snapshot - Melinda at A Web of Stories - Link HERE 

21 comments:

  1. Hello, what a beautiful hike. It is a wonderful park to visit. Lovely scenes and photos. Enjoy your day and weekend!

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  2. Lovely to see so much lovely, cooling water when parts of Europe are experiencing a heatwave. I could just stand in the spray for a little while. :) :) Thanks, Sandra.

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  3. Mount Rainier National Park is a treasure. I see something beautiful and new every time I visit.

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  4. Your pictures definitely show why this is a new favorite hike. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

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  5. Glorious scenery; wonderful photos!

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  6. This brings back so many memories! Decades ago (literally) our church group went to this area. Thanks, Sandy, for allowing me to vicariously return to places I no longer visit. SMILE.

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  7. Wow. I would love to hike there. So very beautiful and nice.

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  8. Wow, breath-taking photos! Just gorgeous - the lush greenery, the water - so beautiful! I have to get out there and explore the NW one of these days! We just can't travel much right now due to medical issues with both our son and my FIL, but I am itching to get back to long road trips...and the Pacific NW is high on my list!

    Thanks for sharing your beautiful world :)

    Sue

    2019 Big Book Summer Challenge

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  9. Lovely scenes! The footbridge looks scary. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Your hike looks wonderful. Great to know an area well enough that you can link trails.

    I love the waterfalls.

    Have a great week!!

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  11. Oh such beautiful hike. The waterfall photos are just so beautiful. You can feel mother nature strength.

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  12. I love the name "Laughingwater Creek." Perfect description.

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  13. Those trees are rather amazing. I can feel why you like this trail so much Sandra.

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  14. All I can say is "Wow," especially the tree root shot.

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  15. What a wonderful coastal rain forest and I can only imagine how much you enjoyed walking through it. I wonder if it is a refuge for Northern Spotted Owl?

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  16. Marvelous photography of nature's treasures ~ what a joyful hike ^_^

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  17. So much tumbling water -- how beautiful! The root system of the tree with you posing in front is amazing. What a great hike!

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