Palisades Lake Trail
I heard that this trail has 5 alpine lakes you can visit so I knew I wanted to hike it. The landscape for this trail is in the forest so you will be covered most of the trail. On a hot sunny day there will be bug so make sure to bring plenty of bug spray!
About Trail:
This trail is about 7 miles depending on whether you stop by every lake or not. Stopping by the lakes will add length to the hike. I would consider this trail moderate with some challenging inclines. This trail starts by doing down and then up and then down and them up and then returning is the same way. It’s not a one-way constant incline.
The trail is mainly in the forest. You may encounter wildlife so make sure to be prepared before starting this hike. Bring bear spray. We did not encounter any wildlife but a few hikers did tell us that they saw a mom and cub black bear pass on the trail.
Remember to stay a safe distance away from black bears. Let them pass before continuing you’re journey. People recommend staying anywhere between 100 – 300 ft away for safety.
This is not a loop trail. You will hike to the lakes and back. The entirety of this trail is about 7 miles. But you don’t have to stop by all the lakes. Most people only stop at Sunrise Lake or Clover Lake, the first 2 lakes on the trail. These lakes are stunning in their own ways, surrounded by pine trees.
This trail does not have a ton of foot traffic. We only ran into a few handful of people. In the afternoon, we started seeing more people but not nearly as many as at Mt Fremont Lookout Trail.
In the afternoon you will run into people who are only hiking to Clover Lake, or they’re headed to Palisades Lake to camp the night,
The Views:
The views of the meadows and the views from the mountain tops are absolutely stunning. The day we went was gloomy with slight rain, but we were still able to see the mountain ranges.
This trail walks the opposite direction of Mt Rainier so you may not spot Mt Rainier on this trail.
Hidden Lake is a lake that is off the main trail and will add 1.2 miles to the trip, but it’s absolutely beautiful and totally worth it!
Recommendation:
I recommend this hike if you enjoy hiking through the woods, or you like alpine lakes.
Reminders:
I recommend dressing up on layers. This way if it gets hot, you can take things off and if it gets cold, you can put things on.
I also think it’s always important to stay hydrated especially because you’re in high elevation. Bring snacks to help boost your energy.
Remember to pack back what you bring in. And don’t feed the wild animals.
If you’ll be visiting Mt Rainier National Park, put this trail on your list.
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