The Naches Peak Loop Trail and Pacific Crest Trail form a 3.75 mile loop from Tipsoo Lake along the Mount Rainier - William Douglas Wilderness boundary. This scenic route passes through subalpine parklands with terrific views of Rainier, and one of the most highly concentrated wildflower displays in the Sunrise area. The PCT continues off the loop on a 1.1 mile, 708' descent to Dewey Lake (5,112').

Mount Rainier is the largest of 14 PNW volcanoes which include: Mt Baker, Glacier Peak, Mt Adams, Mt St Helens, Mt Hood, Mt Jefferson, Three Sisters, Newberry Caldera, Crater Lake, Mt McLoughlin, Medicine Lake, Mt Shasta and Lassen Peak

The PCT runs approximately 500 miles through Washington, from Bridge of the Gods on the Columbia River (south) to Monument 78 on the Canadian border (north)

Dewey Lake feeds the American River, which drains into the Naches River - all part of the Columbia River Basin

Paintbrush belongs to a genus of 200 species of partially or fully parasitic plants that derive nourishment from the roots of other plants

Subalpine meadows, which may be snow-covered through late June, have short growing seasons that can drive spectacular all-at-once blooms

Lupine improves soil quality by fixing nitrogen, a process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted to ammonia, a more bio-available nutrient for other organisms

The William Douglas Wilderness was named after Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, an advocate of environmental protection

Arnica was used extensively by Native Americans for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties

Subalpine parklands cover about 23% of the Park; these meadows fall into two groups which are shaped and defined by snow depth and duration

Western Pasque Flower Seedheads are among the first blooms each summer; its name is related to the Easter-Passover period, which occurs in early spring

The PCT skirts a scenic pond under Naches Peak (6,452') near Chinook Pass

The PCT runs 27 miles along the spine of the William O Douglas Wilderness Area

Tipsoo Lake is located just below Chinook Pass in a wide, damp basin known for its wildflowers

The south side of the loop features good views down the Ohanapecosh Valley, which is named after a Taidnapam community along the river; Ohanapecosh is believed to mean 'standing at the edge'

The Naches Loop passes through archetypal subalpine parklands and herbaceous meadows

The west side of the William Douglas Wilderness Area is characterized by high peaks and subalpine lakes that may receive as much as 120" of precipitation per year

Mount Rainier creates a rain shadow in the NE corner of the Park, which sees slightly colder winters with deeper snowpack than comparable subalpine environments in the Park

The large pond next to Dewey Lake is a worthy destination in itself, but camping is restricted here for revegetation