Bench and Snow Lakes Trail
This undulating trail crosses a series of low ridges as it leads you to two picturesque lakes surrounded by meadows.
Plan Around Bench and Snow Lakes Trail
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Bench and Snow Lakes Trail Details
This undulating trail crosses a series of low ridges as it leads you to two picturesque lakes surrounded by meadows. The trailhead lies 1.5 miles east of the Reflection Lakes parking area, in a small pullout on the south side of the road that holds only a dozen or so cars and often fills up on summer days. The trail climbs up and down the first ridge, depositing you on The Bench, an open meadow that's bursting with wildflowers come summertime and dotted with trees. Reach Bench Lake -- perhaps the warmest swimming lake in the park -- after about .75 miles and enjoy clear views across the lake and beyond. Hike another .5 mile to reach Snow Lake, so-called because it sits in a rocky bowl (therefore shielded from the sun) that collects snowmelt from the Tatoosh Range. Enjoy a superb view of Rainier across the pristine lake, and then make your way back to the trailhead on this out-and-back route.
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
2.5 miles
Estimated time
2 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Bench and Snow Lakes Trail
Compare nearby parks around Bench and Snow Lakes Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Bench and Snow Lakes Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Bench and Snow Lakes Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.6 mi away
Louise Lake
Louise Lake, due east of Reflection Lakes and just south of Paradise, sits at 4,597 feet.
1.0 mi away
Stevens Canyon
Stevens Canyon runs east-west in the southwestern corner of the park, separating Mount Rainier and the Tatoosh Range.
1.1 mi away
Pinnacle Peak Trail
Three-mile hike to the top of the second highest peak in the Tatoosh Range.
1.2 mi away
Reflection Lakes
A series of subalpine lakes located along Stevens Canyon Road.
1.6 mi away
Narada Falls Trail
This waterfall plunges 188 feet in two different sections-one drops 168 feet down a cliff face and into a canyon, while the 20-foot tier plunges into a smaller pool.
