Hike to Spray Falls

Starting from Mowich Lake — the largest and deepest lake in the park, and one of the most remote trailheads you can actually drive to — this hike drops you into old-growth forest before climbing steadily through subalpine meadows toward one of Rainier's most dramatic waterfalls. The trail gains enough elevation to make your calves announce themselves, winding through stands of mountain hemlock and silver fir before the roar of falling water cuts through the trees. Then Spray Falls appears: a 354-foot veil of glacial meltwater pouring over a dark lava cliff, fed by what remains of the Flett Glacier above. The mist hits you before you reach the base. On a clear day, Rainier itself looms behind the falls like a backdrop someone painted on purpose. This is a trail for anyone who wants a legitimate waterfall payoff without committing to an all-day death march.