Palisades Lakes Trail

Starting from the Sunrise area — already one of the highest points you can drive to in the park — the Palisades Lakes Trail rolls through subalpine meadows that explode with lupine and paintbrush in late July before dropping into a quieter, more rugged landscape. The first couple of miles feel deceptively easy as you traverse open terrain with Rainier looming over your shoulder, but the trail eventually descends toward a chain of alpine lakes tucked beneath the dark volcanic cliffs that give the trail its name. Those palisade walls rising above still, mirror-like water are the payoff, and they feel earned. The return trip reverses the script — that gentle descent becomes a steady climb back to Sunrise. This one rewards hikers who appreciate destination lakes without the crowds that mob Spray Park or the Skyline Trail.