Hike to Bench Lake and Snow Lake in Mt Rainier National Park

2.5 miles

700 ft gain

Moderate

Pass required

One of Mt Rainier National Park’s lesser-known and most underrated hikes is the (relatively) short trek out to Bench Lake and Snow Lake. This family-friendly trail will bring you to two tranquil alpine lakes with incredible scenery surrounding you along the way. You’ll see Mt Rainier’s summit and the rugged peaks of the Tatoosh Range, most notably Unicorn Peak. Depending on your timing, wildflowers, huckleberries, blueberries, or dazzling fall foliage might add splendor to your journey. Here is everything you need to know about the hike to Bench Lake and Snow Lake in Mt Rainier National Park.

Bench Lake Snow Lake Trail Mt Rainier — *A glimpse of Unicorn Peak through the trees*

Know before you go

You must have an entrance pass to visit Mt Rainier National Park. A 7-day entrance pass costs $30/passenger vehicle. You can buy one with a credit card at any park entrance during daylight hours or online ahead of time. You can also use the America the Beautiful Pass ($80) or an annual park-specific pass ($55) to enter the park.
Dogs are not allowed on trail. They can be in campgrounds and within 6 feet of paved public roads but cannot be on any trails or wilderness areas.
There are no restrooms or other amenities at the trailhead but the campground at Snow Lake has a vault toilet. Otherwise, look for the nearest restrooms at the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise.
There is a small parking lot for the Snow Lake Trailhead off Stevens Canyon Rd. It may be full during busy times. Arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon on summer weekends.
Stevens Canyon Rd usually closes for the winter in October and reopens in May, which interrupts access to the trailhead. Expect snow on or near the trail until July.
Please stay on the trails. Natural areas on Mt Rainier are fragile, especially where wildflowers grow. If they are damaged, they might not grow back.
When I visited, a sign at the trailhead warned hikers about a wasp’s nest on the trail. People have been stung close to Bench Lake. I heard a little buzzing there but didn’t run into trouble.
Besides wasps, there may be many bugs on the trail in summer.
Swimming is allowed in both Bench Lake and Snow Lake. Expect the water to be cold.

Snow Lake Mt Rainier National Park — *Snow Lake*

On the trail to Bench Lake and Snow Lake

Distance: 2.5 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 700 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Pass required: Mt Rainier National Park entrance pass or America the Beautiful Pass

Dog friendly: No, dogs are not allowed on the trail.

ADA access: No

Season: June - September, potentially October

The details:

Look for the low-profile trailhead on the east side of the parking area. The beginning of the hike climbs steeply through dense greenery. If you hike soon after the snow melts, look for avalanche lilies among the first wildflowers of the season here. More wildflowers will open up as the season progresses and you might see edible berries along the trail in late summer. You’ll soon come to a clearing and, at least in my memory, the only flat portion of the hike. Although short, this hike isn’t necessarily easy. You’ll see the trail split into two at the clearing. Go ahead and take either. They rejoin soon after.

As you walk through the meadow in this clearing, you’ll find views to admire in all directions. Unicorn Peak is in front of you while Mt Rainier’s summit looms over the trees behind you. Other highlights of the trail are more seasonal. August is the best time to look for wildflowers along the trail. Fall colors begin in late September. After passing through the meadow, the terrain will alternate between uphill and downhill for the rest of the hike.

After about 0.5 miles, you’ll reach a rocky ledge that looks onto Bench Lake from above. It’s also a good place to admire the flat shelf of land, or bench, that gives the lake its name. Looking to the left, you’ll also get a nice partial view of Rainier on a clear day. Take care around the overlook here if you are hiking with small children. On an otherwise family-friendly hike, this spot has a steep drop-off.

Bench Lake Mt Rainier National Park — *The first view of Bench Lake is from above*

Shortly after seeing Bench Lake from above, you’ll reach a trail junction that will give you the option to head down to the shore. Take the fork to the left to descend on a short spur trail to the lake. Note the entrance to this spur trail is where some hikers have reported bee stings, so you may want to skip the spur to avoid this risk.

Although not long (about 0.1 miles), the spur trail to Bench Lake is rougher than the main trail with many tree roots and eroding mud. You can reach the lakeshore but no farther since there is no trail around Bench Lake. You will see an excellent view of Mt Rainier on a clear day and, if the water is still, a perfect reflection of the mountain’s snow-capped summit on the lake surface.

After returning to the main trail, another 0.3 miles will bring you to a trail junction marked with a sign. The fork to the left leads to the campground and vault toilet. The fork to the right runs parallel to the lakeshore for about 0.1 miles and ends with a sign indicating the end of the maintained trail. Beyond the sign is a route climbers take to reach the summit of Unicorn Peak.

Going either direction at the junction will lead to views of Snow Lake, which formed naturally in the depression of a glacial cirque. If you have the time and energy, you might want to explore both directions to take in the lake views at different angles.

After admiring the views and getting your photos at Snow Lake, head back the way you came to return to the parking lot.

See more lakes nearby

Reflection Lakes Mt Rainier National Park — *Reflection Lakes*

Only 1.5 miles east of the Bench Lake and Snow Lake Trailhead is one of the most popular and photogenic places on Mt Rainier, Reflection Lakes. If you are lucky enough to find a spot, you can park next to the lake. A short walk on a dirt trail next to the lakeshore will bring you to a perfect mirror image of Mt Rainier reflected in the lake water on a clear day. On a cloudy day, the lakes are still lovely but do lose something without the mountain’s reflection.

Reflection Lakes Mt Rainier fog — *Fog obscures the mountain view at Reflection Lakes*

Starting from Reflection Lakes, a short hike on the Wonderland Trail (about 1 mile) will bring you out to views of Louise Lake, a glacial cirque lake ringed with conifer forests and rugged slopes. Unlike Reflection Lakes, you won’t see Mt Rainier’s image reflected in the water but it is a less crowded and more peaceful mountain lake experience.

If you’re up for more hiking, you can try out the Lakes Trail, a 2.8-mile loop that begins at Reflection Lakes and climbs to Faraway Rock. Look for views of Reflection Lake, Louise Lake, Stevens Canyon, and the Tatoosh Range along the way.

Getting there

Mt Rainier National Park has four entrances: Carbon River (northwest), White River/Sunrise (northeast), Stevens Canyon (southeast), and Nisqually (southwest). The parking lot for the Bench Lake and Snow Lake Trail is closest to the Nisqually and Stevens Canyon entrances and about the same distance from each.

If you’re coming from the west, the Nisqually entrance will be the most convenient. After entering the park, follow Paradise Rd E for 15.4 miles, then turn right onto Stevens Canyon Rd. Continue for 3.6 miles and look for the parking area on the right. You’ll pass Reflection Lakes 1.5 miles before your destination. If you can find a parking spot, it is a very worthwhile stop on the way. The drive from the park entrance is about 35 minutes.

From the east, it is easier to use the Stevens Canyon entrance. After entering the park, stay on Stevens Canyon Rd for a little over 15 miles and look for the parking area on your left. The drive will take about 30 minutes.