Forum Index > Trip Reports > MRNP Grand Park via the "secret" (hahaha) back door 7/17/10
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Old Not Bold Hiker



Joined: 12 Dec 2006
Posts: 4745 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bend Oregon
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Old Not Bold Hiker
PostTue Jul 20, 2010 9:03 pm 
Lone paintbrush on God's Front Lawn 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Lone paintbrush on God's Front Lawn Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Mt Rainier in your face from grand park. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Mt Rainier in your face from grand park. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
I thought I had found a Great Secret, unofficial trail short route to Grand Park. Going by the crowds on the trail and the string of cars stretched as far as the eye could see on road, this trail that is NOT on most maps is about as secret as Bandera or Mt Si, in spite of the marginal signage and lack of map exposure.
The one and only trailhead sign. At the well discovered "secret" back entrance to Grand Park. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
The one and only trailhead sign. At the well discovered "secret" back entrance to Grand Park. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
by afternoon, cars parked along the road as far as the eye could see, at this "secret" trailhead.
by afternoon, cars parked along the road as far as the eye could see, at this "secret" trailhead.
The access road looks confusing on the maps, but its actually pretty straight forward, just turn off 410 onto road 73, ignore the confusing maps and stay on the obviously main road without making any sharp turns, until you are 10 miles from the highway. Bottom portion of the road makes Middle fork snoqualmie road seem smooth. Upper portion has a couple of filters for low clearance vehicles but is overall easier driving than the potholes lower section. It took me just 25 minutes to cautiously drive the road in a Honda Element, including watching out for all the vehicles that don't seem to believe in "uphill cars have the right of way". And Please, if you try to coax your low rider up/down the road, pull over for vehicles trying to make decent time. Unofficial trail to Lake Eleanor is in better shape and more heavily worn than many "official" trails I know. Albeit there are a few muddy boggy spots. Oddly not many bugs on the wooded trail or at the lake.
Lake Eleanor in the morning...and no mosquitos HERE. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Lake Eleanor in the morning...and no mosquitos HERE. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
LOTS and LOTS of lilies in the wooded section and up to the start of Grand Park when we were there.
erythronium oregonum 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
erythronium oregonum Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
poet's shooting star. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
poet's shooting star. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
erythronium oregonum 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
erythronium oregonum Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
glacier lily or avalanche lily poking through the snow. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
glacier lily or avalanche lily poking through the snow. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
glacier lily or avalanche lily poking through the snow. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
glacier lily or avalanche lily poking through the snow. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
erythronium oregonum 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
erythronium oregonum Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
erythronium oregonum 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
erythronium oregonum Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
As was pointed out in another report, don't get faked out by the Preview Meadow, but enjoy it none the less.
Me at first glimpse of Rainier on first meadow
Me at first glimpse of Rainier on first meadow
Then you hit God's Front Lawn....even if you aren't religious, its tough denying this one. Sweeping views of Fremont Lookout, Skyscraper, Tahoma and Rainier proper. Including the Sunrise-side climbing-trail standing out on the Mountain.
Tahoma from Grand Park. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Tahoma from Grand Park. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Silver trees on Grand Park. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Silver trees on Grand Park. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Yellow carpet on Grand Park. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Yellow carpet on Grand Park. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Stuart Range from Grand Park. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Stuart Range from Grand Park. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Long trail across Grand Park, heading for Rainier. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Long trail across Grand Park, heading for Rainier. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Mt Rainier in your face from grand park. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Mt Rainier in your face from grand park. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Skyscraper -Rainier 
yin yang 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Skyscraper -Rainier yin yang Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
islands of trees on Grand Park. Find the paintbrush accent. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
islands of trees on Grand Park. Find the paintbrush accent. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Distant paintbrush on grand park. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Distant paintbrush on grand park. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Paintbrush accents, with Fremont, Tahoma, Rainier. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Paintbrush accents, with Fremont, Tahoma, Rainier. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Skyscraper with rainier
Skyscraper with rainier
Fremont Lookout. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Fremont Lookout. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Grand Park 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Grand Park Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Grand Park 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Grand Park Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Rainier from Grand Park. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Rainier from Grand Park. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
start of Grand Park. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
start of Grand Park. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Start of grand park trail. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Start of grand park trail. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Rainier up close and personal from Grand Park. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Rainier up close and personal from Grand Park. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Skyscraper  up close 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Skyscraper up close Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
And a whole different range of wildflowers....and enough mosquitos to win a place in our top 5 buggiest hikes.
And these were just the mosquitoes that wanted a break from flying around us. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
And these were just the mosquitoes that wanted a break from flying around us. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
western anenome. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
western anenome. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Bear Grass and Fremont lookout. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Bear Grass and Fremont lookout. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Paintbrush accents, with Fremont, Tahoma, Rainier. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Paintbrush accents, with Fremont, Tahoma, Rainier. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
And a glimpse of Winthrop glacier if you keep chugging past the far end of Grand Park.
Northern Loop sign 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Northern Loop sign Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Lake Eleanor sign from the upper side of Grand Park. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Lake Eleanor sign from the upper side of Grand Park. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Winthrop Glacier.
Winthrop Glacier.
We finally turned back due to loss of blood from skeeters. paranoid.gif
Little group of Paintbrush, with Fremont, Tahoma and Rainier. 
Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
Little group of Paintbrush, with Fremont, Tahoma and Rainier. Lk Eleanor trail to Grand Park MRNP 7/17/10
actually, my hiking buddy got 15 skeeter bites and I got zero. I did get a sting from something that wedged between my back and pack. I went through most of my small portable spray bottle of my Garden's Alive anti-bug spray which is "natural", not DEET. And I am really liking my head "buff" that is treated by the manufacturer to be bug repellent. I find I can put the buff over my ears to keep the bugs from driving me crazy flying into my ears, although I look more than a little alien earless and with sunglasses on. VERY nice hike, but do it during the week to avoid the steady stream of humanity on this "secret" trail. And it seems it would be a pointless hike if it was socked it with low visibility.

friluftsliv

zimmertr
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rooinater
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rooinater
JAWS
PostTue Jul 20, 2010 9:50 pm 
lake eleanor skeeters are vicious! I need to get back out there soon, granted that's a long line at the backway... frown.gif Might need to just see it again on the way around the Northern Loop in a few weeks. thanks for the trip report.

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Old Not Bold Hiker



Joined: 12 Dec 2006
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Location: Bend Oregon
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Old Not Bold Hiker
PostTue Jul 20, 2010 10:25 pm 
I either spaced out on including the maps or flickr is dropping a few pics again. At my age, its about a draw as to which is more likely. dizzy.gif ...besides the usual flickr challenges of trying to figure out the order of the pics.
The not very secret back entrance to Grand Park via Lk Eleanor. 
One of the busiest trailheads I know of.
The not very secret back entrance to Grand Park via Lk Eleanor. One of the busiest trailheads I know of.
11.4 miles 
2105 feet climbing 
5771 feet high point 
4609 feet parking 6hr46min car to car with 359 photos
11.4 miles 2105 feet climbing 5771 feet high point 4609 feet parking 6hr46min car to car with 359 photos
11.4 miles RT 2105 feet ascending 5771 feet high point 4609 feet parking 6hr46min car to car including 359 photos and applying MUCH bug repellant.
Me being alienated with ears covered by bug repellant head Buff. It was EXTREME buggy day.
Me being alienated with ears covered by bug repellant head Buff. It was EXTREME buggy day.

friluftsliv
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tigermn
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PostTue Jul 20, 2010 10:44 pm 
It really wasn't that crowded on Sunday. I got the 2nd to last spot in the 5 car parking area but there were only a couple of other cars parked on the road. I saw a few people but nothing major. In addition the place is so big you don't have to wander far to get solitude. Other than the bugs (I got maybe 5 or 6 bites), the road/pothole dodging was the only downer of the trip. I agree the upper part of the road, while narrower in places and more rocky was better to drive (at least in a normal clearance 4 door sedan) than the pothole dodge of the lower road.

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Bloated Chipmunk
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Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher
PostTue Jul 20, 2010 10:56 pm 
Hmm, maybe I'm the one that spilled the beans doh.gif b/c when we went on the 11th, there was hardly anyone (1 other car @ the TH when we arrived, just a few when we returned). Now, 2 more TRs & evidently lots of peeps going there! dizzy.gif

Home is where the hiking is. "Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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Dalekz
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PostWed Jul 21, 2010 8:40 am 
This may not be the cause, but someone I was hiking with on Sunday mentioned that this back door entrance hike to Grand Park was just written up in the local Puyallup newspaper. Probably not a widely read paper but still will popularize a somewhat remote entrance.

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sarbar
Living The Dream



Joined: 28 Jan 2002
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sarbar
Living The Dream
PostWed Jul 21, 2010 9:06 am 
The trail is described in the day hiking Rainier book that came out a year or so ago by the Mounties. You know who to pitchfork now lol.gif

https://trailcooking.com/ Eat well on the trail.
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SlowWalker
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PostWed Jul 21, 2010 3:36 pm 
Now THAT'S a nice TR up.gif up.gif

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Slugman
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It’s a Slugfest!
PostWed Jul 21, 2010 3:45 pm 
Something we can all agree on: a fun read and excellent pictures! agree.gif

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Foist
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Foist
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PostWed Jul 21, 2010 4:08 pm 
Oh no, you're gonna get it for calling Little Tahoma "Tahoma" in that photo caption. Somewhere, the ghost of some great native American chieftain is weeping.

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Flora
Enjoying the Sun!



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Flora
Enjoying the Sun!
PostWed Jul 21, 2010 4:09 pm 
Excellent hike report. I love Grand Park in flower. And yes, the bugs can be fierce. Looks like you had a "Grand" day!

Flora
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Hikingqueen
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PostWed Jul 21, 2010 5:10 pm 
I've only been here in fall and winter I heard the bugs were super bad. I might have to eat 2 heads of garlic before I attempt this one. Excellent pics! I was in the area that day and almost did that one.

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eyehike222
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PostTue Jul 27, 2010 10:23 am 
Bear
I too recently did this hike. Set up camp at Lake Eleanor for the night and set out for Grand Park at dusk for some sunset pictures. Spotted a very large bear in the first meadow. Yes, the skeeters were a bit thick and apparently I missed my forhead when applying the bug spray. I ended up with about 4/5 bites.... Heading back soon for some sunrise pictures. Thanks for posting, great pictures [img]
Black bear spotted in first meadow from Lake Eleanor to Grand Park
Black bear spotted in first meadow from Lake Eleanor to Grand Park
[/img]

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sallish
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sallish
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PostWed Jul 28, 2010 9:39 am 
Not good shakehead.gif to report this TH publicly. Pretty soon the Park Service will realize they are loosing park entrance revenue by us backdoor'ers and try and close off this entry.

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The Angry Hiker
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The Angry Hiker
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PostWed Jul 28, 2010 9:57 am 
It's already been in the paper. http://www.theolympian.com/2010/07/02/1292165/hike-of-the-week-lake-eleanor.html Once these "Hidden Gems" get a write up in the local fishwrapper, you can forget about hiking in solitude for a while. I imagine they'll have to shut this entrance down just to repair all the damage that's been done to the area.

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