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Reflection Lake
Reflection Lake along the Stevens Canyon Road in Mount Rainier National Park.
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Reflection Lake
Reflection Lake is one of the most beautiful and easily reached destinations in Mount Rainier National Park. It is located along Stevens Canyon Road, about 3 miles east of Paradise, between the Paradise area and the Stevens Canyon Entrance. The lake sits beside the road, with parking located along Stevens Canyon Road, making it one of the easiest scenic stops in this part of the park. The National Park Service lists Reflection Lakes as being located along Stevens Canyon Road, which is generally open to vehicles during the summer season.
Reflection Lake is famous for its classic mirror-like view of Mount Rainier rising above the water. On calm mornings, especially before the wind picks up, the mountain can reflect perfectly in the lake, creating one of the most photographed scenes in the entire park.
One of the best things about Reflection Lake is how accessible it is. Visitors can drive right to the lake area, with parking located along the roadside. This makes it a wonderful stop for anyone exploring the Paradise area or traveling between Paradise and the Stevens Canyon Entrance. Even if you only have a few minutes, Reflection Lake is well worth the stop.
The setting around the lake is peaceful and beautiful, with forested slopes, wildflower meadows in summer, and excellent views of Mount Rainier when the sky is clear. During the peak wildflower season, usually in mid to late summer, the surrounding meadows can be especially colorful. In fall, the area often becomes even more dramatic as the subalpine vegetation turns shades of red, orange, and gold.
Reflection Lake is also a good place for a short walk or photography stop. Swimming, wading, and boating are not allowed in Reflection Lake, which helps protect the fragile shoreline and preserves the quiet beauty of the area.
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Reflection Lake is among the most popular attractions in Rainier National Park.
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There Are Actually Four Lakes!
The Reflection Lakes area in Mount Rainier National Park is actually made up of four small subalpine lakes, with the largest and most famous lake located right along Stevens Canyon Road. This is the lake most visitors see from the roadside pullouts, and on a calm, clear day, it can provide one of the classic views of Mount Rainier reflected in the water.
The other three Reflection Lakes are not located directly along the highway, so visitors need to walk a short distance to see them. The best way to reach these quieter lakes is by taking the Lakes Trail, which begins from the parking areas near the main Reflection Lakes viewpoint. This trail loops around the area and climbs through forest, meadows, and open viewpoints above the lakes.
As you hike the Lakes Trail, you can explore more of the Reflection Lakes basin and enjoy different angles of Mount Rainier, the Tatoosh Range, and the surrounding subalpine landscape. These smaller lakes are usually much quieter than the roadside lake, which makes the short hike worthwhile for anyone who wants to experience more of the area beyond the main viewpoint.
Lakes Trail
The other three lakes are tucked away from the road and are best reached by walking the Lakes Trail, which begins from the parking areas near the main Reflection Lakes viewpoint. These smaller lakes are not usually named individually on park maps, but they can be reached by hiking short distances from Stevens Canyon Road. The closest smaller lake is roughly 0.1 mile from the road, the next lake is about 0.2 mile from the road, and the farthest of the three is roughly 0.3 to 0.4 mile from the highway, depending on where you start from the parking area.
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How to find the Stevens Canyon Road
The Stevens Canyon Road begins at the Stevens Canyon Entrance, which is located in the southeast corner of Mount Rainier National Park, near the Ohanapecosh area and only 13 miles from the town of Packwood, Washington. To reach this entrance, visitors usually travel on U.S. Highway 12 to State Route 123, then follow the signs north to the Stevens Canyon Entrance Station. This entrance is a popular summer access point for visitors coming from the east or southeast side of the park. Reflection Lake is located about 17.6 miles up Stevens Canyon Road from the Stevens Canyon Entrance, which is only about 3 miles from Paradise.
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Reflection Lakes are on the Stevens Canyon Road.
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