Green Lake Trail

The trail to green lake is very popular in early hiking season because of its low elevation. The trail leads almost two miles one way along Ranger Creek, passing Ranger Falls, to reach Green Lake. It gains 1,000 feet elevation en route to the lake.

The trail begins on Carbon River Road three miles east of the entrance. A small parking area lies on the southern side of the road and cars often line the road around the trailhead. Walking southward from the trailhead the grade of the trail is easy at first then steepens within the first half mile. Switchbacks aid hikers up the slope west of Ranger Creek. One mile from the trailhead a short trail eastward leads to Ranger Falls.

Walking southward along the main trail the track continues to ascend. Within a half mile of the lake the route crosses Ranger Creek on a log bridge with a wire guide rail. Reaching the northern lakeshore hikers will understand the name of the lake as it is surrounded by evergreens and thick forest, which is reflected from its surface. Due to heavy use there is no camping permitted at Green Lake.

Mount Rainier National Park, P.O. Box 268 , Ashford, WA, 98304-9751, Phone: 360-569-2211