Читать книгу One Night Wilderness: Portland. Quick and Convenient Backcountry Getaways within Three Hours of the City онлайн

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This gorgeous lake, which sits in the basin between Mt. Lena to the north and Mt. Bretherton to the south, is rimmed with forests of mountain hemlock and Alaska yellow cedar and open areas featuring an abundance of pink heather. Fires are not allowed at the lake, and hikers are required to camp in designated sites on the lake’s northwest, southeast, east, and southwest shores. Toilets and bear wires for hanging food are provided for your convenience.

Mount Bretherton over Upper Lena Lake, Olympic National Park

The lake is ideal for setting up camp and doing some exploring. A top goal is the rough boot path that goes west over a low pass before continuing to Scout Lake (no camping allowed) and the tiny but dramatically scenic Stone Ponds. You can also follow a scramble route to the top of Mt. Lena or go south into the narrow basin holding Milk Lake.

Mount Rainier from Gobblers Knob, Mount Rainier National Park (Trip 4)

Southern Mount Rainier and the Goat Rocks

The undisputed king of the Cascade Mountains, Mt. Rainier rises 14,410 feet into the Pacific Northwest sky and is visible for hundreds of miles in every direction. The national park that surrounds the mountain is a national treasure and is much beloved, not only by locals but by admiring tourists from around the world. Only the southern part of the mountain is close enough for a reasonable weekend trip from Portland, but that includes some of the park’s best scenery, including amazingly abundant wildflowers, enormous glaciers, stunning mountain views, plenty of wildlife, dozens of waterfalls—the list of wonders is almost endless.