Right now this is top 1 or 2 hike ever. At the visitors center/trail head 7pm after sleeping 30 minutes away at end of road in NF. Just got a spot, full by 7:30. Sunny and 45 to 55. Clouds rolled in an hour after we started and we hike through them 6,500 to 7,000 feet and back to 6,500 then below them and good visibility. Clouds quickly cleared and we had good views of Rainier the rest of the hike. Counterclockwise was the way to go and the trail started and finished as 1/2 mile blacktop then well groomed double wide but near the top, last 1/2 mile up and down, was real rocky. Views of Rainier, opposite mountain range with Mt Adams in background, the meadows, and creeks non-stop. We had half mile out on Paradise Glacier Trail to enjoy PBJ by the small waterfall.
