In focus: Scenes from the Bench and Snow Lake Trail at Mount Rainier National Park

The Bench and Snow Lake Trail is a 2.2-mile trail near Paradise within Mount Rainier National Park that can be accessed from Stevens Canyon Road.

It takes about two hours to hike in and out with an elevation gain of 700 feet.

Bench Lake is so named because the flat area around the lake is called "The Bench," according to the National Parks Service.

Snow Lake might have been named because the cirque in which it lies is filled by icy meltwater from the snowfields of the Tatoosh Range or because snow often rings the lake until late summer.

The trailhead is located 1-and-a-half miles east of the Reflection Lakes parking area on the south side of the road.

The trail is a succession of gradual ups and downs as it crosses a series of low ridges. The path first reaches Bench Lake after .75 mile, then continues another half mile to Snow Lake. Most years, these lakes do not melt out until late July, and the trail can be muddy until then.

In mid-summer, this area explodes with a variety of wildflowers and an abundance of bear grass. In the fall, mountain ash and huckleberries color the scene. Quite visible is a silver forest of trees which remain from a past fire.

Expect good views of Mount Rainier on clear days. There is always a chance of seeing black bears as well.

There are campsites at Snow Lake.

Permits are required for camping. Fires are prohibited. No pets are allowed on the trail.