An enjoyable, steep, medium length hike with nice views of the surrounding mountains, especially Mount Rainier on clear days.
DISTANCE
8 mile round trip
DIFFICULTY
Medium
TRAIL TYPE
Out and Back
SEASON
July to October
ELEVATION
3400' gain
This trail starts at the Ira Spring trailhead about 44 miles west of Seattle. The trailhead is at Map Location: 47.424744, -121.583435. It's an enjoyable, medium length hike with nice views. The trail is easy except for the middle part which is very steep and requires hands and feet to climb up the large rocks on the trail.
At the top of Bandera Mountain, there are views of Mason Lake, some Cascade peaks to the north and, of course, the omnipresent Mount Rainier and Mount Baker to the south.
PARKING
Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass