Mount Rainier and Reflection Lake

Mount Rainier and the Thawing Forest

At around 1,400 meters above sea level, snow lingers around Reflection Lake even in June. This is the season when meltwater nourishes the forest and wildflowers begin to sprout. The contrast of colors—white from the mountain peaks and the green of the forest—symbolizes this region’s brief summer.

Mount Rainier reflected in Reflection Lake

Mount Rainier, standing at 4,392 meters (14,110 feet), is an iconic mountain in Washington State, USA. Located southeast of Mount Rainier, Reflection Lake is known, as its name suggests, as a “mirror lake.” On clear mornings, the mountain and the blue sky are perfectly reflected on its surface. By timing your shot during a windless moment, you can capture a symmetrical composition that looks like a painting.

The flow of melting snow and the forest’s stillness

The small stream leading to Reflection Lake is born from the melting snow of Mount Rainier. In early summer, sunlight filters through the trees, and the water glistens as it winds its way through the forest—a vision that feels like the very breath of life itself. The sound of water echoing in the silence creates a truly memorable moment.