Rainier Fork, American River - Chinook Pass, Washington - Places of Geologic Significance on Waymarking.com

The following is text from the sign posted at the overlook of this valley:

"The Cascade Mountains were created by uplifting and volcanic activity along a –North-South axis. Formed during the Pleistacene Ice Age about 2 million years ago, alpine glaciers flowed from the mountain range into the lowlands. As these glaciers retreated they left U-shaped valleys divided by sharp ridges. The view from this overlook into the Rainier Fork of the American River illustrates this type of glacial formation."

"The dramatic contrast between the east and west sides of the Cascade Mountains is strongly influenced by weather systems approaching from the Pacific Ocean. Mountains serve as a barrier to weather systems, causing the cloud fronts to drop heavy amounts of precipitation west of the Cascade Range. Native vegetation on the east side of the mountains has adapted to a much drier climate."

This location is an overlook of the valley located at the summit of Chinook Pass about a mile from an entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park. This is along the Mather Memorial Parkway that runs through Mt. Rainier National Park and over the Cascades. Many great hikes along the ridges start here and the Pacific Crest Trail crosses the highway here.

Around the corner (west) about 1/2 mile is Tipsoo Lake - a perfect place for a summer picnic, wildflower viewing and picture postcard vistas of Mt. Rainier.

Waymark is confirmed to be publicly accessible: yes Access fee (In local currency): .00 Requires a high clearance vehicle to visit.: no Requires 4x4 vehicle to visit.: no Public Transport available: no Parking Coordinates: Not Listed Website reference: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
No specific requirements, just have fun visiting the waymark.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   10/04/2015 Cool Cow Cachers visited it 08/03/2015 walkingwildly visited it 05/16/2015 AndrewRJ visited it 01/13/2007 Hikenutty visited it

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