Bench Lake is so named because the flat area around the lake is called "The Bench." Snow Lake may 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.
In mid-summer, this area explodes with a variety of wildflowers and an abundance of beargrass. 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. There is always a chance of seeing black bears as well!
The trail is a moderate, 2.6 mile round-trip hike gaining 700 feet with a high point of 4,700 feet. Allow 2 hours to complete. The trail is accessible July through October. The trailhead is located one and a half miles east of the Reflection Lakes parking area on the south side of the road.
