The Ira Spring Trail offers access to Mount Defiance, Bandera Mountain and Mason Lake in the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The Ira Spring Trailhead is located 3.8 miles from exit 45 on I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass. Defiance and Bandera are challenging summits with exceptional views across lake-studded valleys, and Mason Lake is a short, family friendly destination in close proximity to Little Kulla Lake, Blazer Lake and Rainbow Lake deeper in the wilderness.

The summit of Mount Defiance is marked by a rock cairn

View over Mason Lake on the way to the Bandera Mountain summit

From Mount Defiance, the sun sets over the Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Mason Lake, an excellent backcountry and fishing destination

The sun sets over Mt Rainier - visible from the Mt Defiance summit

Moss covered rocks line the trail through a mixed forest

The trail crosses a talus field on the way Bandera Mountain

The Ira Spring Trail is named for one of Washington State's beloved trail advocates

Large fungi grow along the riparian areas of the Ira Spring Trail

Ira Spring was a dedicated trails advocate within Washington State

Reflections in Mason Lake