The Lakes Loop is kinda like a mirror image of the Panorama Point and Skyline Trail above Paradise. It starts in the same place, is also a loop, and enjoys similarly impressive wildflowers and mountain views, but heads south and downhill rather than north and uphill.

Going clockwise from Paradise, you'll start out on the eastern portion of the Skyline Trail, descend along Mazama Ridge to Faraway Rock which is a viewpoint above Louise Lake, meet up with the road by the famous Reflection Lakes, and then climb back up to where you began.

In the summer Reflection Lakes is packed with cars and tourists, but neat trick: this loop also makes a great snowshoe trail. The road to Paradise is plowed all winter, so you can get up there to access the hike, but the road to Reflection Lakes is closed during the off-season so there will be few others at the lake.

This loop can be shortened by taking the High Lakes trail to the north of Reflection Lakes, or extended by combining it with the Narada Falls Loop.