Mount Rainier Mt. Rainier, Hiking, trails, nature walks, backpacking, wilderness, maps, day hikes

Hiking in the Mt. Rainier Area

A hike for every energy level.

Trails lead to many of the most beautiful spots of Mt. Rainier. Crystalline high mountain lakes, cascading waterfalls, fast moving rivers and meandering streams, sub-alpine meadows carpeted in flowers and peaks offering vistas of the glaciers of Rainier. While there are hundreds of hikes for day and overnight experiences Click here for hiking areas inside Mount Rainier National Park boundaries. Highlighted are five hikes in each touring area of the Mt. Rainier region. Hiking times are approximated for the stated distance. If distance is stated as round trip, the time will reflect a round trip as well. The granddaddy of them all is the famous Wonderland Trail, a multiple day journey covering over 93 miles encircling the entire mountain.

Updated Trail Conditions due to 2006 Flooding The full extent of damage to trails, bridges and campsites is only now becoming clear. Two sections of the Wonderland trail will need to be rebuilt. Backcountry permits for the Wonderland Trail which usually go on sale in April will not be issued till June. Climbing is unaffected by the flood damage. We will continue to post updated information here. Extra Caution is advised in the backcountry. For details see Press Release.

Mount Rainier Area Hikes

Thousands of Miles of Exciting Hikes

In the White Pass Area, one can choose from more than 1,200 miles of trail of varying difficulty originating from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Nearly 300 miles of trail are located within the wilderness areas. Close to 150 miles of trails are constructed to barrier-free standards with several levels of difficulty. Approximately 150 miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail traverses the region through spectacular, scenic high country, including the Indian Heaven, Mt. Adams, and Goat Rock wilderness areas.

As spring arrives in the Pacific Northwest, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is still feeling the effects of a harsh winter. Last November's flood damage and the subsequent windstorm on December 14-15, will affect Forest visitor's ability to access some popular sites in the Forest this year. As upcoming spring and summer weather brings visitors to the Forest, officials are emphasizing that road and trail damage and repairs will affect some travel routes. Visitors should exercise additional caution this year when venturing out on roads and trails. The hardest hit areas on the Forest were the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and adjoining Forest area, and the Cowlitz Ranger District bordering the south side of Mount Rainier National Park.

Forest Road 47, between Randle and the Skate Creek Road north of Packwood, is also closed for repairs. A large section of this road washed out at the East Fork Silver Creek crossing.

Visitors to the Forest should also anticipate encountering on going road repair work on Forest Roads: 21, 2130, 26, 42, 4205, 52 (Skate Creek), 53, 56, 63, 84, and 85.

Campgrounds: On the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, more than 30 of the 115 camping sites at the La Wis Wis Campground were damaged and remain closed. The Elk group site, part of the North Fork Campground, was heavily impacted by windstorms and a large number of trees will have to be removed from the site before it can reopen. This group site will be closed during the summer of 2007.

At this point, trail damage in the Tatoosh and Glacier View Wilderness Areas adjacent to Mount Rainier National Park has been reported, along with reports of extensive fallen trees on the Lewis River Trail #31.

Hikers of all ages can choose from over 2,500 miles of recreation trails of varying length and difficulty within the Wenatchee National Forest near by the Naches and Chinook Pass area on the eastern side of Mt. Rainier. Seek out trails in the low-elevation, sage-covered fringes of the forest, in the timbered zones, and in the high country, crossing alpine terrain. Almost half of these trails are within classified wilderness. Several "barrier-free" trails have also been developed adjacent to recreation sites to provide access to the physically challenged.

The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in the northern region of Mt. Rainier offers hikes that lead to fantastic viewpoints of deep valleys, close up views of massive glaciers and wide vistas. Generally one will find here short, less discovered hikes. Pick from a selection of the forest's most scenic trails and enjoy splendid views of the Cascade Mountains.