Choose a Hike at Mt. Rainier | Visit Rainier

Hiking

Hiking trails lead to many of the most beautiful spots of Mt. Rainier National Park: Crystalline high mountain lakes, cascading waterfalls, meandering streams, sub-alpine meadows carpeted in flowers, and peaks offering vistas of the glaciers of Rainier. The granddaddy of them all is the famous Wonderland Trail, a multi-day journey covering over 93 miles that encircles the entire mountain.

Find trails in all corners of the park, for all ability levels.  Use the sortable list below to find the perfect hike for you.

Trail Etiquette  |  The 10 Essentials  |  Permits & Passes  |  Choosing a Hike

wdt_ID Title Difficulty Distance Duration Elevation Gain Snow-Free Pass Required
1 Allen Mountain Moderate 10 mi RT 6 hrs 2.350 July - October None
2 Alta Vista Trail Easy 01.2 mi RT 0.75 hr 520 Mid-July - Mid-September Natl. Park Pass
3 American Ridge Via Goat Creek Easy 08.2 mi RT 4-6 hrs 2.600 July - Early-November None
4 Bearhead Mountain Moderate 05.8 mi RT 3 hrs 1.789 July - Late-October NW Forest Pass
5 Bench and Snow Lakes Moderate 02.6 mi RT 1.5 hrs 700 July - October Natl. Park Pass
6 Berkeley Park Moderate 11.3 mi RT 6 hrs 400 Mid-July - Early-October Natl. Park Pass
7 Big Crow Basin and Basin Lake Strenuous 15.8 mi Loop 2 days 4.000 Late-June - October Overnight Camping Permit
8 Boise Creek | Hancock Lands Moderate 03 mi RT 2-3 hrs 300 April - October Hancock Lands Permit
9 Boulder Cave Natural Area Easy 02.25 mi RT 1-2 hrs 300 June - September NW Forest Pass
10 Boundary Trail Carbon River Moderate 02.6 mi RT 2-3 hrs 1.320 June - October Natl. Park Pass
11 Boundary Trail Nisqually Entrance Moderate 05.6 mi RT 4-5 hrs 2.700 July - September Natl. Park Pass
12 Brown Peak via Palisades Lakes Trail Moderate 08.6 mi RT 5-6 hrs 1.800 July - October None
13 Bullion Basin Loop Moderate 08.1 mi RT 2-3 hrs 2.420 June - October None
14 Burroughs Mountains Moderate 05.4 mi RT 3-4 hrs 1.443 Late-July - September Natl. Park Pass
15 Camp Muir Trail Strenuous 09 mi RT 8-10 hrs 4.788 Mid-July - Early-September Natl. Park Pass
16 Carbon Glacier Trail Strenuous 17.5 mi RT 6 hrs 1.300 Early-May - Late-November Natl. Park Pass
17 Carbon River Road to Ipsut Falls Easy 10.8-15 mi RT 3-7 hrs 700 Year Round Natl. Park Pass
18 Carbon River Road Hike Moderate 16 mi RT 9 hrs 640 Mid-March - October Natl. Park Pass
19 Chenuis Falls Easy 06.4 mi RT 4.5 hrs 50 April - October Natl. Park Pass
20 Cispus Braille Trail Easy 01 mi Loop 0.5-1 hr 0 May - October None
21 Cora Lake Easy 01.4 mi RT 1 hr 400 June - November None
22 Corral Pass Easy 02.6 mi RT 1 hr 560 July - October NW Forest Pass
23 Cougar Lakes via the PCT Strenuous 19.2 mi RT 2-3 days 3.200 Mid-July - Late-October NW Forest Pass
24 Cowiche Mountain Moderate 06.2 mi Loop 4-5 hrs 1.250 March-November None
25 Cowlitz Divide Strenuous 11.8 mi RT 6-7 hrs 2.850 July - October Natl. Park Pass
Title Difficulty Distance Duration Elevation Gain Snow-Free Pass Required

Packwood Lake

The Packwood Lake trail is open to hikers and equestrians; mountain bikes, motorcycles, and ATVs are prohibited. Learn more at VisitRainier.com.  ...

Boulder Cave Natural Area

Boulder Cave Natural Area offers a short, family-friendly walk to Boulder Cave yields a fantastic lesson in geology as well as the delicate balance of nature.  ...

Green Lake Trail

Green Lake Trail is kid-friendly and features exceptional views of a waterfall and old growth forest. This trail is a 9.6-mile bike-hike possibility in the Carbon River.  ...
Naches Peak

Naches Peak

Naches Peak is a popular 3.2 miles roundtrip hike located in the Chinook Pass area, typically snow-free during July-October. Learn more at VisitRainier.com.  ...

Rampart Ridge Trail

Hike along an old lava flow high above the Nisqually River Valley. While the way is mostly forested, there are a couple of decent views along the trail including a pretty awe-inspiring one of the mountain rising above the Kautz Creek valley. ...
Third Burroughs Mountain

Third Burroughs Mountain

Third Burroughs Mountain is a strenuous 9-mile (roundtrip) hike in the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park.  ...
Sheep Lake / Sourdough Gap hike

Sheep Lake / Sourdough Gap

Head out on an easy two-mile stretch of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) relishing in sweeping views and dazzling wildflowers.  ...

Sunrise Rim Trail

Sunrise Rim Trail is a 5-mile loop trail with mountain views in the Sunrise area of Mt. Rainier National Park. Learn more at VisitRainier.com.  ...

Spray Park Trail

If you love the flowered meadows so well known at Paradise on Mt. Rainier's south side, you'll be ecstatic upon discovering Spray Park, on the mountain's northwest side. ...
High Rock Lookout

High Rock Lookout

Perched at an elevation of 5,685 feet on an exposed summit the hike to the High Rock Lookout Tower offers dramatic views.  ...

Twin Sisters Lakes

This fairly easy hike to two beautiful lakes in the heart of the William O Douglas Wilderness is perfect for adventurers young and old alike. Set on a pumiced plateau pockmarked with hundreds of small lakes and adorned with ancient cinder cone volcanoes, the Twin Lakes also make for ...
Waterfall

Silver Falls Loop

Careening over a series of ledges before plunging 40 feet into a deep blue pool, Silver Falls is a dramatic sight. And it’s easily accessible. A very short trail leads to it from SR 123. But the best way to experience ...

Greenwater Lakes

Greenwater Lakes has picturesque bridges, waterfalls and old growth trees, not to mention two peaceful lakes and a pristine river. ...
American Ridge Via Goat Creek

American Ridge Via Goat Creek

American Ridge Via Goat Creek is a dog-friendly hike in the William O. Douglas Wilderness area. Learn more at VisitRainier.com.  ...

Rainforest Nature Loop Trail

Treat yourself to a walk along the Rainforest Nature Loop, a short nature trail just inside the Carbon River entrance of the park.  ...
Wonderland Trail signage

Wonderland Trail Overview

Wonderland Trail Overview, as the 93-mile trail circles the mountain, hikers witness the varied faces of Mt. Rainier, carved by 25 named glaciers. ...

Skookum Flats

Area: Chinook Pass Hike Type: Dog-friendly Pass: Northwest Forest Pass Distance: 4.2 or 7.8 mi RT Duration: 2 or 4 ...
Grove of the Patriarchs

Grove of the Patriarchs

Grove of the Patriarchs, considered one of the easiest hikes in Mt Rainier National Park, but one of the most memorable. Learn more at VisitRainier.com. ...

Snoquera Falls Trail

From high on Dalles Ridge, Snoquera Creek plunges more than 400 feet down a sheer rock face. Resembling a scene straight out of Yosemite Valley, Snoquera Falls are indeed a sensational sight. But there’s a catch. If you do this hike late in the summer after a long dry stretch, the ...

Bench and Snow Lakes

Bench and Snow Lakes features kid-friendly trails, seasonal wildflowers meadows, alpine views, and backcountry camping. ...

Federation Forest State Park

Federation Forest State Park offers a 1.5-mile walking trail that is family-friendly and accessible year-round. Discover Pass required.  ...

Shriner Peak

Shriner Peak is a strenuous 8.4-mile roundtrip hike in the Stevens Canyons area of Mount Rainier National Park. Learn more at VisitRainier.com.  ...

Palisades Lakes

Palisades Lakes is a 7.5-mile roundtrip hike with views of mountains, and alpine lakes in Sunrise, Mt Rainier National Park. Learn more at VisitRainier.com.  ...

Gobblers Knob / Lake George

The old-growth forest along the way is magnificent and Lake George makes for a nice lunch spot; or if you’re inclined to spend the evening—a great camping spot. And the views? Breathtaking to the point that you just may need a little resuscitation! ...
Reflection at Reflection Lakes at Mount Rainier

Reflection Lakes at Mount Rainier

One of the most iconic views of Mt. Rainier in the park can be found at Reflection Lakes. Summer and fall, sunrise and sunset, it is perhaps the single most photographed view. ...
Meadow and view of Mount Rainier as seen from the Trail of the Shadows

Trail of the Shadows

Trail of the Shadows is a popular trail that is kid-friendly, considered easy, and is located in the Longmire part of Mt. Rainier National Park.  ...
Hikers along the Mt Rainier Skyline Trail

Skyline Trail / Panorama Point

Skyline Trail / Panorama Point is a popular 5.4 mile loop with seasonal wildflower views in Mount Rainier National Park.  ...

Tieton Nature Trail

Tieton Nature Trail, follow this fairly easy family-friendly trail alongside the crashing glacier-fed Tieton River through an impressive wide canyon.  ...
Noble Knob Trail

Noble Knob Trail

Noble Knob Trail is a 4-mile roundtrip trail located in the Chinook Pass area. This trail is part of the Mount-Baker Snoqualmie National Forest and is dog-friendly.  ...

Mount Fremont Lookout

Hike to one of the four remaining fire lookouts in Mount Rainier National Park. Perched on an open 7,181-foot knoll on rocky Mount Fremont, this historic structure is the highest of the park’s lookouts.  ...
Crystal Lakes

Crystal Lakes

Tucked in a cirque high above the Mather Memorial Parkway are a pair of sparkling subalpine lakes beloved by hikers of all ages and abilities.  ...

Summit Lake

Summit Lake is a 6.1-mile roundtrip hike in the Carbon River/Mowich area. It is managed by the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Snoqualmie Ranger District. ...
Ranger Creek Trail

Ranger Creek Trail

Ranger Creek Trail is a dog-friendly trail located in the Chinook Pass area. A Northwest Forest Pass is required for this 11.6 miles hike.  ...

Tolmie Peak / Eunice Lake

This is a great family-friendly hike from Mount Rainier National Park’s largest lake to one of its four remaining historic fire lookouts.  ...

Eastside Trail – Lower

One of the longest trails within Mount Rainier National Park, the Eastside Trail is also one of the park’s quieter trails. Spanning the park’s eastern reaches from Chinook Pass to the Ohanapecosh Campground, the Eastside Trail traverses alpine meadows, primeval forest and a valley ...

Edgar Rock

Edgar Rock is a 2 to 4-mile trail, an "off-the-beaten-path" hike in the Chinook Pass area that requires an NW Forest Pass. Learn more at VisitRainier.com.  ...