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
Title Difficulty Distance Duration Elevation Gain Snow-Free Pass Required
Noble Knob View

Doe Falls via Suntop

Area: Chinook Pass Hike Type: Dog-friendly Pass: Northwest Forest Pass Distance: 7.25 mi RT Duration: 4 hrs Difficulty Level: Moderate ...
Kautz Creek

Kautz Creek at Mt. Rainier National Park

This route via the Kautz Creek Trail takes you up and along a knolled high ridge shrouded in alpine meadows. In season flowers and huckleberries are bountiful.  ...

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 ...
Denman Falls

Denman Falls

Area: Westside Road Hike Type: Waterfall Pass: Natl. Park Pass Distance: 16.3 mi RT Duration: 7.5-8 hrs Difficulty Level: Strenuous ...

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 ...
Reflection Lakes

Reflection Lakes at Mount Rainier

Area: Paradise Hike Type: Wildflower views Pass: Natl. Park Pass Distance: 2.75 mi Loop Duration: 2-3 hrs Difficulty Level: Moderate ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Cowiche Mountain

Hike to the top of a broad windswept ridge savoring sunshine and sweeping views. Centerpiece to an old cattle ranch transformed into a nature preserve, wildlife and wildflowers are prolific on Cowiche Mountain. ...

Tieton Nature Trail

Area: Tieton River Valley US 12 Hike Type: Dog-friendly, family-friendly Pass: Discover Pass Distance: 3.8 mi. RT Duration: 2 hour Difficulty Level: Easy High ...

Ipsut Creek Trail

Area: Chinook Pass Hike Type: Mountain Views Pass: Northwest Forest Pass Distance: 18 mi RT  Duration: 3 hrs Difficulty Level: Strenuous Elevation ...

Sourdough Ridge

While Paradise with its legendary alpine meadows is the place most first time visitors to Mount Rainier National Park venture to—I prefer to introduce folks to The Mountain at Sunrise. As its name suggests, this is the first place Washington’s iconic peak is touched by sunlight ...

River Trail at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park

Area: Enumclaw Hike Type: Dog-friendly, family-friendly Pass: Discover Pass Distance: 2.5 mi. RT Duration: 1.5 hour Difficulty Level: Easy Elevation Start: 850 Snow-Free: Year-round ...

Lake West and Lake Helen

Area: Ashford Hike Type: Off the Beaten Track Pass: No Pass Req Distance: 8.4 mi RT  Duration: 6 hrs High ...

Glacier View

Area: Ashford Hike Type: Off the Beaten Track Pass: No Pass Req Distance: 4.2 mi RT  Duration: 3 hrs High ...

Third Burroughs Mountain

Area: Sunrise Hike Type: Thigh-burner Pass: Natl Park Pass Distance: 9 mi. RT  Duration: 4-6 hrs Difficulty Level: Strenuous Elevation ...

American Ridge Via Goat Creek

Area: William O. Douglas Wilderness Hike Type: Dog-friendly Pass: No Pass Req. Distance: 8.2 mi RT Duration: 4-6 hrs Difficulty ...

Henskin Lake

Long before Crystal Mountain was a top notch ski resort, it was part of bustling mining area known as the Summit Mining District. Before lifts and ski trails traversed this high broad mountain bordering Mount Rainier National Park; pack trails and narrow gauge roads crisscrossed the ...

Millpond and Smallwood Parks

Area: Eatonville Hike Type: Dog-friendly, family-friendly Pass: No Pass Required Distance: 1.5 mi. RT Duration: 1 hour Difficulty Level: Moderate ...

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. Hike to the Crystal Lakes in early season for a dazzling floral show. ...

Granite & Bertha May Lakes

Area: Ashford/Skate Creek Rd Hike Type: Off the Beaten Track Pass: No Pass Req Distance: 3.6 + mi RT Duration: ...

Eastside Trail – Upper

Area: Chinook Pass / Ohanapecosh Hike Type: Family friendly Pass: Natl. Park Pass Distance: 5.36 mi, one-way Duration: 3 hrs ...

Allen Mountain

Area: Ashford / Skate Creek Rd Hike Type: Off the Beaten Track Pass: No Pass Req Distance: 10 mi RT ...

Pinnacle Peak

Area: Enumclaw Hike Type: dog-friendly Pass: no pass required Distance: 2 mi RT Duration: 2 hrs Difficulty Level: moderate Snow-Free: year-round ...

Cougar Lakes via the PCT

Area: Chinook Pass Hike Type: Overnight Pass: William O. Douglas Wilderness permit required, free, self-issued at trailhead. Distance: 19.2 mi RT ...

Snowgrass Flats

Area: Packwood / Randle Hike Type: Dog-friendly Pass: No Pass Req Distance: 9.4 mi RT Duration: 5-6 hrs Difficulty Level: ...

Summerland

Area: Sunrise Hike Type: Mountain Views Pass: Natl. Park Pass Distance: 10.44 mi RT Duration: 5-7 hrs Difficulty Level: Moderate ...

Boulder Cave Natural Area

Area: Chinook Pass Hike Type: Family-friendly Pass: Northwest Forest Pass Distance: 2.25 mi RT Duration: 1-2 hrs Difficulty Level: Easy ...

Knapsack Pass

Area: Mowich Lake Hike Type: Off the Beaten Track Pass: Natl. Park Pass Distance: 3.4 mi RT Duration: 2-3 hrs ...

Bullion Basin Loop

Area: Crystal Mountain Hike Type: Dog-friendly Pass: No Pass Req Distance: 8.1 mi RT Duration: 2-3 hrs Difficulty Level: Moderate ...

Crow Lake Way Trail

Area: Chinook Pass Hike Type: Dog-friendly Pass: Northwest Forest Pass Distance: 8.5 mi RT Duration: 7 hrs Difficulty Level: Moderate ...

Pleasant Valley Loop

Area: Chinook Pass Hike Type: Family-friendly Pass: No Pass Req Distance: 5.4 mi RT Duration: 2-3 hrs Difficulty Level: Easy ...

Edgar Rock

Area: Chinook Pass Hike Type: Off the Beaten Track Pass: Northwest Forest Pass Distance: 3 mi RT Duration: 1.5 – ...