Rainier Hikes | 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
Title Difficulty Distance Duration Elevation Gain Snow-Free Pass Required

Greenwater Lakes

Greenwater Lakes has picturesque bridges, waterfalls and old growth trees, not to mention two peaceful lakes and a pristine river - all create a brilliant ambiance on the year-round hike along the Greenwater Lakes Trail.  ...

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.  ...

Packwood Lake

The Packwood Lake trail is open to hikers and equestrians; mountain bikes, motorcycles, and ATVs are prohibited. 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. ...

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.  ...
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.  ...

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.  ...
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. ...

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 Lakes

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. ...
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.  ...
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 ...
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.  ...

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.  ...
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.  ...
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.  ...
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.  ...

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.  ...
Dewey Lakes

Dewey Lakes

Dewey Lakes is accessible via a 5.4 miles roundtrip hike in the Chinook Pass area. This dog-friendly hike requires a Northwest Forest Pass.  ...

Paul Peak

Paul Peak is a 7.8-mile hike in the Mowich area of Mount Rainier National Park. ...

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.  ...

Melmont Ghost Town

The Melmont Ghost Town is dog-friendly accessible via a 3.84-mile roundtrip hike with views of the Fairfax Bridge, and the Melmont School ruins.  ...
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.  ...

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. ...
Naches Peak

Naches Peak

Naches Peak is a popular 4.5 miles roundtrip hike located in the Chinook Pass area, typically snow-free during July-October. Learn more at VisitRainier.com.  ...

Crystal Mountain Loop

In summer, admire a dazzling array of blossoming wildflowers. Throughout hiking season feast on sweeping horizon-spanning views of majestic Mt Rainier. ...

Laughingwater Creek Trail

Laughingwater Creek Trail is a strenuous 12-miles roundtrip hike in the Cayuse Pass area that requires no forest pass. Learn more at VisitRainier.com.  ...

Norse Peak

Norse Peak is a 9.5-miles roundtrip hike in the Crystal Mountain area that is dog-friendly during the summer months. Learn more at VisitRainier.com.  ...

Glacier Basin

Glacier Basin is a 7-mile round trip hike in the White River area that is kid-friendly and features wildflowers, glacier views, backcountry camping, in a historic mining area. ...

Palisades Trail (Hwy 410)

When it still feels like winter, the Palisades often feels like spring. Look for delicate Calypso orchids; enjoy the scent of vanilla leaf, and view the groundcover — a thick carpet of salal, ...