On the way out of Mt. Rainier NP after doing our Golden Gate-Skyline Trail loop hike up at Paradise (see our other trip report on this hike) we decided to check out the little loop trail at the Twin Firs. We had driven by it many times over the year doing other trips in the park. George first came to the park in 1954 and Sally in 1972. It is located between Kautz Creek and Longmire. There is a paved pull out for parking on the north side of the Nisqually-Longmire Road with a trail sign saying it is a 0.4 mile hike.
We did the loop counter clockwise though the forest of really large Doug Fir trees, as well as Red Cedar and Western Hemlocks. There are more than just two fir trees. The trail heads up hill for a 250' elevation gain and crosses three bridges along the way. At some of the cut through fallen trees we could see they had grown at a slow rate of only about 1/16th of an inch per year. There are also some big snags too. So if you like seeing some really big trees, check this trail out.
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