Longmire to Cougar Rock Campground — Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024

I arrived at Longmire around 10:15 a.m., timing it to avoid any congestion around the 9 a.m. opening time for the gate up to Paradise. The restroom was in good shape and well-stocked, and there was only a handful of cars in the lot. 

I've been recovering from a calf muscle strain and wanted something a bit more low-key than snowshoeing at Paradise but where I could still take in some mountain views so I decided to check out the Longmire Stewardship Campground and Community Building. I walked across the bridge over the Nisqually and to the front of the Community Building where there is a wonderful view of the mountain. I stopped at the Valor Memorial to take a moment to appreciate the rangers who have sacrificed their lives to protect park guests - huge thank you to the rangers for all they do to keep both visitors and park resources safe!

I took the road through the closed campground to the park boundary then returned to the picnic table by the Community Building to enjoy the view with some hot chocolate and a snack. This whole area was snow-free and is on paved roads, making it a nice flat option with no obstacles. I'm planning to return once there's more snow since it will make a great snowshoe option.

Since my leg still felt good, I decided to head up the Wonderland Trail where it crosses the Nisqually, just past Cougar Rock Campground. I always love this peaceful stretch of trail through the woods. There were about 6-7 blowdowns across the trail but all could be crossed over fairly easily. There are a few broken but still standing trees over/near the trail so be alert for any hazards.

I took another break at the riverbed to stare at the mountain some more before heading back to Longmire. The route is largely snow-free with some fairly short patches to cross. Some were slick but I did fine without needing to put on traction. The bridge over the Nisqually is intact but covered in a layer of ice/snow so use caution if crossing.

I saw only a handful of people all day and enjoyed the solitude in the forest. I'm looking forward to snowshoeing this section later in the winter.


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