Bottom Line:
The weather was sunny and amazing - was not forecasted to be that way so lucked out. Paradise was predictably busy for a Monday morning although parking was available in the main lot around noon. The fall foliage has faded somewhat but remains beautiful. Approached Paradise Glacier from above, rather than the lower trail through the canyon (itself very beautiful). Beyond Panorama Point was quiet - only saw one other person in a couple hours. Some amazing rock and plants up there (with some "no camping" signs to protect the latter). Scaling the moraine, you can get close enough to Paradise glacier to touch it and peer into some crevasses but be careful.
Stats:
- Distance: 7-3/4 miles
- Vertical: 2650 ft
- Duration: ~4 hours
- Road/Parking: The Stevens Canyon Entrance was manned, quiet and had no wait. Park pass required for entry. This entrance closes 10/26. Sunrise Rd is already closed from the Hwy 410 interchange. Paradise lot was busy but plenty of spaces with people coming and going - negligible use of overflow lots. Restrooms available. Snow poles are already in on Stevens Canyon Rd. Nisqually entrance closed overnight on 10/23.
- Weather: Mostly sunny, 40-50Fs, no wind, marine layer drifting in late in the afternoon; a bit of fresh snow at the top of Rainier and a few spots on the trail above McClure Rock. Experienced glassy water on Reflection Lake for the first time!
- Water: There was plenty of flowing water on the trail for filtering; only carried a bit of water
- Trail: Took Paradise to Golden Gate, to Skyline, to Panorama Point, to McClure Rock, then finally up to Paradise Glacier. Returned on Skyline for a lower loop. Quiet above Panorama Point - only saw one other person in about 2 hours. Below, the trail was busy as expected, although much less so on the late afternoon return. The boot path from Panorama to McClure is well-defined. Above McClure, the way is less obvious, but there are occasional signs. I took the gully to the left of the craggy rock above McClure to avoid rockfall. The trail is rocky at times (including loose rock) but overall moderate. The terrain between Pebble Creek and the tip of the Muir snowfield is more melted out than I have ever seen it (a few small ice caves are visible from a distance). Dogs are not permitted on the NP trails. The southside glaciers look so disheveled this time of year; the thinning and retreat over the past 10 years is a little shocking. Good views of Mt Adams and Mt St Helens from Panorama Point and beyond. CAUTION: Paradise Glacier is steep; proper equipment required. Risk of rockfall above McClure Rock. Watch the marine layer as it can reduce visibility quickly above McClure Rock.
- Takeaway: Having taken the (lower) Paradise Glacier trail up the canyon last year it was nice to approach the glacier from the top and see it from a completely different perspective. Of course, this glacier is not what it once was - back in the day it offered quick access to massive ice caves down in the canyon, but all that is long gone now.
Additional higher resolution pics available at the Instagram link below.
Length
Elevation Gain