Skyline Trail Loop, Glacier Vista - Panorama Point & Glacier Vista Snowshoe — Sunday, Sep. 20, 2009

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise

We hiked the Skyline Trail and Glacier Vista Trail up and down to/from Panorama Point. The trail starts paved and about a mile up becomes ground bordered by large rocks to keep you on the trail. It is approx 2.5 miles to Panorama Point and 1,300 - 1,400 foot elevation gain. Along the way you pass through some of the meadows that Mt. Rainier is famous for, but remember to stay on the trail "Don't be a Meadow Stomper" as the rangers say. We saw Marmouts, deer, and a mountain goat on our hike, which took around 4 hours including a stop at the top for lunch. When we got to the top it was a bit cloudy, but it did disapate enough to see that on a very clear day you could see for miles in almost 360 degrees. Come prepared for any weather and bring lots of water. Both these trails are very well used with LOTS of people.