Little Ranger Peak via Ranger Creek — Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

Day hike from Buck Creek parking area to Little Ranger Peak. Parked at Skookum Falls trailhead parking area (forest road 7160). Trailhead a little tough to find from parking lot: walk back over bridge and across highway, then left (towards Greenwater) about 1/5 mile. Trail clear, a pretty good climb with a lot of switchbacks. The short spur to the viewpoint is marked with a sign, not easy to miss but it's pointing the other direction. The rewarding view at the end was well worth it, because at that point you're high enough to see for miles down the valley and you can no longer hear traffic on route 410. Scattered horse dung, saw only one other person on a mountain bike (though lots of evidence that bikers like the trail) and no other hikers. A pleasant day!