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Hiking Guide

WTA's hiking guide is the most comprehensive database of hikes in Washington, and comprises content written by local hiking experts and user submitted information. All data is vetted by WTA staff. This resource is made possible by the donations of WTA members.

We respectfully acknowledge the lands we are visiting are the homelands of Indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest, some of whom have reserved rights on these lands. Tribes continue to rely on and share in the management of these lands today. Please tread gently and treat these places with respect.

Results List

4258 Hikes

Forest Park - Everett

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area
 
Length
4.9 miles of trails
Elevation Gain
1,100 feet
Highest Point
370 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.33
(3 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Fall foliage
  • Good for kids
  • Wildlife
With several miles of wooded trails, a self-guided nature tour plus hill climb and orienteering courses, Forest Park gives you plenty of reasons to get outdoors without leaving the city.
 
 

Whittaker Wilderness Peak

Issaquah Alps > Cougar Mountain
 
Length
3.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,228 feet
Highest Point
1,598 feet
Rating
Average rating:
2.75
(8 votes)
  • Mountain views
  • Summits
A trail named for local mountaineer Jim Whittaker, this hike begins at the road and ascends to the summit of Cougar Mountain.
 
 

Wonderland Trail

Mount Rainier Area
 
Length
93.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
22,000 feet
Highest Point
6,750 feet
Rating
Average rating:
5.00
(4 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire. The park will be temporarily holding up permitted Wonderland hikers on either side of this closure.

The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile hiking trail that encircles Washington's most famous volcano. Each year, hikers vie for permits to embark on a backpacking trip on it, with only a handful scoring the permits to undertake this strenuous hike.
 
 

Wonderland Trail - Mowich Lake to Sunrise via Spray Park

Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich
 
Length
20.5 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
8,000 feet
Highest Point
6,750 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.50
(2 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Fall foliage
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Rivers
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire. The park will be temporarily holding up permitted Wonderland hikers on either side of this closure.

The Fairfax Bridge (3 miles south of Carbonado) is closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic until further notice due to safety concerns. The Wonderland Trail is inaccessible from Mowich Lake due to the bridge closure.

This 20-mile section of the longer 93-mile Wonderland Trail covers the northern section of the loop from Mowich to Sunrise, utilizing the Spray Park alternate.
 
 

Sunrise Nature

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
1.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
300 feet
Highest Point
6,773 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.86
(7 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Fall foliage
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

This hike is short but stunning with Mount Rainier keeping watch over a wildflower-filled sub-alpine meadow. You'll see iconic views of Mount Rainier, butterflies fluttering between colorful blooms, and if the sky is clear, a view of the Cascades all the way to Mount Baker.
 
 

Sunrise Lake

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
1.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
425 feet
Highest Point
6,150 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.82
(11 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

This short, one-mile, downhill jaunt from the hairpin turn on the road to Sunrise makes a great detour when hiking the Palisades Lakes trail, or a nice warm up before tackling longer hikes like Burroughs or Dege Peak from Sunrise.
 
 

Elk Ridge Trail

Issaquah Alps > Taylor Mountain
 
Length
1.6 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
500 feet
Highest Point
1,200 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.40
(5 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Fall foliage
  • Wildlife
Enjoy a short hike through lush greenery on this newly renovated trail.
 
 

Eastside Loop

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
36.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
7,430 feet
Highest Point
6,800 feet
Rating
Average rating:
5.00
(1 vote)

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

A multi-night backpacking trip around the eastern edge of Mount Rainier National Park.
 
 

Banshee Peak

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Highest Point
7,400 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(4 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Summits
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

Banshee Peak is an off-trail summit that requires advanced mountaineering skill to reach. It lies east of Mount Rainier.
 
 

White River to Sunrise

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
5.8 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,100 feet
Highest Point
6,400 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.00
(6 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Mountain views
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

A short but steep climb on the Wonderland Trail from a campground in Mount Rainier National Park to the Sunrise Visitor Center area.
 
 

Hermit Trail

Issaquah Alps > Taylor Mountain
 
Length
2.24 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
750 feet
Highest Point
1,500 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.33
(3 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Fall foliage
  • Wildlife
Wander through the eastern reaches of Taylor Mountain Forest.
 
 

Sunrise to Carbon River Traverse

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
13.7 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
5,200 feet
Highest Point
6,700 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(1 vote)
  • Established campsites
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

A section of the scenic Wonderland Trail, enjoy views of Mount Rainier and the Carbon Glacier, numerous creek crossings, and meadows as you connect between Sunrise and the Carbon River.
 
 

Glacier Basin Loop

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
11.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
3,100 feet
Highest Point
7,400 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.67
(3 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Summits
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

Expansive views of Mount Rainier, up-close views of Emmons Glacier, lakes, and campsites are just a few features of the Glacier Basin Loop's varying landscape.
 
 

Glacier Basin

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
6.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,600 feet
Highest Point
5,900 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.21
(38 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Rivers
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

Floods in 2006 severely damaged the Glacier Basin trail, but after four years of work, WTA completed a new trail in Glacier Basin at Mount Rainier National Park in the summer of 2011. Since then, hikers of all stripes have had the pleasure of enjoying a brand-new route to one of the mountain's most iconic glaciers on an easy-to-hike trail.
 
 

Forest Lake

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
4.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,250 feet
Highest Point
6,920 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(4 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

Forest lake is a small lake in the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier.
 
 

Emmons Moraine

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
3.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
700 feet
Highest Point
5,000 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(17 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Rivers

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

This short trail crosses the Inter Fork of the White River to views of The Mountain's largest glacier and the valley carved by this river of ice.
 
 

Little Tahoma

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Rating
Average rating:
3.33
(3 votes)

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

The route to Little Tahoma requires advanced mountaineering skills including glacier travel.
 
 

Inter Glacier

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
4.6 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,920 feet
Highest Point
7,150 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.40
(5 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

The Inter Glacier is part of the standard Mount Rainier climbing route. While it may appear to be just a steep snowfield, it is a glacier with crevasses and other hazards. Glacier travel experience and equipment is required.
 
 

Grand Park via Sunrise

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
14.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
3,700 feet
Highest Point
6,815 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.75
(4 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

Grand Park provides one of the absolute best views of The Mountain from any of the trails in the park. Though longer than the access from Lake Eleanor, this route is more scenic, passing through the stark rocky landscape of Sunrise to flower-filled Berkeley Park and then climbing gradually through cool forest before getting to alpine meadows and majestic Grand Park itself.
 
 

Goat Island Mountain

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Highest Point
7,288 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.67
(3 votes)

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

The route to the top of Goat Island Mountain is not on true trail but is more of a scramble.
 
 

Palisades Lakes

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,800 feet
Highest Point
6,150 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.89
(27 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

Seven lakes, seas of wildflowers, summer huckleberries, a bevy of wildlife and a good chance of quiet solitude await you on this 9-mile out-and-back. What more could you ask for?
 
 

Northern Loop

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
36.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
12,000 feet
Highest Point
6,500 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.30
(10 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Summits
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

A beautiful loop trail on the north side of Mount Rainier, this is a shorter, but no less lovely, option to the Wonderland Trail.
 
 

Mount Ruth

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Rating
Average rating:
4.67
(3 votes)
  • Summits

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

Mount Ruth is a peak in the northeast corner of Mount Rainier National Park. The route to this peak is an off-trail mountaineering route, not an official trail.
 
 

Sourdough Ridge

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
2.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
400 feet
Highest Point
6,800 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(13 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

This short trail allows you a quick escape from the Sunrise parking lot to stunning views of Mount Rainier and the peaks and valley nearby.
 
 

Skyscraper Pass

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
6.8 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,700 feet
Highest Point
7,079 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(6 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

The trail to Skyscraper Pass makes an ideal dayhike to take you a little further from the popular visitor center at Sunrise, and the crowds that head to Dege Peak and the Burroughs. It's a bit longer, so you'll need to be ready for push. Particularly enthusiastic hikers can push onto Skyscraper Mountain via a bootpath.
 
 

Skyscraper Mountain

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,300 feet
Highest Point
7,000 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.85
(20 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Summits
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

The Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park offers many fantastic views of The Mountain. But don’t neglect the other views. Scramble up Skyscraper Mountain to enjoy a full 360 degree view of numerous lofty peaks, verdant treeless parks, and river valleys far below.
 
 

Silver Forest - Emmons Vista

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
2.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
325 feet
Highest Point
6,400 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(8 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

The Silver Forest Trail is a lesser-known and therefore less-crowded alternative at Mount Rainier’s Sunrise. Enjoy mountain, glacier and river valley views along a gentle trail that is mostly out of sight of the bustle of Sunrise.
 
 

Owyhigh Lakes

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,650 feet
Highest Point
5,275 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.77
(26 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

Walk a very pleasant and well-graded trail through old- and new-growth forest. After a moderate elevation gain, the forest opens into meadowlands filled with wildflowers after the snow melts. A pair of shallow but pretty lakes, with a rocky ridge as a backdrop, completes the scene.
 
 

Dege Peak

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
600 feet
Highest Point
7,006 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.05
(21 votes)
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

Unlike many of the trails out of Sunrise Visitor Center that lead you closer to the hulking presence of Mount Rainier, Dege Peak walks you just far enough away from the mountain to get a little perspective. With stunning 360-degree views ranging from nearby Cowlitz Chimneys to the far-off peaks of Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, Glacier Peak and Mount Baker, this perch above Sourdough Ridge is terrific for an easy alpine stroll on a clear day.
 
 

Berkeley Park

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
 
Length
7.7 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,700 feet
Highest Point
6,800 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.83
(18 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

8.7.26: Trails and roads in the White River & Sunrise section of the park are closed due to the Grand Park 2 fire.

Here's a hike that takes you through a stark landscape to a stunningly lush one. Berkeley Park is a flower-filled utopia where creeks chatter, pikas squeak, marmots lounge, and you can soak it all in just a few miles from the Sunrise Visitor Center.