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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

4216 Hikes

Longmire to Cougar Rock Campground

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
3.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
530 feet
Highest Point
3,200 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.67
(3 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Rivers
  • Wildlife
The short section of the Wonderland between Longmire and the Cougar Rock Campground makes for a lovely snowshoe in the wintertime.
 
 

Longmire to Devil's Dream Camp

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
5.5 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
2,400 feet
Highest Point
5,000 feet
Rating
Average rating:
0.00
(0 votes)
  • Established campsites
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
Climb up and up on the Wonderland Trail as you make your way along the southwest side of Mount Rainier. Enjoy sweeping views of the mountain and surrounding peaks.
 
 

Camp Muir - Winter

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
4,400 feet
Highest Point
10,080 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.50
(4 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
Because of the presence of deep snow on Mount Rainier in the winter, accessing Camp Muir in winter requires route-finding skills and proper equipment, including traction devices, GPS devices, a map and other supplies (including mountaineering gear) to stay safe.
 
 

Comet Falls

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
3.8 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,250 feet
Highest Point
4,875 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.26
(47 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls
Follow a tumbling, churning, whitewater creek upstream as it thunders through a narrow gorge of glacier-polished rock on your way to a waterfall that drops 301 feet in a single plunge. Admire numerous small waterfalls and cascades and two significant ones, all in less than 2 miles. This is the Comet Falls trail.
 
 

Camp Muir

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
8.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
4,640 feet
Highest Point
10,080 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.63
(49 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildlife
Enter rarefied air as you climb halfway up the most popular route to the summit of Mount Rainier. This is Camp Muir, a perch higher than the summits of nearly all mountains in the state. In addition to commanding views of the South Cascades, catch a glimpse of both the history of the park and the dramatic landscape of Rainier’s upper reaches.
 
 

Copper Mountain

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Elevation Gain
3,868 feet
Highest Point
6,280 feet
Rating
Average rating:
0.00
(0 votes)
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Summits
Climb to the summit of a peak near Mount Rainier. Climbing experience and equipment required.
 
 

Deadhorse Creek

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
3.25 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
800 feet
Highest Point
5,820 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.50
(8 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
This trail offers a more intimate view of the Nisqually Glacier Valley, and connects to the Moraine Trail from the Paradise parking area.
 
 

Edith Creek Basin Snowshoe

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Rating
Average rating:
3.50
(4 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
Edith Creek Basin is a popular Mount Rainier snowshoeing area. The basin lies north of Paradise and connects to Panorama Point.
 
 

Glacier Vista Snowshoe

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
2.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
900 feet
Highest Point
6,330 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.40
(10 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
Glacier Vista snowshoe is a shorter alternative to Panorama Point snowshoe. With 2.5 miles round trip with only 900 feet elevation gain, it is an easy snowshoeing outing with great views of snow-capped mountains.
 
 

Golden Gate

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
3.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,000 feet
Highest Point
6,400 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.14
(7 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Fall foliage
  • Mountain views
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
The Golden Gate trail provides a quick route to amazing panoramas of Mount Rainier and the craggy peaks of the Tatoosh Range. Pass through wildflower-studded alpine meadows, a clear sparkling stream, and up a steep, well-maintained trail. You can even make it a loop, if you want to explore the lush parkland at the foot of Washington's tallest mountain.
 
 

Indian Henry's Hunting Ground via Tahoma Creek

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
12.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,520 feet
Highest Point
5,400 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.86
(7 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
You’ll not meet any hunters in Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground these days, but the area is named for one of the most prominent Native American guides in the area, who lived here before it became a national park. Accessible via Longmire or the West Side road, this destination promises abundant wildflowers and berries, as well as excellent up-close views of "The Mountain."
 
 

Pebble Creek

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
4.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,760 feet
Highest Point
7,180 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.00
(1 vote)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
Pebble Creek is roughly the halfway point between Paradise and Camp Muir. This alpine creek marks the boundary between the front country trails that crisscross Paradise meadows and the trail-less zone of tundra above. Although not usually a destination in itself, the area is scenic, with Panorama Point close by.
 
 

Longmire to South Puyallup River

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
12.0 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain
4,200 feet
Highest Point
5,600 feet
Rating
Average rating:
0.00
(0 votes)
  • Established campsites
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
Explore the iconic Wonderland Trail along the southwestern slopes of Mount Rainier. Enjoy stunning views of the mountain as well as the surrounding peaks, ridges and creeks.
 
 

Longmire to Paradise

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
12.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,700 feet
Highest Point
3,600 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.25
(4 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls
Hike on the Wonderland Trail to three waterfalls on the Paradise River.
 
 

Mildred Point

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
3,135 feet
Highest Point
5,900 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.85
(13 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Ridges/passes
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
A moderately strenuous hike that traverses a forested ridge, climbs to alpine meadows and ends at a 6,000 foot viewpoint with a spectacular view of the west side of Mount Rainier. Waterfalls and wildflowers abound.
 
 

Mount Wow

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
3,800 feet
Highest Point
6,040 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.00
(1 vote)
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Summits
For incredible views of Mount Rainier, climb Mount Wow. Class 2 or 3, climbing experience and equipment strongly recommended.
 
 

Reflection and Louise Lakes Snowshoe

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
560 feet
Highest Point
5,100 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.67
(6 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
The trek to Reflection and Louise Lakes is a quintessential Mount Rainier snowshoeing experience — the bright, flat expanse of snow and ice-covered mountain lakes, subalpine meadows that offer opportunities for romping, stupendous views of The Mountain and the Tatoosh Range, and the south end of the Mazama Ridge beckoning you to follow.
 
 

Golden Gate Loop

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,160 feet
Highest Point
6,400 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.67
(6 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
Follow a loop trail that samples what Mount Rainier has to offer: a popular waterfall, vast expanses of wildflowers, numerous snowmelt streams, a historic monument to the mountain’s first climbers, and of course views of Mount Rainier itself.
 
 

Paradise

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
25.0 miles of trails
Highest Point
10,080 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.11
(9 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
Paradise provides a gateway to Washington's most iconic mountain, trails to get your heart pumping or just stretch your legs, and in winter, fantastic snowshoe and skiing opportunities for people of all ages.
 
 

Moraine Trail

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
2.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
400 feet
Highest Point
5,850 feet
Rating
Average rating:
5.00
(3 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
Sometimes the crowds at Mount Rainier’s Paradise can be overwhelming. Hike the Moraine Trail to get off of asphalt paths and away from the throngs. The reward is a view down into the immense Nisqually River Valley from the very edge of its moraine.
 
 

Longmire to Reflection Lakes

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
11.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,500 feet
Highest Point
3,890 feet
Rating
Average rating:
2.57
(7 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Fall foliage
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
Leaving from the main parking lot in Longmire, hikers can travel a section of the Wonderland Trail to reach Reflections Lakes — passing by several viewpoints an a waterfall along the way.
 
 

Panorama Point Snowshoe

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
5.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,900 feet
Highest Point
7,070 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.10
(10 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
The route to Panorama Point in the snow can vary depending on how much snow is on the mountain, and how many other visitors have tromped a path up the hillside. One thing is certain — you'll want to consult the Paradise Green Trails map No. 270S, which includes both summer and snowshoe routes for the area.
 
 

Alta Vista Loop

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
1.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
560 feet
Highest Point
5,960 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.57
(7 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
The Alta Vista Loop is one of the trails located at Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park. This trail system is known for fantastic displays of wildflowers in the summer and dramatic panoramic views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding foothills all year long.
 
 

Myrtle Falls

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
0.8 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
185 feet
Highest Point
5,600 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.50
(8 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Waterfalls
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
A good, short destination just outside of the main Paradise visitors area, Myrtle Falls is a beauty.
 
 

Eagle Peak Saddle

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
7.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,910 feet
Highest Point
5,720 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.06
(18 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
This hike contains all of what a classic Rainier outing should – a quiet canopy of old-growth forest, high alpine meadows bursting with wildflowers in the summer, and in-your-face-views of glaciated Mount Tahoma (not to mention Mounts Adams, St. Helens, and even Hood on a crystal clear day).
 
 

Nisqually Vista Loop

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise
 
Length
1.1 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
200 feet
Highest Point
5,400 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.85
(13 votes)
  • Good for kids
  • Mountain views
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife
Follow the trails here to views of Mount Rainier's rocky Nisqually River valley and the much-receded Nisqually Glacier.
 
 

Railroad Grade

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
 
Length
7.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,000 feet
Highest Point
6,000 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.26
(31 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Rivers
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
This popular route for summitting Mount Baker is also a brilliant summer wildflower hiking destination.
 
 

Windy Ridge Trail

South Cascades > Mount St. Helens
 
Length
4.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
200 feet
Highest Point
4,200 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.38
(8 votes)
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

This trail is closed all M-F between May 15 and Oct 31 through the end of 2027. The trail will remain open on all weekends and federal holidays.

The drive to Mount St. Helens’ Windy Ridge is spectacular! From this east side of the mountain, the summit is close — more so than from the Johnston Observatory side. And it is quiet; on a busy weekend, you can often find the parking lot less than half full.
 
 

Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle)

Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
 
Length
9.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
100 feet
Highest Point
350 feet
Rating
Average rating:
4.26
(65 votes)
  • Coast
  • Dogs not allowed
  • Established campsites
  • Wildlife
The Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) is two hikes in one: a forest stroll and a walk on the beach. Take the Cape Alava Trail out to the beach and back for a 6.2 mile hike, or continue south along the beach to connect up with the Sand Point Trail for a 9.4 mile loop.
 
 

Henskin Lake

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
 
Length
6.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,000 feet
Highest Point
5,550 feet
Rating
Average rating:
3.14
(7 votes)
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Lakes
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
This is a beautiful hike that "has it all," from wonderful wildflowers and a deep forest, to wild creeks and an alpine lake. You will even see an abandoned gold mine along the way!