Sunrise Lodge, Snack Bar and Gift Shop are scheduled to open July 2.

The Sunrise Visitor Center will remain closed for the season for interior
rehabilitation and installation of new exhibits. Visitor information and
book sales will be located in the Sunrise Ranger Station and Lodge for this
season.

Sunrise, at an elevation of 6,400 feet, is the highest point in the park that
can be reached by road. With approximately six feet of snow still on the ground,
hiking trails in the Sunrise area remain snow covered.

White River Campground also will open to camping at noon Friday.

The Mowich Lake Road is tentatively scheduled to open July 2. Visitors can
expect to find 4 to 5 feet of snow at the parking lot.

Most trails in the park are snow covered. For detailed information on
trail conditions, check the Mount Rainier web page and click on Quicklinks/ Hiking and Climbing/Current Trail and Backcountry
Conditions – or stop at a park visitor center.

and dining in the park.

Pre-recorded park information is available by calling 360-569-2211 and
choosing the menu of interest.

Read more: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/street/2010/06/23/sunrise-road-at-rainier-opens-friday/#ixzz0rilcW1Me

The Trail Crew clearing a large tree from the Wonderland Trail

NEWS: August 3, 2007 – The park is now accepting Wonderland Trail reservations.

The park experienced severe flooding in November 2006. Travel here for more information.

Mount Rainier can receive 700 or more inches of snow each winter. When spring comes to the mountains it is a very busy time for Park Rangers. The previous fall usually brings the rainy season which causes damage to trails and camps by raging waters, high winds and falling trees. All this damage gets covered by 10-20 feet of snow, and there it sits until melt-out which often does not occur in earnest until late June or early July. The snow usually starts melting in high volumes, causing more damage to trails and camps. The Trail Crew may have to clear hundreds of trees from the trails each year. Replacing footlogs and bridges is also a major project. Footlogs are also prone to being washed out anytime there is a prolonged period of rain regardless of the season.

Wilderness Rangers and Trail Crew members are out and about early in the season trying to assess the damage. Given the vastness of the trail system and the volumes of snow, this is a large task. As we get reliable information on the status of a trail, a section of trail or a backcountry camp, that information will be posted here on the website.

trail signs

Trail signs like these will be a common sight around the park this summer (2007) because of flood damage.

TRAVEL HERE FOR A MAP OF KNOWN TRAIL DAMAGE (Large PDF, 1600 KB)

TRAIL ADVISORY:Throughout the summer, park trail crews will be working to repair and rebuild sections of trail that were damaged by the November floods. This effort may take several years. Rangers have established temporary reroutes around damaged trail sections until the trail has been rebuilt or repaired to trail standards. The temporary reroutes are identified by following Yellow, 3 inch wide “Caution Caution” flagging. Reroutes identified are generally the easiest and shortest path around existing trail obstructions. However, these reroutes are often very rough, involve steep side hills, and may require extensive climbing over logs and river banks. Travel on reroutes is not trail hiking and is identical to crosscountry travel. These temporary routes are not for everyone. Please visit a Wilderness Information Center for specific trail information or assistance with planning your hike.

When hiking, be especially careful at river crossings. Many bridges are damaged or missing. Until all bridges can be repaired, hikers will face the additional challenge of unassisted river crossings. Some temporary reroutes will lead hikers to existing downed logs across rivers. These log crossings which are often used in crosscountry travel may be hazardous and are not to be confused with footlog trail bridges with a flattened tread and handrails. If no log or bridge crossing exists, hikers must decide for themselves if they are able to ford the river. Many people have underestimated the power of moving water. If you must make a crossing, go in the early morning when river levels are generally at their lowest. Look for a straight wide area with slow moving water below knee height and a smooth bottom. Scout downstream for strainer or waterfall hazards and potential exit points. Wear good foot-ware, expect slippery rocks, utilize a stout stick to maintain two points of contact at all times, and unbuckle your backpack waistbelt in order to quickly shed your pack should you fall in. Most importantly visit a Wilderness Information Center or park website for updated trail conditions so you know what to expect before you go hiking.

BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS AND CAMP REPORTS

A wilderness camping permit is required year around for camping or climbing in the park. Car camping does not require a wilderness permit.

GENERAL CONDITIONS UPDATE: August 26, 2007

Wildflowers are passed peak. Bugs are still biting.

By JEFFREY P. MAYOR

ASHFORD – A Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane thundered over Mount Rainier National Park, lifting more than 50,000 pounds of steel I-beam bridges to three backcountry locations.

The bridges, and the $104,000 bill for the Sikorsky, are part of the park’s $36 million effort to recover from flooding in November. The work is progressing faster than expected, said park Superintendent Dave Uberuaga.

“I’ve had only continuously good news on every project this summer,” he said.

The heavy-lifting ability was necessary to replace three bridges along the Wonderland Trail.

But the weather affected even that effort. While Tacoma basked under blue skies, the Siller Brothers Aviation crew of eight and 35 park employees had to wait for clouds over the park to clear.

The Sikorsky is part of a fleet of heavy-lift helicopters owned by the Yuba City, Calif., company. It was flown into Morton on Sunday and arrived at the park’s Kautz Creek helipad Monday morning.

As morning passed, pilot Vic Pendleton opted to nap on a picnic table while co-pilot Ken Fritz read a book and ate his lunch. Finally, shortly before noon, the go-ahead came.

With two 4,500-horsepower engines driving the six-blade rotor, the Sikorsky lifted off amid a cloud of dust driven by the 115 mph rotor wash.

Park employees on the ground attached the first bridge to the 200-foot cable hanging beneath the aircraft. With a surge of power, the 13,540-pound bridge was on its way to a spot over Stevens Creek in the park’s southeast corner.

Within 25 minutes, the chopper was back for the second load. This bridge, bound for the North Puyallup River crossing, weighed 17,000 pounds. The weight became an issue as Pendleton and Fritz flew toward the site. Unable to clear a high ridge, they had to return to the helipad so crews there could quickly disassemble the bridge.

The final two trips delivered the two sections of a 19,700-pound bridge at Martha Falls in Stevens Canyon.

All three bridges were hauled in by 4:30 p.m. That meant Pendleton and Fritz could head to their next job – hauling gear and materials to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

For park crews, the North Puyallup bridge is the priority. They were to put it back together and position it Tuesday. Installing the deck and other work should be done within a week, said Rich Lechleitner, who headed the helicopter operations for the park.

Once the bridge is ready, it will allow the park to reopen the west side of the Wonderland Trail.

Work to be done

But don’t make plans to circle the mountain along the 93-mile trail yet. The stretch of trail between the two bridges lifted into Stevens Canyon is still impassable.

Lechleitner said trail work has begun on that stretch, but there is no date for its completion.

While the crews were waiting for the weather to cooperate, Uberuaga was meeting with other park supervisors. They gather each Monday to update flood recovery efforts.

So far the news has mostly been good. Among the reports was the news that:

1 Work to repair large slides on Highway 123 on the east side is about three weeks ahead of schedule.

2 Repair of the road into the White River Campground is complete.

3 Crews have been repairing the Mount Freemont Lookout, which had its roof torn off by 121 mph winds in December.

Still, there are major issues to contend with.

The park must prepare an environmental assessment before determining how to fix the 1 1/2 miles of trail leading into Glacier Basin. A temporary route exists for climbers going through Camp Schurman, but park officials want a new trail that is out of the flood plain of the Inter Fork of the White River. It will take at least four months to complete that process.

Uberuaga is pleased with the park’s recovery after being closed 180 days by the flooding. Credit for the recovery goes to park employees, the hundreds of volunteers who have given their time, energy and sweat, and the money to make the repairs happen, he said.

“Having the money to do (the work) has been critical,” Uberuaga said. “If we didn’t have the money, we’d just be sitting here talking about it.

“Looking back over the last eight months, I didn’t think we would be where we are at right now.”

Marmots posing

Originally uploaded by hikingdrew
Taken on Rainier Aug 2003

These shots were taken along the Wonderland Trail in Moraine Park. These little guys were everywhere, and listening to them throw out alerts to the other creatures in the area was really cool. They have a distinctive call that sounds like a child whistling. With the amount of traffic along the trail, they are not very shy anymore, so shots like this are fairly easy to get.

Mt. Rainier from Cowlitz Divide

Originally uploaded by hikingdrew
Taken on my solo backpack around Mt. Rainier in Aug of 2002. This shot was taken late in the morning on Day two, I had hiked from Longmire to Nickle Creek the day before, and this day would take me up from there to Indian Bar and on to the high point along the trail at Panhandle Gap.  From there it was a decent to Summerland for a night under the stars. 

Directions:
The road to this trailhead is generally closed from November to May. Check the Mt. Rainier National Park website for the Stevens Canyon Road opening and closing dates.

From Portland, take I-5 north for about 70 miles. Take exit 68 from I-5 to Hwy 12. Drive about 59 miles from I-5 to Packwood. Drive about 13 more miles to the junction with Hwy 123. Turn left onto Hwy 123 and travel about 5 1/2 miles. Turn left onto Stevens Canyon Road and go through the park entrance. Continue several more miles to the Box Canyon parking lot on your left. The total drive is about 150 miles and takes about 3 1/4 hours.

From Seattle, take Hwy 410 to Hwy 123. From Hwy 123, drive 12 miles and turn right onto Stevens Canyon Road and go through the park entrance. Continue several more miles to the Box Canyon parking lot on your left. The total drive is about 100 miles.

National Park entrance fee must be paid to enter Mt. Rainier National Park.

Flush toilets available at the Box Canyon parking lot

Length and Elevation:
15 Miles roundtrip, Elevation gain and loss total 8,000 Feet

Trail:
Wonderland Trail

Review: September 25, 2003
I called Longmire Friday afternoon to find out about reserving a campsite and Indian Bar. I would be going in at Ohanapecosh. The Ranger I spoke to thought I could self-register at the Ohanapecosh Ranger Station.

I arrived Saturday morning at the Ranger Station but there was nowhere to drop off my form. I was just about to jamb it into the door when a Ranger drove by. He was kind enough to take my form and I headed for Box Canyon.

I was the only car in the parking lot when I hit the trail at 9:30am. The trail to Nickel Creek is easy as it is relatively flat and wide. The recent flooding had not affected the bridge over Nickel Creek or the campsites. I headed up the switchbacks and was relieved to find the yellowjacket nest that was beside the trail in August is now gone. Climbing into the alpine meadows I had clear views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and other mountains to the south and east. There was plenty of places to get water along the trail because of the recent snow melt. On the descent to Indian bar were places where a lot of water had run down the trail . The trail was a little washed out in one spot so I threw some rocks around so it wouldn’t wash out further. The Ohanapecosh river at Indian Bar had seriously flooded the meadow north of the creek. The trail held up well but some new gullies were apparent.

I picked a campsite with a great view looking up the valley. I set up camp at 2:30 and hiked on up to Panhandle Gap with a much lighter pack. Beautiful views abounded as the trail quickly gains elevation and leaves the trees behind. There were excellent fall colors in some areas and the leaves had already fallen in others. About two miles from Indian Bar the trail crosses a couple of small but permanent ice fields. I had to look carefully for the trail in this area because of the flooding.

The trail through Panhandle Gap was excellent and there was only a small patch of snow on the trail. I returned back to Indian Bar camp at dark. The sky was perfectly clear and there was a light frost on the ground in the morning. I took some pictures at Indian Bar and headed back up the trail about 9am. The views on the way back were just as spectacular as Saturday. I met a group of four people who got a late start and had to camp along the trail. They were just about out of water but I assured them they would find water soon. I saw two other men hiking towards Indian Bar. You hear the noisy rush of water from many streams and waterfalls all along the trail. I had lunch along a seasonal stream in the switchbacks down to Nickel Creek. It was a great hike with not biting or stinging bugs. I got back to the parking lot at about 1:30pm. I think the section from Nickel Creek to Panhandle Gap and on to Summerland is one of the most scenic stretches of the Wonderland Trail because it is right at the treeline for much of the hike.

Switchback Steve

Rainier Map
So far you can visit

• Longmire
• Mowich Lake
• Paradise

Flood Damage and Park Access info

NPS Map of Mount Rainier National Park showing areas of significant damage caused by the November 2006 flood. The numbers refer to descriptions at right and below. FLOOD DAMAGE Use the map to the right and the information below to tour the flood damage at Mount Rainier. A larger version of the map is available here.1) Sunshine Point The Nisqually River breached protective levees to reclaim about five acres of land at Sunshine Point, including 200 yards of the park road and much of Sunshine Point Campground. The park’s main utility lines were broken, including the buried cable that provides commercial power to Longmire and Paradise.2) Westside Road Flooding from Tahoma Creek damaged long stretches of this dirt road.3) Kautz Creek Kautz Creek changed course about a mile above the road bridge and flowed instead through the forest and across the park road 200 yards east of the bridge. The flood undermined the road, damaged the buried power line, and caused severe erosion through the Kautz Helibase and maintenance yard. 4) Nisqually Road The Nisqually River severely eroded the bank of the roadway in two places, at mileposts 5.2 (a mile below Longmire) and 9.1 (a mile above Cougar Rock Campground). At both locations the flood left the roadway partially unsupported above a sheer drop off, and in danger of collapsing into the river. 5) Longmire The Nisqually River destroyed long stretches of levee at Longmire, eroding the bank on both sides of the channel. On the north side, the river undercut a corner of the park’s Emergency Operations Center. On the south side, the park’s service road washed out in several places. Power and sewer lines were destroyed where they crossed the river, and the water system was flooded with debris. 6) Paradise Like the one at Longmire, the water reservoir at Paradise filled with mud and debris during the storm. Freezing weather following the storm burst a water pipe in the Paradise Inn, currently under renovation, causing some water damage. 7) Stevens Canyon The Stevens Canyon Road washed out in three places. This road is typically buried by snow this time of year, so the full extent of the damage has not yet been determined. The worst washout, on Backbone Ridge on the east end of the road, sits atop a landslide that sweeps thousands of feet down to the Ohanapecosh River. Ohanapecosh The Ohanapecosh River destroyed several campsites at the end of “C” loop. High winds toppled numerous trees. Water runoff pooling behind the Visitor Center caused water damage to the building’s walls and floors. 9) The Grove of the Patriarchs Flooding buried this popular island of old growth trees in a layer of silt four feet deep. The debris-laden Ohanapecosh River destroyed the suspension bridge leading to the island, and knocked the boardwalk through the grove off its foundations. 10) Highway 123 This major highway through the park washed out in four places. One washout, at Milepost 11.5, cuts across both lanes to a depth of 70 feet. This road is now buried by winter snowpack; spring runoff could cause further damage. 11) Highway 410 The White River overflowed its banks during the storm, inundating Highway 410 for several miles. However, the highway does not appear to have sustained any long-term damage. 12) White River Road and Campground Erosion caused damage to campsites and an amphitheater along the edge of the White River. The shoulders of the campground’s access road were also eroded. 13) Mt. Fremont and Gobbler’s Knob Fire Lookouts Either during the storm in November or a severe windstorm in December, high winds tore the roofs from the historic Mt. Fremont and Gobbler’s Knob fire lookouts. At Gobbler’s Knob, two of the walls caved in as well. 14) Carbon River Flooding from the Carbon River partially or completely destroyed two miles of road between the park entrance and Ipsut Creek Campground. In places, only culverts and road signs remain to remind visitors that new river channels used to be roadways. The historic Ipsut Creek Cabin was undermined when a channel of the river flowed directly beneath it. The windstorm in December toppled dozens of trees across the damaged roadway. 15) Trails Most of Mount Rainier’s trails are still buried under snow, so a complete survey of the damage has not been possible. However, it appears that the flood destroyed most of the park’s low-lying trail bridges. Major sections of trail collapsed or were scoured down to bedrock, and will need to be rerouted or rebuilt. Learn the current trail conditions here. Return to top

NPS Map of Mount Rainier National Park showing areas of significant damage caused by the November 2006 flood. The numbers refer to descriptions at right and below. RECOVERY EFFORTS Recovery work began on November 8, the day after the flood, as park road crews began rebuilding the section of road washed out at Sunshine Point. Reconstruction has continued steadily ever since. Our press releases and newsletters provide a timeline of our progress toward reopening the park. Use the map to the left and the information below to get an overview of flood recovery efforts throughout the park (updated February 8, 2007). A larger version of the map is available here. 1) Sunshine Point Mount Rainier National Park’s road crews have rebuilt the road at Sunshine Point and restored the park’s buried utility line. More than 10,000 tons of rock were used to reconstruct the road and protect it from the Nisqually River. The future of Sunshine Point Campground remains unclear; it may eventually reopen as a smaller campground or picnic area. 2) The Westside Road The Westside Road has been repaired as far as Dry Creek and is now open to that point. The road has washed out repeatedly beyond this point in recent years, and has been closed to vehicle traffic since 1986. 3) Kautz Creek Park maintenance crews have installed three 30-inch culverts and two twelve-foot culverts to accommodate the new creek channel. Temporary overhead power lines were installed to restore power to Longmire and Paradise. 4) Nisqually Road Park road crews have rebuilt the road embankment along this road. The road is open all the way to Paradise. 5) Longmire Park utility crews restored power, sewer, and water services at Longmire and rebuilt the protective levees. The Emergency Operations Center was stabilized, and the washouts leading to the park’s service entrance were repaired. The National Park Inn and Longmire Museum are now open daily. Park employees based at Longmire have returned to their regular offices as well. 6) Paradise Despite ten feet of snow on the ground at Paradise, maintenance crews were able to dig out the flooded Edith Creek water reservoir. Contractors have continued the ongoing renovation of the Paradise Inn, scheduled for completion in spring of 2008. 7) Stevens Canyon If all goes well, the Stevens Canyon Road may be completely passable by early August, though repairs on Backbone Ridge could take longer. Work is tentatively scheduled to begin in early June. Sections of the road may opened as construction is completed. Ohanapecosh Storm cleanup should proceed quickly at Ohanapecosh this spring. Except for the damaged portions of loop C, the campground should open on May 25. 9) The Grove of the Patriarchs Crews have started to rebuild the damaged suspension bridge and repair the boardwalk. 10) Highway 123 North Hwy 123: (North of Stevens Canyon Road Junction) Like the Stevens Canyon Road, the timeline for repairs on North Highway 123 will depend on a more complete survey of the damage after the winter snow melts. Repairs should begin in early June, with some road access by October. South Hwy 123: (South of Stevens Canyon Road Junction) This stretch of of Highway 123 past Ohanapecosh is in good condition and is scheduled to open on May 18th. 11) Highway 410 No repairs are necessary on Highway 410. Highway 410 through the park and over Chinook Pass is expected to open by May 24. 12)White River Road and Campground Damage to the White River Road and Campground was relatively minor. These facilities should be accessible by early June as usual, and the road to Sunrise should open in late June when snow plowing is completed. 13) Mt. Fremont and Gobbler’s Knob Fire Lookouts Work crews will likely rebuild the damaged fire lookouts this summer. 14) Carbon River The Carbon River Road will be rebuilt, at a cost of just under $1 million, to restore access to the Ipsut Creek Campground and the Carbon Glacier Trail. Work will be suspended from March 15 through August 6th to protect the endangered Northern Spotted Owl, Marbled Murrelet, and Bull Trout, which nest or spawn in the area during the summer. Meanwhile, trail crews have opened the roadway for hikers and bikers all the way to Ipsut Creek Campground. Ipsut Creek Campground is open for walk-in camping and a backcountry permit is required. 15) Trails Reconstruction of the park’s trail system will begin as soon as weather and snow melt permit, probably in April. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) and Washington Trails Association will help Mount Rainier National Park coordinate a massive trail-building effort with the assistance of volunteers. For details on how to help out, visit SCA’s website at www.theSCA.org. Find current trail conditions here.

---

PUBLIC ACCESS
Many of the roads in Mount Rainier National Park are closed due to winter snow, as is typical for the months of November to April. Other roads are closed due to flood damage or road construction. The following is a summary of your options for accessing each area of the park. The Recovery Efforts section provides a narrative of our reconstruction activities. Visit the Operating Hours & Seasons and the Road Status pages for schedules of opening dates. This section was updated on May 7, 2007.

Nisqually Entrance
The Nisqually Entrance, east of Ashford on State Route 706, is now open daily.

Longmire
The Nisqually road to Longmire is now open daily. The National Park Inn and the Longmire Museum are also open daily.

Paradise
The road to Paradise from Longmire is now open daily.

Stevens Canyon Road
The Stevens Canyon Road is closed due to winter snow. Though it typically reopens around May, storm damage will prevent vehicle access to most sections of the road until later in the summer. Portions of Stevens Canyon Road may open as construction is completed. Check with a Ranger, or the Road Status section of this site for current information.

Ohanapecosh and Highway 123
The Ohanapecosh Campground and Highway 123 are closed due to winter snow. The highway typically opens in late April or early May. The section of Highway 123 north of Stevens Canyon Road will be closed for most of the summer due to storm damage and road repairs. Highway 123 south of Stevens Canyon Road is expected to open on May 18th. Until road construction begins, visitors may walk or ski on Highway 123, as is usual during the winter months.

Highway 410
As is typical for this time of year, Highway 410 is closed due to winter snow. Visitors may walk or ski past the closed gate at the park entrance. Highway 410 through the park and over Chinook pass is expected to open by May 24.

Carbon River Road
The road between the Carbon River Entrance and Ipsut Creek Campground was heavily damaged by the November 2006 flood and is currently closed to all vehicle access. However, a rough trail has been cut and flagged through the damaged areas and is open to the public for walking or bicycling, a distance of 4 miles each way. Due to the presence of three endangered species sensitive to disturbance during their nesting or spawning seasons, reconstruction of the road will not begin until August. A Wilderness Permit is required for camping at Ipsut Creek Campground. The permit can be obtained at the Carbon River ranger station.

Mowich Lake Road
As is typical for this time of year, the Mowich Lake Road is open as far as the Paul Peak Trailhead, one mile inside the park boundary. Visitors may hike or ski beyond this point. Depending on conditions, four-wheel-drive or tire chains may be required on the Mowich Lake Road.

Trails and Climbing Routes
While Mount Rainier’s trails and climbing routes are not closed to the public, access to them is limited by winter snow pack, storm damage, and road construction. Trailheads along the Nisqually River are inaccessible due to the road closure. Trails on the east side of the park are snow covered, but accessible by ski or snowshoe as usual. Trailheads in the Carbon River area may be accessed by hiking in from the park entrance on the Carbon River Road. For the latest information on access to climbing routes, visit the Mount Rainier Climbing Blog, maintained by employees of Mount Rainier National Park.

Here is an update on the camps

CAMPS ALONG THE WONDERLAND TRAIL

Currently five camps on the WT are closed because of flood damage. Additionally, because the Carbon River Road is closed at to vehicular access at the entrance, Ipsut Creek Campground will be managed as a wilderness camp which means a wilderness permit will be required to camp here and no fires are permitted.

The Wonderland Trail has seventeen trailside wilderness camps and four non-wilderness camps. Hiking from Longmire in a clockwise direction, they are:

• Pyramid Creek- 3,765 feet CLOSED
• Devil’s Dream- 5,060 feet
• South Puyallup River- 4,000 feet
• Klapatche Park- 5,515 feet
• North Puyallup River- 3,750 feet
• Golden Lakes- 5,130 feet
• South Mowich River- 2,605 feet CLOSED
• *Mowich Lake Campground- 4,929 feet
• *Ipsut Creek Campground- 2,330 feet (managed as a wilderness campsite, summer 2007)
• Carbon River- 3,195 feet CLOSED
• Dick Creek- 4,185 feet
• Mystic Camp- 5,570 feet
• Granite Creek- 5,765
• Sunrise Camp- 6,245
• *White River Campground- 4,280 feet
• Summerland- 5,940 feet
• Indian Bar- 5,120 feet
• Nickel Creek- 3,385 feet CLOSED
• Maple Creek- 2,815 feet CLOSED
• Paradise River- 3,805 feet
• *Cougar Rock Campground- 3,180 feet

* denotes non-wilderness campground

There are two wilderness camps on the Alternate Route of the Wonderland Trail through Spray Park. They are:

• Eagle’s Roost- 4,885 feet
• Cataract Valley- 4,620 feet

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Mt. Rainier from the Northern Loop

Originally uploaded by hikingdrew.

This shot was taken while hiking the Northern Loop section between Sunrise and the Carbon River. What a breathtaking view if I do say so myself. The Northern Loop is a great hike if you have a few days and cannot find the time to do the entire Wonderland Trail. It’s length is roughly 40 miles, depending on how many side trips you take, and the elevation gain and loss is considerable. Along the trail you will see Grand Park, Lake James, the Natural Bridge (with a small side trip), Yellowstone Cliffs, the Carbon Glacier, and Mystic Lake just to name a few. Many other views of the mountain and surrounding landscape are very worthwhile.

Here is the info from the National Park Website:

Trail Description

Distance, round-trip:	35 miles
Elevation gain:	8500 feet
Hiking time, round-trip:	4 days
Wilderness camps:	Yes

A long loop hike in the most pristine wilderness of the Park, through forests and meadows, over rivers, under a cliff of colorful rocks, near the Natural Bridge, past numerous mountain lakes, in ever-changing views of Mount Rainier and its glaciers. The first portion to Lake James can be done as an overnight trip.

Along the Trail

The first 2 miles lie along the valley floor, close to river elevation. At a junction take the left fork across the Carbon River. On the far bank turn left again, downstream. Then begins a series of countless switchbacks, climbing 3000 feet, mostly in cool forest on a smooth and soft path. At 5.25 miles from Ipsut Creek Campground, pass Yellowstone Cliffs campsite. Above the trail are Tyee Peak and the Yellowstone Cliffs; beside it, a pair of small lakes to the left and another t5o the right. The tundra of 5800-foot Windy Gap (6 miles from Ipsut Creek) offers wide views, well worth a lengthy lunch stop.

At a few hundred yards beyond the top of Windy Gap is a side trail to Natural Bridge, a 1.75 mile round trip.

The Northern Loop descends 1400 feet in 2 miles to camps at Lake James, 4370 feet. Here, 87 miles from Ipsut Creek, is the turnaround for overnighters.

From Lake James, the route drops to a crossing of the West Fork White River, where a 2500-foot climb begins, at 4.5 miles passing a side trail to Fire Creek Camp. Water is not dependable here; if camping is the plan, obtain water at Van Horn Falls near the West Fork. At 6 miles from Lake James is a junction with Grand Park trail. Continue right another 3 miles to a camp in lower Berkeley Park. Total distance from Lake James, 9 miles.

From Berkeley Park Camp climb 1 mile through meadows to a junction with the Wonderland Trail. Turn right and cross 6740-foot Skyscraper Pass. Descend 800 feet to Granite Creek campsite, 4.5 miles from Berkeley Park. From Skyscraper Pass the trail drops a total of 2100 feet to the snout of the Winthrop Glacier and a crossing or Winthrop Creek, a tributary of the White River, then gains 1200 feet to Mystic Camp at 5700 feet, 10 miles from Berkeley Park.

To complete the remaining 8 miles of the loop, the trail climbs 400 feet to a 6100-foot pass and then descends through Moraine Park, crosses the Carbon River, and returns to the starting point at Ipsut Creek.

other Info

Permits are required for camping. Permits and current trail conditions are available at park-wide from Wilderness Information Centers, Ranger Stations, and Visitor Centers. Treat water before drinking. Fires are prohibited. No pets on trails.
The Wilderness information center number at Longmire is. (360)569-2211 ext.4453

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