Backpacking the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier

Backpacking the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier

Harmen Hoek
The Wonderland Trail is an epic 150-kilometer (93-mile) loop that encircles Mount Rainier, offering a diverse and rewarding experience perfect for hikers of all skill levels. With an elevation gain of over 7,000 meters (23,000 feet), this trail provides stunning vistas, alpine meadows, glacier views, and serene old growth forest paths, making it a journey of breathtaking beauty. Designed for flexibility, the trail has numerous trailheads and resupply options, making it ideal for both beginners and seasoned trekkers. While the recommended time to complete the Wonderland Trail is 7-12 days, the trail can be adapted to suit different timeframes and difficulty preferences. Key highlights include Klapatche Lake, Indian Bar, Panhandle Gap, Summerland, Spray Park, and Sunrise - each offering its own unique scenery and unforgettable experiences. What this guide includes: - A flexible itinerary for different lengths and difficulty levels; - Detailed information on distances, the best overnight camping options, how to obtain permits, how to resupply, and other useful waypoints; - Custom Google Maps featuring important locations like campsites, grocery stores, trails, and viewpoints; - Downloadable GPX-tracks of all the routes for GPS navigation; - Practical information on how to get there, how to navigate the trail, the best time to go, trail conditions, weather, and geography; - Comprehensive route descriptions that detail landmarks, terrain, and elevation changes. This guide will provide you with everything you need to plan and complete your hike on the Wonderland Trail, ensuring you have an unforgettable adventure in the heart of the Pacific Northwest.​ Get an impression of this route on YouTube.com/HarmenHoek
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Written in October 2024.

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About this trip

The Wonderland Trail is a 150-kilometer (93-mile) loop around Mount Rainier in Washington State, offering stunning views and diverse ecosystems, from ancient old-growth forests to alpine meadows and glaciers. With an elevation range from 720 meters to 2,060 meters (2,370 feet to 6,750 feet), this trail provides a challenging yet rewarding experience for hikers.

This guide is organized to help you plan your journey efficiently. First, you’ll find the itinerary, which breaks down the full loop, including major highlights, campsites, and trail conditions. Following the itinerary, we cover essential information such as how to get there, when to go, how to obtain permits, details about campgrounds, resupplying, and much more.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Harmen Hoek
Adventurous travel lover & film maker.
What's included
Digital Map
Fully interactive, digital map for finding places nearby
55 places
55 hand-picked places with notes from the creator
24 photos
Beautiful, hi-res photos from the creator
9 links
9 links from the creator to go even deeper with more info
DESTINATION(S) COVERED
Mystic Lake, WA, USA
Summerland Camp, Ashford, WA, USA
Moraine Park, WA, USA
North Puyallup River, Washington, USA
South Mowich River, Washington, USA
Carbon River, Washington, USA
White River Campground, Washington, USA
Berkeley Park, WA, USA
Mowich Lake, Washington, USA
Panhandle Gap, Washington, USA
Seattle, WA, USA
Spray Park, WA, USA
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA), International Boulevard, SeaTac, WA, USA
Sunrise, WA, USA
South Puyallup River Camp, South Puyallup Trail, Ashford, WA, USA
Tahoma Creek Suspension Bridge, Ashford, WA, USA
Carbon Glacier, Washington, USA
South Puyallup River, Washington, USA
Washington, USA
Dick Creek, WA, USA
Golden Lakes, WA, USA
Devil's Dream Camp, Ashford, WA, USA
Cougar Rock Campground, Ashford, WA, USA
Pyramid Creek, Washington, USA
Longmire Wilderness Information Center, Longmire Road, Packwood, WA, USA
Reflection Lakes, Washington, USA
Klapatche Park, Ashford, WA, USA
Wonderland Trail, Ashford, WA, USA
Granite Creek, Washington, USA
Indian Bar, Washington, USA
Winthrop Glacier, Washington, USA
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA
Tolmie Peak Trail, Ashford, WA, USA
Paradise River, Washington, USA
Nickel Creek, Washington, USA
Spray Falls, WA, USA
Snow Lake, Washington, USA
Emmons Glacier, Washington, USA
Little Tahoma Peak, Washington, USA
Narada Falls, Washington, USA
Fryingpan Creek, Washington, USA
Eunice Lake, WA, USA
Aurora Lake, WA, USA
Burroughs Mountain, Washington, USA
Ohanapecosh Campground, Ohanapecosh Road, Randle, WA, USA
Stevens Canyon, Washington, USA
Cowlitz Divide, Washington, USA
Sunrise Visitor Center, Sunrise Park Road, Ashford, WA, USA
Maplecreek, WA, USA
Saint Andrews Lake, WA, USA
Martha Falls, Washington, USA
Nisqually River, Washington, USA
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Female Solo
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Adventure
Camping
Budget
Outdoors
Photography
Relaxation
Sustainable/Eco
Slow Travel
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Format
Itinerary
Itineraries typically include day-by-day plans, with food, lodging and activity recommendations for each day.
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