• Mount Rainier peeks through clouds, viewed across subalpine wildflowers and glacial moraine.

    Mount Rainier

    National Park Washington

Carbon Glacier and Moraine Park Trails

Trail route from Carbon River entrance past Carbon Glacier to Morain Park/ NW.
Map of the trail leading to Carbon Glacier and Moraine Park from Carbon River entrance station. Use of a topographic map of the area is recommended.
 

Trail Description:

Carbon Glacier

Moraine Park

Distance, round-trip:

17 miles

21 miles

Elevation gain:

1640 feet

3740 feet

Hiking time, round-trip:

9 hours

14 hours

Wilderness camps:

Ipsut Creek
Carbon River
Dick Creek

Ipsut Creek
Carbon River
Dick Creek
Mystic Camp

This trail now begins at the Carbon River Ranger Station because of flood damage to the Carbon River Road.

The first five miles follow the flood-damaged Carbon River Road to Ipsut Creek Camp. From there, the trail climbs three miles in an easy grade beside the Carbon River. After meeting the trail to Seattle Park, hikers cross the river on a suspension bridge near the snout of Carbon Glacier. Making a right turn where the trail joins the Northern Loop Trail leads to the glacier and up a steep series of switchbacks through the forest to Moraine Park.


Along the
Trail:


This hike offers a close-up view of the lowest glacier in elevation in the contiguous 48 states and the source of the Carbon River. Do not approach the glacier as rock and ice fall are common! In mid-summer, Moraine Park presents a colorful array of wildflowers and outstanding views of Mount Rainier.


Backpacking:


Three camps are located along this section of trail at distances of 5 miles (Ipsut Creek), 7.9 miles (Carbon River), and 9 miles (Dick Creek) from the trailhead. Permits are required for camping. Permits and current trail conditions are available park-wide from wilderness information centers, ranger stations, and visitor centers. Fires are prohibited. No pets on trails. Treat water before drinking.

Did You Know?

The first photograph taken at Rainier's summit is dated August 14, 1888.

The first photograph taken at the summit of Mount Rainier was taken at noon on August 14, 1888.  Among the group photographed that day at the crater rim are naturalist John Muir, and P. B. Van Trump, one of the first two men known to have reached Rainier's summit.