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

    Mount Rainier

    National Park Washington

Naches Peak Loop Trail

Trail route from Tipsoe Lake to Naches Peak Loop/ NE.
A map of the Naches Peak Loop Trail from Tipsoo Lake.  Use of a topographic map of the area is recommended.
 

Trail Description:

Distance, round-trip:

3.5 miles

Elevation gain:

500 feet

Hiking time, round-trip:

2 hours

Wilderness camps:

None

Park at Tipsoo Lake, .5 mile west of Chinook Pass on SR 410. For a clockwise hike of the Naches Peak Loop Trail, follow the trail from the picnic area to Chinook Pass and the Pacific Crest Trail.

This easy loop is one of the most popular hikes in the park. It starts out along the Pacific Crest Trail at Chinook Pass and leads south, traversing the east side of Naches Peak 1.6 miles until intersecting the Naches Loop Trail. To continue the loop and return to Tipsoo Lake in 1.4 miles, follow the Naches Loop Trail along the west side of Naches Peak. An option for hikers with a bit more time and energy is to proceed on the Pacific Crest Trail from the junction to Dewey Lakes, an additional one mile round trip. This short hike is well worth the extra time and effort.


Along the Trail:


To get the best views of Mount Rainier, hike the loop in a clockwise direction This loop provides the hiker with breathtaking views of the Mountain, a look at beautiful subalpine meadows, and an abundant supply of huckleberries in late summer and early fall.


Backpacking:


There is no camping along the Naches Peak Loop Trail within Mount Rainier National Park. Nor are there any suitable sites for camping along the Pacific Crest Trail within the park. Camping is permitted on adjacent United States Forest Service lands. Elsewhere within Mount Rainier National Park camping opportunities exist both in designated trailside camps and crosscountry areas. Permits are required for camping. Pets are allowed only on the Pacific Crest Trail portion of the loop. Dogs are not allowed on other portions of the Naches Peak Loop Trail, nor are they allowed on any other trail inside the park. Dogs are allowed in the national forest section of the Pacific Crest Trail, but must be leashed. Fires are prohibited. Treat water before drinking.

Did You Know?

Trees and lush vegetation in the Carbon River Rainforest.

The Carbon River Valley receives about 70 - 90 inches of rain a year. Abundant rainfall and mild temperatures have created an inland temperate rainforest. Explore the Carbon River Rainforest on the 1/4 mile loop trail and learn about the rainforest ecosystem from exhibits located along the trail.