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Mount Rainier National ParkTrail through old growth at Ohanapecosh.
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Mount Rainier National Park
Spray Park Trail
 
Trail route from Mowich Lake to Spray Park/ NW.
A map of the Spray Park Trail route from Mowich Lake. Click on the MAP for a larger printable map. Use of a topographic map of the area is recommended.
 

Trail Description:

Distance, round-trip:

6 miles

Elevation gain:

1300 feet

Hiking time, round-trip:

4 hours

Wilderness camps:

Eagle's Roost

Spray Park and Falls were likely named in 1883 by a trail construction crew who noted how the cascading water of the falls broke "into a mass of spray."


 


The trailhead is located on the southeast side of Mowich Lake walk-in campground at the end of the Mowich Lake Road.

The trail descends .25 mile to a junction with the Wonderland Trail. Follow the Spray Park Trail east for two miles, up and down forested terrain, across Lee Creek and eventually to the junction with a spur trail to view Spray Falls. The next half mile to the first meadows of Spray Park is a steep climb up a series of switchbacks. More extensive meadows are found in another half mile.

The subalpine meadows of Spray Park are delicate and easily damaged. Please hike only on the constructed trails and rest on rocks near the trail. Try to minimize your impact on this fragile environment so that it remains beautiful.


Along the
Trail:


Open forest predominates for most of this hike. 1.5 miles from the trailhead, Eagle's Cliff overlook offers a spectacular view of Mount Rainier and the Mowich Glacier. Later, a short spur trail leads to a good view of Spray Falls. During the height of summer, the flowering meadows of Spray Park rival the beauty of any in the park.


Backpacking:


Eagle's Roost Camp is located in open forest near Spray Falls. A trip to view the falls at sunset is well worth the effort! Permits are required for camping. Permits and current trail conditions are available park-wide from wilderness information centers, ranger stations, and visitor centers. Treat water before drinking. Fires are prohibited. No pets on trails.

Drawing of a trail through tall trees.
Trail Conditions
Planning a trip into the Mount Rainier backcountry? Find out what the trails are like before you go.
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Mount Rainier National Park
Wilderness Trip Planning: get the maps you need.
Wilderness Trip Planning
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Artist rendering of the new Paradise Visitor Center.  

Did You Know?
The park recently completed building a new visitor center at Paradise & rehabilitating the historic Paradise Inn. The new visitor center is more sustainable and less expensive to operate than the existing visitor center. The Paradise Inn, after 90 years of use, was in need of rehabilitation.

Last Updated: April 22, 2009 at 17:02 EST