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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
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Mount Rainier National Park
The Wonderland Trail
RETURN TO THE WILDERNESS CAMPING AND HIKING HOMEPAGE
 
Mount Rainier

The Wonderland Trail (WT) is 93 miles (150kms) long and encircles Mt. Rainier. It is a strenuous hike with lots of elevation gain and loss, through lowland forests and valleys and into high alpine and sub-alpine areas.

Perhaps the biggest aspect in planning to hike the Wonderland Trail is you knowing your hiking skills, abilities and habits. Rangers cannot tell you that. Nobody knows your skill level better than you. This is important when laying the foundation for your trip... selecting the proper distance between campsites. Do you live and hike primarily in mountainous terrain and climates, or lower elevation areas? Hiking on flat terrain for 93 miles is far easier than having to climb up three thousand feet with a full pack day, after day, after day. This sounds like something that should not have to be stated, but we often see hikers going beyond their skill level. This usually leads to injury, illness, misery and an early end to a long-planned trip.

 

CAMPS ALONG THE WONDERLAND TRAIL

The Carbon River Road is closed to vehicular access at the Carbon River Entrance because of 2006 flood damage. As a result Ipsut Creek Campground is currently being managed as a wilderness camp. This means a wilderness permit will be required to camp here and all wilderness regulations will apply. Fires, pets, bicycles and weapons are not permitted in the backcountry at Mt. Rainier.

Hikers doing the complete Wonderland Trail are limited to camping in designated camps only—the use of cross-country zones is not permitted.

Check To See Which Camps Are Full For Reservations On The Wonderland Trail

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

  • Pyramid Creek- (no group site) 3,765 feet
  • Devil's Dream- 5,060 feet
  • South Puyallup River- 4,000 feet
  • Klapatche Park- (no group site) 5,515 feet
  • North Puyallup River- 3,750 feet
  • Golden Lakes- 5,130 feet
  • South Mowich River- 2,605 feet
  • *Mowich Lake Campground- 4,929 feet
  • Ipsut Creek Campground- 2,330 feet 
  • Carbon River- 3,195 feet
  • Dick Creek- (no group site) 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
  • Maple Creek- 2,815 feet
  • 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- (no group site) 4,885 feet
  • Cataract Valley- 4,620 feet
 

HELPFUL LINKS
Mount Rainier summit with Mount Adams in the distance.  

Did You Know?
At 14,410 feet Mount Rainier is the highest peak in the Cascade Range. From various locations around the park you can see four other Cascade volcanoes: Mount St. Helens, Mt Adams, Mt Baker, and Glacier Peak. On a clear day, you can see the tip of Mt Hood, in northern Oregon, from Paradise Meadows.

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Last Updated: August 20, 2009 at 15:07 EST