Mount Rainier National Park - Trail Conditions (U.S. National Park Service)

Much of the park’s trail system remains unsurveyed due to snowcover. Immediately following the flood, a flight was conducted to quickly survey the Wonderland Trail. It is very likely that there is additional trail damage along the Wonderland Trail and other park trails that have yet been identified. The condition of most Designated Camps remains uncertain. The subsequent wind storm in December and routine winter trail damage most likely will add to the challenge. The following descriptions identify known trail damage. (Updated March 14, 2007)

Longmire/Paradise	Carbon River
Ohanapecosh	Mowich Lake
Wonderland Trail

LONGMIRE/PARADISE
Kautz Creek Trail
Kautz footlog and 150 yards of riverbar trail gone. The Kautz River changed course above this point so there is no longer a river to cross. However, scoured steep banks and log jam debris will present crossing challenges.

Comet Falls Trail
One footlog .25 miles below Comet Falls is out. Another footlog .7 miles above Comet Falls on the Rampart Ridge Trail is out.

Westside Road
The first three miles from the junction of the Paradise Road is intact to the parking area by Mount Wow. The road is essentially gone from just beyond the parking area at Fish Creek to the old Tahoma Creek Trail. Hiking this section currently requires climbing up and over scoured banks, debris, and river crossings.

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OHANAPECOSH
Grove of the Patriarchs
Ohana River suspension bridge severely damaged. Boardwalk through Grove substantially damaged. Grove area is heavily silted with deposits of 3 ft. in some areas.

Silver Falls Trail
Bridge over Ohana River severely damaged and entire approach to bridge missing on west end. About 50 ft. of trail approaching from the east side of the Ohana River washed out. The Laughingwater Creek bridge is damaged and an additional bridge over an unnamed creek also washed out. Extensive trail tread damage.

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CARBON RIVER
Carbon River Road
Road closed to vehicles due to two significant washouts – begin hiking at park entrance. Trail reroutes cut and flagged around the washouts. It is 3 miles to the Green Lake trailhead and 5 miles to the Ipsut trailhead.

Chenuis Falls Trail
The footlog river crossing and150 yards of trail is lost.

Northern Loop Trail
The Lower Crossing of the Carbon River footlogs and 300 yds. of riverbar/valley floor trail washed out. The footlog crossing and 100 yards of trail at the West Fork of the White River washed out. Approximately 50 yards of graded trail missing due to failed slope and washout near Spukwush Creek.

Rainforest Loop Trail
Trail is open and in good condition.

Green Lake
Trail in good condition.

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MOWICH LAKE
The road is open to the Paul Peak Trailhead just inside the park boundary. State Route 165 near the park is often rough and snow covered. Be prepared for winter travel and self-sufficiency.

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WONDERLAND TRAIL
Wonderland Trail: Longmire to North Puyallup
The Kautz Creek footlog and 200 yards of graded trail are gone. The Pyramid Creek footlog is missing. The Pyramid Creek Camp likely suffered extensive damage.
Note: Flights after the flooding showed that the Tahoma Creek suspension bridge, the South Puyallup River bridge and the North Puyallup bridge were all in place and appeared to be in good condition.

Wonderland Trail: North Puyallup to Mowich Lake
At least 2 footlogs and one stringer bridge are gone from the North and South Mowich Rivers area. Several hundred yards of riverbar and graded trail were destroyed. The South Mowich Camp lost several sites.

Wonderland Trail: Ipsut Creek to Sunrise
Damages begin a short distance beyond the Ipsut trailhead with two washed out footlogs, one washed out bridge, and 200 yards of trail washed out. The Ipsut Falls spur trail is gone. Much of this trail is currently active riverbed and logjam. Between here and the lower crossing of the Carbon River, approximately 800 feet of graded trail tread is damaged or missing.

There is significant damage between the lower crossing and the Spray Park Trail. Approximately 0.25 miles of trail is gone. The Carbon River is against the base of the hillside and has cut away the trail and the base of the hill leaving near vertical scree and bedrock slopes. Replacement of this section of Wonderland Trail will be a significant project. We anticipate that hikers will be rerouted across the lower crossing of the Carbon River then south along the Northern Loop Trail to the Carbon Glacier.

At mile 2.6 the Cataract Creek footlog is gone. The Carbon River Camp will be inaccessible without this footlog in place. The Carbon River suspension bridge is in place and in good condition.

The West Fork of the White River cut a gorge through its normal flood channel area. It is anticipated that approximately 100 yards of riverbar trail will need to be constructed across this washout and one footlog will be needed. The Winthrop Creek washed out the 55 foot footlog and the approach on the east side.

Wonderland Trail: White River Campground to Box Canyon
One 55 foot footlog washed out near the campground and an estimated 100 yards of riverbar trail missing.

Wonderland Trail: Box Canyon to Reflection Lakes
Two earth slides a short distance downhill from Martha Falls resulted in loss of the trail in very steep scree/soil slopes. A reroute may not be available for hikers in early summer as alternative routes are limited through this area.

Wonderland Trail: Reflection Lakes to Longmire
The Nisqually River footlogs and 100 yards of approach trails are gone.

Information on reserving a backcountry permit as part of a multi-day hike on the Wonderland Trail is available here.

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