Trails and Backcountry Camp Conditions

RETURN TO THE WILDERNESS CAMPING AND HIKING HOMEPAGE

 

The Trail Crew clearing a large tree from the Wonderland Trail

Mount Rainier can receive 700 or more inches of snow each winter. When spring comes to the mountains it is a very busy time for Park Rangers. The previous fall usually brings the rainy season which causes damage to trails and camps by raging waters, high winds and falling trees. All this damage gets covered by 10-20 feet of snow, and there it sits until melt-out which often does not occur in earnest until late June or early July. The snow usually starts melting in high volumes, causing more damage to trails and camps. The Trail Crew may have to clear hundreds of trees from the trails each year. Replacing footlogs and bridges is also a major project. Footlogs are also prone to being washed out anytime there is a prolonged period of rain regardless of the season.

Wilderness Rangers and Trail Crew members are out and about early in the season trying to assess the damage. Given the vastness of the trail system and the volumes of snow, this is a large task. As we get reliable information on the status of a trail, a section of trail or a backcountry camp, that information will be posted here on the website.

 

Backcountry Trails and Camp Reports
A Wilderness Camping Permit is required year round for camping or climbing in the park. Car camping does not require a wilderness permit. Please Note: Due to rapidly changing winter conditions and staff limitations, trail conditions are not updated during the winter season. Always check with Park Rangers for trail conditions before heading out into the backcountry. Food storage poles are down at camps for the season. Either use rope or bear canisters for food storage. General Conditions Update: Be prepared... mountain weather is good one minute, daunting the next. Always check with rangers before heading into the back country. Please Note: Do not leave valuables in your car. While break-ins are infrequent, they do occur.

Trails in the Carbon River Area
The Carbon River Road to Ipsut Creek Campground is CLOSED at the park entrance because of 2006 flood damage. It is now a five mile hike into Ipsut Creek Campground. Bikes are permitted ONLY as far as Ipsut Creek Campground. All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain backcountry camping permits at the Carbon River Ranger Station.

Trail Name	% Snow Cover	Trail Conditions	Update
Summary		Ipsut Creek Campground is being managed as a backcountry camp. A wilderness permit will be required to camp at Ipsut Creek. Fires and pets are not permitted beyond the point where public vehicles can legally park at the park entrance.
Carbon Glacier Trail
Chenuis Fall	0		5/16/13
Green Lake	1		5/16/13
Ipsut Falls
Northern Loop: Carbon River- Windy Gap
Paul Peak Trail
Rain Forest Loop
Spray Park
Seattle Park
Tolmie Peak

Trails in the Longmire Area
The main road to Longmire is OPEN year round. All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain backcountry camping permit daily at the Longmire Wilderness Information Center or the Paradise Visitor Center.

Trail Name	% Snow Cover	Trail Conditions	Update
Summary
Carter Falls (from Cougar Rock Campground)
Comet Falls Trail (Van Trump Park Trail)
Denman Falls Trail
Eagle Peak Trail	80	Snow-free the first 1.5 miles.	5/16/13
Goat Lake Trail
Kautz Creek Trail	60	Snow-free the first 2 miles.	5/16/13
Lake George & Gobblers Knob Trail
Mildred Point Trail
Narada Falls Trail (Paradise to viewpoint below Narada Falls)
North Puyallup River Trail
Rampart Ridge Trail	30	Snow along the top of the ridge.	5/16/13
Rampart Ridge Trail (Upper section from Wonderland Trail to Van Trump Park and Comet Falls)
Round Pass Trail
Saint Andrews Creek Trail
South Puyallup River Trail
Trail of the Shadows	0		5/16/13
Twin Firs Trail	0		5/16/13

Trails in the Ohanapecosh Area
All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain permits at the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center.

Trail Name	% Snow Cover	Trail Conditions	Update
Summary
Cowlitz Divide Trail (Olallie Creek Trail)
Eastside Trail
Grove of the Patriarchs Trail
Laughingwater Creek Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
Shriner Peak Trail	50	First 2 miles are snow-free. Navigation afterward is very difficult.	5/16/13
Silver Falls Trail

Trails in the Paradise Area
The main road to Longmire is OPEN year round. During winter months, the road from Longmire to Paradise closes nightly at the gate at Longmire. Check twitter for daily road status updates. All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtaining backcountry camping permits daily at the Longmire Information Center.

Trail Name	% Snow Cover	Trail Conditions	Update
Summary	All trails in the Paradise area are snow-covered.		5/16/13
Alta Vista Trail
Dead Horse Creek Trail
Fourth Crossing Trail
Glacier Vista Trail
Golden Gate Trail
High Lakes Loop Trail
Lakes Trail (Mazama Ridge)
Moraine Trail
Nisqually Vista Trail
Paradise Glacier Trail
Pebble Creek Trail (to the base of the Muir Snowfield)
Pinnacle Peak Trail
Skyline Trail
Snow Lake/Bench Lake Trail
Stevens Creek Trail

Trails in the White River Area
All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain permits at the White River Ranger Station, located at the entrance.

Trail Name	% Snow Cover	Trail Conditions	Update
Summary	All trails in the Sunrise area are snow-covered.		5/16/13
Burroughs Mountain Trail
Burroughs Mountain to Glacier Basin Trail
Crystal Lakes Trail	70	Snow-free the first 3/4 mile.	5/16/13
Crystal Peak Trail	100		5/16/13
Emmons Moraine Trail
Glacier Basin Trail
Grand Park Trail (via Northern Loop Trail)
Huckleberry Creek Trail
Lake Eleanor Trail
Mt. Fremont Trail
Naches Peak Trail
Northern Loop Trail: Berkeley Park to Windy Gap
Owyhigh Lakes Trail (from White River Road)
Pacific Crest Trail
Palisades Lakes Trail
Silver Forest Trail
Sourdough Ridge Trail
Sunrise Rim Trail
Tipsoo Lake Trail

Wonderland Trail
All backcountry camping requires a permit.

Trail Name	% Snow Cover	Trail Conditions	Update
Summary	The Wonderland Trail is snow-covered.		5/16/13
Longmire to Indian Henry's	90	Route-finding very difficult from the top of Rampart Ridge onward. The Kautz Creek crossing is in. The Pyramid Creek crossing is OUT.	5/23/13
Indian Henry's to South Puyallup River
South Puyallup River to Klapatche Park
Klapatche Park to North Puyallup River
North Puyallup River to Golden Lakes
Golden Lakes to South Mowich River
South Mowich River to Mowich Lake
Mowich Lake to Ipsut Creek Campground
Ipsut Creek Campground to Carbon Glacier	80		5/16/13
Carbon Glacier to Mystic Lake
Mystic Lake to Sunrise
Sunrise to White River Campground
White River Campground to Summerland
Summerland to Indian Bar
Indian Bar to Box Canyon
Box Canyon to Reflection Lakes
Reflection Lakes to Narada Falls
Narada Falls to Longmire	60		5/16/13

Carbon Area Backcountry Camps
The road to Ipsut Creek Campground is closed at the park entrance, secondary to flood damage in 2006. All backcounrty camping requires a permit. Obtain Wilderness Permits at Carbon River just inside the entrance to the park.

Camp Name	% Snow Cover	Camp Conditions	Update
# of Individual/Group sites are show as #I/G, (elevation)
Summary		The road to Ipsut Creek is CLOSED. The hike is 5 miles from the Carbon River Entrance to Ipsut Creek Campground, which is now managed as a wilderness camp and requires a wilderness permit.
Carbon River Camp #4/1 (3195')
Cataract Valley Camp #6/1 (4620')
Dick Creek Camp #2/0 (4185')
Eagle's Roost Camp #7/0 (4885')
Ipsut Creek #12/1 (2400')
Mowich Lake Walk-in Camp (4900')
Mystic Camp #7/1 (5570')
South Mowich River Camp #3/1 (2605')

Longmire/Paradise Area Backcountry Camps
All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain Wilderness Camping permits daily at the Longmire Wilderness Information Center, the Longmire Museum (open year-round) or The Paradise Visitor Center.

Camp Name	% Snow Cover	Camp Conditions	Update
# of Individual/Group sites are show as #I/G, (elevation)	Camps are snow-covered.		5/16/13
Summary
Devil's Dream Camp #7/1 (5060')
Golden Lakes Camp #5/1 (5130')
Klapatche Park Camp #4/0 (5515')
Lake George Camp #5/1 (4320')
Maple Creek Camp #4/1 (2815')
Paradise River Camp #3/1 (3805')
Pyramid Creek Camp #2/0 (3765')	100	The toilet is open. The food storage pole is up. The camp is under at least two feet of snow.	5/23/13
North Puyallup River Camp #3/1 (3750')
Snow Lake Camp #2/0 (4690')
South Puyallup River Camp #4/1 (4000')

Eastside Backcountry Camps
All backcountry camps require a permit.

Camp Name	% Snow Cover	Camp Conditions	Update
# of Individual/Group sites are show as #I/G, (elevation)	Camps are snow-covered.		5/16/13
Summary
Berkeley Park Camp #2/1 (5375')
Deer Creek Camp #2/0 (2950')
Dick's Lake Camp #1/0 (5675')
Fire Creek Camp #3/1 (4300')
Forest Lake Camp #1/0 (5660')
Glacier Basin Camp #5/1 (5965')		In summer months food storage at this camp is provided by two large barrels, located near the group site. The food storage poles are no longer in use at this camp because of steady bear activity. Please use these barrels for food storage ONLY and be sure to close the lids properly after you place or remove food from the barrels.
Indian Bar Camp #4/1 (5120')
Granite Creek #3/1 (5765')
James Camp (Formerly the Redstone Camp) #3/1 (4620')
Lake Eleanor Camp #3/1 (5000')
Lower Crystal Lake Camp #2/0 (5450')
Nickel Creek Camp #3/1 (3385')
Olallie Creek Camp #2/1 (3940')
Shriner Peak Camp #2/0 (5355')
Summerland Camp #5/1 (5940')
Sunrise Walk-In Camp #8/2 (6245')
Tamanos Creek Camp #4/2 (5270')
Three Lakes Camp #2/1 (4680')
Upper Crystal Lake Camp #2/0 (5825')
Upper Palisades Lake Camp #2/0 (5835')
White River Walk-in Camp #3/1 (4300')
Yellowstone Cliffs Camp #2/0 (5180')