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Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Looking for the best hiking in Mount Rainier National Park? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Mount Rainier National Park. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Mount Rainier National Park

  • Enumclaw, Washington

    Crystal Peak Trail

    7.49 mi / 2966 ft gain
    Make sure you are going out on a clear day to catch the best views of the mountains, and bring your camera! From the summit, it’s possible to see six volcanoes spanning two states. Baker, Glacier, Adams, Rainier, St. Helens and Hood wait patiently for you to climb the more-than-moderately steep p...
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  • Ashford, Washington

    Hike to Rainier NP's Ranger Falls

    4.5
    7 mi
    When heading to the adventure, stopped at the ranger station in Carbon to get your day pass ($5.00) and then continue on to the trailhead. Park on the road next to the Carbon river around. Start the hike down an old paved road that eventually leads through some trails and then to a gravel road. T...
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  • Ashford, Washington

    Snowshoe to Longmire Lookout

    4.1 mi / 800 ft gain
    Starting at the Longmire Trailhead, cross the road and begin snowshoeing counter-clockwise on the Trail of Shadows.  This first 0.5 miles begins the hike as a nice warm up where you can make sure your snowshoes are adjusted properly and stop from time to time to learn some facts from the interpre...
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  • Ashford, Washington

    Hike the Rampart Ridge Trail to Wonderland Trail Loop

    6 mi / 1870 ft gain
    This is a wonderful loop to do that avoids some of the crowds on the flatter trails and gives you an amazing view of the mountain. Park in the Longmire parking lot where the National Park Inn and Longmire Museum are. Walk across Paradise Rd E to join up with the Trail of the Shadows. Head north o...
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  • Naches, Washington

    Hike the Naches Peak Loop Trail

    5.0
    3.5 mi / 700 ft gain
    Naches Peak Loop Trail is a great introductory trail to Mount Rainier National Park situated on the Eastern side of Rainier. Half located within Mount Rainier NP and half within Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Naches Peak is a 3.5 mile trail with minimal elevation gain (700ft) yet with views ...
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  • Eatonville, Washington

    Hike to Gobbler's Knob

    4.0
    5 mi / 1500 ft gain
    Entering the Park from the Southwest Entrance, bear left when you approach the forking Westside Rd. This road has been closed a few miles in due to massive rockfall. When you reach the road closure, just park along the side of the road. In Spring and Summer, you should be able to see plenty of ot...
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  • Carbonado, Washington

    Summit Lake

    4.5
    6.13 mi / 1499 ft gain
    Summit Lake, nestled in a small basin just north of Mt. Rainier National Park in the Clearwater Wilderness, has everything a hiker could want in a day-hike or easy overnight backpack. The views, the well-maintained trail, and a perfect distance make this hike a must-do for anybody in the Pacific ...
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  • Carbonado, Washington

    Hike Bearhead Mountain

    5.0
    6 mi / 1800 ft gain
    Formerly the site of an old fire lookout, Bearhead Mountain located in the Clearwater Wilderness, provides great unobstructed views of the north side of Mount Rainier, Little Tahoma, and many other surrounding Cascade mountain peaks. In the summer months you are likely to encounter great wildflow...
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  • Packwood, Washington

    Hike Tatoosh Ridge from Tatoosh Trail #161

    12 mi / 4100 ft gain
    At the trailhead kiosk be sure to get one of the provided (and required) self-serve Wilderness Permit. Starting at the trailhead begin your initial accent following the marked trail on the side of the road. In the first two 2.5 miles you will climb 2,745 feet, it's hard but luckily a majority of ...
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  • Packwood, Washington

    Canyoneering Olallie Creek, Mt. Rainier

    2.5 mi / 700 ft gain
    Disclaimer: Canyoneering is a dangerous and technical activity. Don’t enter any canyon without the skills to match it, or the knowledge to navigate it. Be sure to check the flow of Olallie creek to ensure that it's safe. In an area where canyoneering isn’t hugely popular, here lies a canyon that ...
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  • Packwood, Washington

    Hike the Grove of the Patriarchs

    3.0
    1.5 mi
    This trail is an easy trail to hike to the end and back. With very little to no elevation gain, some comfy shoes is all you need. There is a great opportunity near the start of the trail to walk down onto the beach and get right next to the river. Shortly after that there is a suspension bridge t...
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  • Ashford, Washington

    Hike Kautz Creek to Indian Henry's Hunting Ground

    11 mi / 2520 ft gain
    Named after the Native American who lived here prior to Mt. Rainier becoming a national park, So-To-Lick's was dubbed "Indian Henry" by the postman who unfortunately did not learn his name. When heading out on this hike, keep an eye on the weather in Mt. Rainier National Park. If hiking this trai...
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  • Randle, Washington

    Trail Run to Silver Falls

    5.0
    2.4 mi / 200 ft gain
    This is a trail that could easily be done by your older family members but also could be a nice trail run or quick hike for you. The trail starts from Loop B in the Ohanapecosh Campground and after a quick section, you will be walking over the hot springs in the area. They ask that you stay off t...
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  • Enumclaw, Washington

    Norse Peak via Silver Creek

    7.77 mi / 2405 ft gain
    Start out in Crystal parking lot A. There is a small and steep trail that heads up the hill labeled as Silver Creek Trail. The trail follows a horse trail for the majority of the route and gets renamed Bullion Basin Trail shortly after you enter the woods, so when it doubt keep following the hoof...
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  • Enumclaw, Washington

    Catch the Sunset at Suntop Lookout

    5.0
    Catching a beautiful sunset has never been so easy. This lookout tower is accessible by vehicle. The road is fairly smooth too. No car would have any trouble getting up to the top.  The last gate before the lookout tower/peak is about a mile down. The gate does close at 8pm but is ran by voluntee...
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  • Enumclaw, Washington

    Snowshoe to Sun Top Peak

    12 mi / 2000 ft gain
    From Tacoma, Wa. take Hwy 167 to Hwy 410 and follow that until you get to the Chinook Pass Hwy. Then from there follow this road and take the second Service Road on the right and follow this road until it dead ends. The trail starts on NF-7315. You have to walk this road until you reach the first...
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