Description:
The Wonderland Trail is 93 miles (150kms) long and encircles Mount Rainier. It is a strenuous hike with a ton of elevation gain and loss, through lowland forests and valleys and into high alpine and sub-alpine areas. You can do a portion of the 93-mi trail, just click on a specific link out of the trail sections listed below, or you can accomplish the entire length as an epic option. *It is estimated that approx. 200-250 people complete the distance between 10-14 days.
Trail Sections –
Longmire to Devils Dream: (5 mi) Most popular place to start and finish the 93 mi loop.
Devil’s Dream to Klapatche Park: (9.8 mi) Start early; a challenging hike with spectacular highlights.
Klapatche Park to Golden Lakes: (7.8 mi) A reduced mileage rest day after Devil’s!
Golden Lakes to Mowich Lake: (10.2 mi) Dark, damp forest with wild river crossings.
Spray Park Alt Route: (8 mi) Hikers reach 6,400 ft. in elevation here.
Ipsut Pass: (8.5 mi to Carbon River, 13.4 mi to Mystic Lake) To blow through some miles, take the lowland expressway through Ipsut Pass.
Mystic Lake to Sunrise: (10.6 mi to Sunrise Camp, additional 2.1 mi to White River Camp)
Hike along the massive Winthrop Glacier to rolling meadows and sweeping views.
White River to Sunrise: (10.8 mi) A quick descent and a tourist hot spot, this location offers the first spot where you feel like you’re on the mountain as opposed to viewing it from surrounding foothills.
Panhandle Gap to Nickel Creek: (10.9 mi) Birds eye view of Southern Washington – the highest section of the WT trail.
Nickel Creek to Longmire: (11 mi to Paradise River, additional 3.5 mi to Longmire) A busy day with an assortment of sites. You will experience many canyons, Reflection Lakes and waterfalls.
*Check out this really rad Wonderland Trail Online Itinerary Planner to help you plan the perfect trip for you.
Location: Mt. Rainier National Park, Ashford, WA 98304
Logistics: For camping reservations, regulations, and specs please view Mt. Rainier Camping. There is also lodging available at National Park Inn at Longmire open year round.
Day Hike: There are a number of places to start day hikes/runs, check out the trail sections above.
Endurance Challenge: Fit athletes can do the entire trail in 7-8 days.
Epic: This is a very rugged trail that is a challenge even for top ultra endurance athletes. Currently, the FKT for this route, unspported is 28 hours 50 minutes
Length: 93 miles
Elevation: 22,000 ft. (6,700 m) gain. Highest point: Panhandle Gap (6,750 ft)
Terrain: Strenuous.
Season: Main hiking – late summer to early fall. Mt. Rainier’s high elevation and proximity to the Pacific Ocean can also bring moisture, rain, or snow to the trail. In the past, the WT is still mostly snow-covered during June and early July.
Details: A backcountry permit is required to hike and camp on the WT. Camping sites must be reserved; 18 trailside camps, group sites, composting toilets and water sources are available.
Shop: Longmire General Store – gifts/basic groceries, Paradise Camp Deli & Gift Shop, etc.