Wonderland Trail

Mount Rainer National Park was created in 1899 and it currently has 235,625 acres of forest with 97% is designated as wilderness. Nearly two million people come to enjoy the grandeur and beauty of the park each year. It includes Mount Rainier (14,410′) which is an active volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and ice.  The park surrounding the peak contains outstanding examples of old growth forests and sub-alpine meadows which serve as a critical habitat for diverse wildlife, ranging from the resilient mountain goat to the rare Cascade red fox.  Due to its status as an active volcano, the mountain is closely monitored by scientists as it continues to shape the surrounding ecosystem.

Visitors to the park can explore over 260 miles of maintained trails – including the famous 93-mile Wonderland Trail that encircles the entire peak. Hikers and backpackers can hike a section of the it or circumvent the entire base of Mount Rainer on the Wonderland Trail. It is a 93 mile loop that has spectacular and sometimes close-up views of the numerous glaciers on the mountain. The driest months are in July and August, but the trail can be particularly challenging in some sections with difficult fords across cascading streams.  You can either day-hike or thru-hike the entire Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainer which the park service recommends 10 to 14 days to complete.