Face-to-Face with the Glaciers of Rainier

Itinerary

Avoid the crowded trails at Mt. Rainier National Park! Get face-to-face with the glaciers of Mt. Rainier on this remote trail in the Glacier View Wilderness. On a weekday you may have the trail and its epic lookout all to yourself. Glacier View Wilderness borders Mt. Rainier National Park to the West, and on a clear day this trail provides a rare bonus spectacle: Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and even Oregon’s Mt. Hood arrayed across the horizon.

The trail begins in deep forest at 4500 feet before emerging briefly on a ridge with peek-a-boo views of The Mountain and a hint of what comes later as you climb 950 feet over 2.5 miles to the site of an old fire lookout at 5,450 feet, where you’ll want to spend time studying this vast landscape while having lunch.

At your option, add another 2 miles to this hike on the return from the lookout to visit alpine lakes and meadows.