Wonderland Trail

Wonderland Trail is an approximately 93-mile (150 km) hiking route in Mount Rainier National Park that encircles Mount Rainier. It is a multi-day, strenuous circuit with roughly 22,000 feet (6,700 m) of cumulative elevation gain, and it runs through lowland forests/valleys up into high alpine and subalpine terrain.

Expect big daily up-and-downs: the route is essentially a succession of ridges and descents around the mountain, reaching its highest point at Panhandle Gap (6,750 feet / 2,060 m) and dropping to Ipsut Creek Campground (2,320 feet / 710 m). The trail crosses multiple rivers; some crossings are on primitive log bridges that are vulnerable to washouts during high water.

Hike it as a full loop or in sections using the trailheads around the park. Common planning starts include Longmire, Mowich Lake, Ipsut Creek Campground, Sunrise parking area, and White River Campground; the route can be hiked in either direction depending on your itinerary, but it always includes sustained elevation change across the whole circuit.

Overnight camping is the core constraint. A wilderness permit is required for any overnight camping in the park, and for through-hikes you can only camp in designated camps (no cross-country camping zones). The Wonderland Trail has eighteen trailside wilderness camps spaced a few miles apart, and not every camp has group sites.

The main season is summer into early fall, when the trail is typically mostly snow-free from mid-July through October; in average snow years it’s not advisable before mid- to late July. Earlier starts require winter-travel skills because of snow and glaciated-river hazards.

Historically, the trail was built in 1915 and designated a National Recreation Trail in 1981. It has three backcountry shelters along the route (Summerland Trail Shelter, Indian Bar Trail Shelter, and North Mowich Trail Shelter), which require a permit as part of backcountry camping.

More information: Visitor information, Wikipedia, My 6-Day Wonderland Trail Itinerary