Mount Rainier Winter Snowshoe in Paradise

• Shuttle to Mount Rainier: 2 hours
• Hiking Mileage: 4-7 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 600-1200 feet

Our first hike of the tour begins in Longmire on the Wonderland Trail, the 93-mile loop that circumnavigates Mount Rainier. We’ll only be venturing out on a short section of it, but we’ll get a taste for what this iconic trail has to offer in winter. For the first two miles, we’ll be trekking through beautiful old-growth forests heading upstream along the turbulent Nisqually River. If the conditions are right and we’re feeling up for the challenge, we’ll cross the footbridge over the Nisqually and head up the narrow Paradise River Valley and its namesake tributary. After the landscape begins to open up again, we’ll reach a pair of gorgeous waterfalls that make a perfect turnaround spot for the day. From there, we’ll retrace our steps back to Longmire and check-in to our lodge to warm up with a cup of hot chocolate by the fireplace.

• Shuttle to Trailhead: 20 minutes (depending on conditions)
• Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 800 feet

After breakfast we’ll head up to the Narada Falls trailhead to begin our hike to Reflection Lakes. After a short climb, we’ll reach the Stevens Canyon Road which is closed to cars for the winter but open for us to cruise along on our snowshoes. We’ll follow the road past Inspiration Point with stellar views of the jagged peaks in the Tatoosh Range to our south. While Reflection Lakes will likely be covered in ice, that won’t stop us from admiring the stunning views of Mount Rainier which make these lakes famous. As we continue on to Louise Lake, keep an eye out for the gregarious grey jays and the brilliantly blue Stellar’s jay who frequent this area in winter. Once we’ve had our fill of this winter wonderland, we’ll head back to our vehicle and the warm comfort of our lodge.

• Shuttle to Trailhead: 25 minutes
• Hiking Mileage: 5+ miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1800 feet

We’ll get an early start to our day for the biggest challenge of the trip: a hike up the standard route that mountaineers use to begin their summit attempt of Mount Rainier. From the parking lot at Paradise we’ll begin steadily climbing up the Skyline Trail on a ridge with views of the Nisqually Glacier down below. Winter climbing is less common than in summer, but if we keep an eye out we might spot some intrepid mountaineers making their way up to the high camp halfway up at Camp Muir. Once we reach Panorama Point, a prominent outcropping of rock, we’ll be rewarded (if the weather permits) with amazing views of Mount Rainier, the Tatoosh Range, and possibly even three other Cascade volcanoes: Mount Adams, Mount St Helens, and Mount Hood. Once we’ve taken in the views, we’ll continue to follow the Skyline Trail onto Mazama Ridge before dropping down onto the open slopes of Edith Creek Basin and eventually back to Paradise where our vehicle awaits. Once safely back, we’ll warm up again by the fire and enjoy a well-earned dinner at the lodge!

• Hiking Mileage: 4.8 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1500 feet

For those with five days to explore Rainier, we’ll gear up at Longmire after breakfast and head out straight onto the trails from there. We’ll start our day by hiking through beautiful old-growth forests of Douglas-fir and Western Red Cedar before ascending a series of switchbacks to gain Rampart Ridge. Nearly halfway through or hike, we’ll reach our highpoint of the day with views of nearby Tumtum Peak and Nisqually Valley. From there we’ll begin to gradually descend back off the ridge with some possible glimpses of Mount Rainier along the way, and maybe if we’re lucky we’ll even spot some red foxes or snowshoe hares in these dense, snowy forests. When we’ve nearly completed our loop, we’ll join up with the Wonderland Trail which will lead us right back to our starting place at Longmire.

• Shuttle to Trailhead: 5 minutes
• Hiking Mileage: 5+ miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1500 feet
• Shuttle to Olympia: 2 hours

On our final day, we’ll pack up and enjoy our last hike together through Kautz Creek valley, just a 5 minute drive away near the park entrance. Our trailhead is at the lowest elevation of the trip, so we may begin our hike with snowshoes strapped to our packs. On our journey up Kautz Creek we’ll experience firsthand the geologic history of the mountain and this region, since this tumultuous landscape is frequently scoured by spring snowmelt, floods, and even massive mudflows. After crossing a snow-covered footbridge over the creek, we’ll begin climbing switchbacks out of the valley and we’ll need our snowshoes if we haven’t yet. From our new vantage point above the valley, we’ll enjoy views further up Kautz Creek, nearby Satulick Mountain, and the snow-covered flanks of Mount Rainier. Depending on our desires and remaining time, we’ll keep climbing or turn back and retrace our steps back to the vehicle while enjoying the stunning and changing scenery from broad meadows to dense forests and back to the banks of Kautz Creek. We’ll say our last farewells to Mount Rainier and it’s stunning scenery, and enjoy the great memories we’ve made in this snowy wonderland.