Walking at Hiking at Rainier

With more than 260 miles of trails, Mount Rainier is a hiker's paradise. The floods in November 2006 altered the entire landscape of the park, making hiking a little more challenging. Many of the trails and their backcountry bridges were literally washed away, forcing hikers to find their own way across streams. For maps and up-to-date trail conditions, stop at a Wilderness Information Center at Longmire, White River or in Wilkeson on the way to Carbon River and Mowich Lake, or call (360) 569-HIKE.

Stop by a Wilderness Information Center or visitor center to get current trail information before you embark on any hike.

Self Guiding Trails

Self-guiding trail are fun, informative and good exercise. The following trails range from 0.3-mile to 1.5 miles round-trip. 

• The Sourdough Ridge Trail at Sunrise is a walk through wildflower meadows to viewpoints revealing four volcanic peaks of the Cascades.

• Visit Mount Rainier's only temperate rain forest on the Carbon River Rain Forest Trail. 

• At Ohanapecosh, the ecology of hot springs and the surrounding forest is revealed on the Hot Springs Trail. 

• Wonderful views of Mount Rainier and the Nisqually Glacier highlight the Nisqually Vista Trail at Paradise. 

• The Grove of the Patriarchs Trail, just inside the Stevens Canyon Entrance, is a walk among 1,000-year-old trees.

Crossing Streams Safely

With so many backcountry bridges out, stream crossings will be an important concern this summer. Hikers should take these precautions to cross streams safely.

• Whether you're going to cross on a log, step from rock to rock, or wade, choose your spot carefully. Find an area where the water is slow and shallow. Look downstream: if you see logs or other debris that could trap you if you fall in, find a different place to cross.

• Carefully assess the depth and speed of the water before deciding to walk across. If the water is up to your knees it's too deep to ford. Drop in a stick and walk alongside it. If you can't keep up, the water is too fast to wade.

• Use a sturdy stick or hiking poles for balance while crossing. Always keep two points of contact on the ground. If you can't see the bottom, probe with the stick before each step.

• On log crossings staring down at the water can make you dizzy; try to keep your eyes forward as much as possible. And select a log that isn't too slippery! If the log is stripped of bark or wet it's likely to be slick.

• When you're ready to cross unfasten the belt of your pack so you can ditch it quickly if you end up in the water. If you do fall in, try to point your feet downstream and keep your head up.

• Never jump in to help another person—it's highly unlikely you'll be able to offer any aid in the fast, cold water. Instead keep the person in sight and follow on the bank until you can safely attempt a rescue.

Use good judgment—if you have any doubts at all about the safety of a crossing, don't do it! Better safe than sorry—you can always go back the way you came.