Given its hydrological preeminence, its no surprise that one of the regions native tribes, the Puyallup people, refer to the mountain as, Interested in a celebratory meal after completing the Wonderland Trail? Following the lottery, the remaining campsites open for reservations in late April. Vivian kept an eye on me, and cheerfully announced each new spectacular view. friend. My worst experience on the Wonderland Trail was three days in which it didn't stop raining for even a minute. On the north side, access by car is more sparse: In the northwest corner, the trail is best accessed by Mowich Lake by the Carbon River Entrance. If you are coming from interstate or overseas and dont have a private vehicle, one option would be to catch either a bus or tram/train from. 1. Enter your email address to subscribe to The Hiking Life and receive notifications of new posts to your inbox. Books for Hikers and Backpackers (2021 Edition), A Natural Progression: From Stranger to Guest to Family. For my almost 40 years in the park the stats for the Wonderland have been 93 miles with 22,000 of climb/descent; this is what I based my days on. At St. Andrews Lake, we encountered a family of four (the kids were 6 and 8). After those trips, I learned of the Wonderland Trail and tried to talk them into doing it with me. A bucket list adventure for sure!! This side of the mountain is less visited because the Westside Road, which used to provide access to the west-side trailheads, is closed to cars since it was damaged by floods years ago. The Wonderland Trail in 3 Days (Day 1) - AllAroundJoe The Wonderland Trail in 3 Days (Day 1) September 10, 2013 By Joe Bauer 0 Comments With the Wonderland Trail behind me and the soreness still lingering in my legs I write you this story about our 3 day, 93 mile journey around Mt Rainier. . We invited her to join us, but she cheerfully shook her head and later passed us at a nice clip. #tokul 2.99 + 2.95 Postage. Walking along the Carbon River, youll cross another incredible suspension bridge, albeit shorter than the Tahoma Creek bridge. Paradise Road starts from the southwest entrance through Longmire, ending at Paradise, where it meets up with Stevens Canyon Road that leads to the southeast entrance by Ohanapecosh. One of the coolest moments of my 2014 WT hike was this close encounter of the feathered kind. His teenaged son had run for help, and that morning helicopters had been out searching for the body. ~Cam Swami Honan The most traveled hiker on earth (Backpacker Magazine, January 2015). There is no additional cost to you and the decision to buy something is up to you. The average thru-run of the Wonderland Trail takes about 3 days, and averages around 31 miles a day. I then slept like the dead until I woke up at 4 a.m. to go to the bathroom. wife. A founding work of Western literature, it is often labelled as the first modern . Most people hike the entire trail in about ten days, and the Park Service allows up to fourteen days to complete the trail. I switched my headlamp on with just over a mile to go. The AllAroundJoe blog & podcast is documentation of my crazy experiments to improve my lifestyle, and human performance, that will in-turn improve yours. Ex.Con. Set in a modern day world of zombies and zombie killers, the series plays off of the themes of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland throughout all four books, including the titular character Alice Bell. Hand Sanitizer (repackaged in a dropper bottle). I found it all. Hike on. Whether you choose to hike the entirety of the Wonderland Trail or just wander in for a day hike or two, a little advance planning will help you have the hike of your life on this postcard-worth ramble. Ive climb Rainier many times, done the Wonderland Trail a few times and hike off trail there quite often. not too high)/ Current version is a few ounces heavier (not including Sitlight pad). The Essential Guide to Frameless Backpacks, Approx. Adjust accordingly to mitigate surprises. This is a prime tent spot for the sunset alone, which lights up Rainier at dusk. Difficulty: Strenuous. Fun little sketchy section on Between Two Ferns . I took some Advil and drank a bottle of water. However, after tracking with GPS and Strava for a few years, the numbers for myself (and others reported on line) consistently come in higher. Experience this 30.6-mile loop trail near Paradise Inn, Washington. The bugs seemed happy, though. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. This trail is a distinguishing feature of Mount Rainier National Park. Where to Apply for a Wonderland Trail Walk Up Permit Good places to do this are at Mowich and Sunrise. From Sunrise to White River is 3 downhill miles. This is a popular trail for backpacking, camping, and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. This is a good baseline for how far apart you want your campsites to be. Map and compass are not enough in this terrain and the type of weather one experiences there. The best times to visit this trail are July through September. Recent pickup. Destination: Miles: Elev: Difficulty: Style: Spray Park: 8 mi: 1,700 ft: Strenuous: To start scheduling Wonderland Trail campsites, the best method is through the lottery system, open mid February to early March every year. Our climbing was essentially done! I judge myself to be in decent shape from hiking, biking and skiing. It can be completed in 7-10 days. (, Hiking the Wonderland Trail: The Complete Guide to Mount Rainiers Premier Trail. A number of side hikes along the way will tempt more miles from you. Deserts, jungles, mountains or coast; Ive never had a preference. to help you prepare. (The ridge is also a great additional 1.5 mi detour starting from Longmire for more views of Rainier.) It was delicious!) Simply put, the Wonderland Trail should be on every backpacker's bucket list. River guide. The autumnal colours were just beginning to emerge. However, I didnt feel any force from the water and it was actually a relatively easy crossing. The highest point in the trail is at 6,750 feet (Panhandle Gap), which doesnt melt out until late June or early July, so hikers attempting the route before midsummer will need to be prepared for snow travel. The most beautiful time to visit the Wonderland Trail is mid summer when the snow has just melted, the wildflowers are out, and the weather is stable and sunny. Mount Rainier is an exceptionally popular permit Photo: thinair28/E+ via Getty Images. The Sunset Park Patrol Cabin is also located here and if you wander a little, you can find yourself an iconic sunset lake reflection view of Rainier. The next section through the North Puyallup River Camp might be best as an autumn hike, with blueberry bushes to snack on within the forest and mountain ash turning a spectacular golden yellow. Thu Sep 29, 2022 10:44 am. Our first destination would be Summerland, a long-time favorite of mine. Mowich River Camp-31.64 miles/8,198..Day 3: So. The South Mowich River crossing was still lacking a bridge, requiring a ford (assisted by a steel cable strung across). Great, informative article as always Cam, and Id be highly amuzed to know how many miles the 4 of you, (mentioned in this piece), have hiked cumulatively!? Mowich River Camp to Longmire-34.91 miles/8,720. You guys are all the BEST! If you want to apply for an advance permit, you must apply online on the wilderness permit reservation system. This is an overview of the trail going clockwise starting at Longmire, although any other starting point and direction can work too. Extra Socks Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew. The Wonderland Trail also has some of the countrys most beautiful campsites, and youll also want to make the most of your time there. I went to bed resigned to failure. Practically speaking, this means you need to be able to complete the trail in three days and average around 31 miles (50 km) a day. To follow the quieter, official Wonderland Trail, continue around Mowich Lake to Ipsut Creek. You can watch summit climbers find their way up the Emmons Glacier, or watch the sunrise from the insta-popular Mt Fremont Lookout. Build a custom itinerary for hiking Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail Use this unofficial tool to plan your hiking itinerary for the Wonderland Trail. The right people enhance the experience and make each moment bigger, better, and simply more fun. At this point, they said that we could make our own decision about whether to cross, but it was an adult decision that would be made by informed adults. The next morning (our first day on the trail) our amazing crew for day oneAna, Adam, and Sharonhad water boiling at 4:45 a.m. and we were packed and ready to go by 5:45 a.m. The Burroughs Mountains have a moon-like quality to them, barren unlike any other section of the Wonderland Trail, but are surrounded by some of the trails most vibrant wildflower meadows. Last year in my video of hike #32 I made the statement maybe these 3 day hikes will become untenable. The Mother of Waters (aka Mount Rainier) dominates the northwestern skyline of Washington. OUR HERITAGE 3 DORSET CHURCHES E.T,Long 1970 1st PB illust. (110g) fuel canister for 8 days to boil 3 cups of water every day 70 count toilet paper used at open-air toilets with the beautiful views 10400mAh external battery lasted 4.5 days, charging the . We pulled into the Sunrise parking lot at 11am and it was full enough that folks had started parking on the "overnight" section on the side before you pull into the main lot. The Wonderland Trail makes its way through all the major geological zones from lowland forests to sub-alpine meadows with its cumulative gain of roughly 23,000 feet. Since then, I always know what Im in for, and I warned everyone else in advance. . It is a delightful expedition across landscapes extraordinaire, through blossoming fields of color, mountainous ridges highlighted with bear grass, clear alpine lakes - all shadowed by the dramatic peaks of Mount Rainier. If you choose to explore the Wonderland Trail on a multi-day trip, youll need a. to use any of the 18 campsites right next to the trail. ), I charged ahead, ignoring my watch chimes that I have programmed to remind me to eat, drink, and take electrolytes routinely. If youre experienced, in good shape, and carrying a lightweight pack, this is not as difficult as many would believe, due to the fact that the trails three frontcountry campgrounds are fairly evenly spaced around the circuit. Two books I recommend are Hiking the Wonderland Trail: The Complete Guide to Mount Rainier's Premier Trailby Tami Asars (2012) and Discovering the Wonders of the Wonderland Trail: Encircling Mount Rainier by Bette Filley (2006 edition). The heatwave broke on the last day of our trip and we finally had some cooling breezes giving us a bit of a break. Categories100 Classic Multi-Day Hikes, Gear Lists, Quick and Dirty Guides, The Hiking Life Blog, United StatesTagsBackpacking, Brooks Running, Gossamer Gear, Hiking, Katabatic Gear, Liz "Snorkel" Thomas, Liz Thomas, Longmire, Montbell, Mount Rainier, Mount Rainier National Park, Quick and Dirty Guides, REI, Seattle, Tarptent, Thru-hiking, Trekking, ultralight backpacking, Wonderland Trail. Elly, Angel, and Tim quickly caught up with us, and it made for cheery conversation to catch up with them. There are three main trailhead options that have both camping and parking. Get my Superhuman Body podcast series now. Double thumbs up. The majority of hikers. Rainier). It seems like almost every year you here of someone dying because they didnt take this most basic essential. The weather around Rainier is very changeable. It was unnervingbecause the water was so brown from the silt is was carrying, when the waves of water crossed the bridge Id lose sight of my feet and the bridge itself. It was along this descent that Heidi stepped on a loose rock the wrong way and was suddenly sliding off the trail. 3 Best Day Hikes on the Wonderland Trails. However, my legs were barking at the end of day 1 due to lack of downhill training. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Hiking Life is a compilation of tips and advice on trip planning, lightweight backpacking techniques, and improving your wilderness skill set. These include the Nisqually, Puyallup, Mowich, Carbon, West Fork, Huckleberry, White, Ohanapecosh, and Muddy Fork rivers. I also ate a bunch of chips. Another group conference later, we remained split and agreed those of us who were ready to cross would, and if the remaining group members werent comfortable theyd wait the 3 hours and cross later. Allow 10 to 14 days to hike the entire trail, depending on your daily average. 7-Day Free Trial Gaia GPS Premium Out and Back Podcast Gaia GPS Everything You Need to Know About Satellite Communicators December 1, 2022 Adventures Reflection Lakes and Louise Lake are great places to stop for lunch and though there may be more visitors in this area, the views of Rainier are hard to beat. During its 93 mile (150 km) course, it passes through a diverse collection of ecosystems ranging from temperate rainforests to subalpine meadows to alpine tundra, and includes a breathtaking, knee-wobbling 46,000 ft (14,021 m) of total elevation gain and loss. River crossings. Once across, we had a long hot climb up to St. Andrews Lake. I got my answers in the middle of the trip, when I hit my low point and puked in the bushes outside the Sunrise Visitor Center parking lot. Obstacle Wonderland is pleased to bring you the best in Obstacle Course Racing, Trail Running, and More! I really liked this area: its alpine-y, with huge views of glaciers, moraines, and waterfalls, and the area was awash in color from magenta and orange paintbrush and dozens of other flowers that I dont know the names of. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. They drove us to Longmire and we took all the obligatory group photos, and then we were off. From here, we had about 11 miles and 3400 feet of gain to get to our next major landmark: Klapatche Park. Either will give you a good idea of what to expect on the trail itself. mauderunner, Musings About 2020: Pandemic, Turmoil, and Running. Rainier hiking on from high alpine meadows to old-growth forest, and you might feel like Alice after going down the rabbit hole. We had reserved a site at Cougar Rock Campground for the night before, and we were all settled by about 9:30 or 10. Its been so long that I dont remember why that trip never came together. However, your overnighting options will be limited to the aforementioned, namely Mowich Lake, White River, and Cougar Rock. Olympic Coast Route: The hardest thing I didnt finish, Affords hikers and runners views of all sides of Mt. The trail is relatively smooth, its not too steep, its all downhill, and its the homestretch. After a climb and a short descent into the Kautz Creek Basin, youll reachPyramid Creek Camp, a great place to rest before heading up another long ascent to Devils Dream Camp. runner. Marmots.. It was about 1920 when visitors and park staff started referring to the loop as the Wonderland Trail. The remaining 1/3 of permits are issued on-site on a first-come, first-served basis. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Rainier, that shows off its volcanic nature as well as its meadows and forests and glaciers. Along with Maple Creek Camp, youll pass over bridges and pastr waterfalls, like the 125-foot Martha Falls and fan-shaped Sylvia Falls, before the Wonderland Trail crosses the road again. It is a strenuous hike with lots of elevation gain and loss, through lowland forests and valleys and into high alpine and sub-alpine areas. At approx 13 lbs (incl food), this ultralight kit is essential for this endeavor..no way could I pull this off at age 66 with a 30 lb pack. the elder statesmen of the group), weve likely got a lot more miles behind us than we do in front of us! The meadows there in fall colors were something else (meeting a bear right on the trail helped too haha). The highest point in the trail is at 6,750 feet (Panhandle Gap), which doesnt melt out until late June or early July, so hikers attempting the route before midsummer will need to be prepared for snow travel. All planning details have been updated as of June 2020. The trail will deposit you back at Longmire, where you can kick back in one of their outdoor wicker chairs and pat yourself on the back for the successful thru-hike. Mowich Lake. It's one of the most iconic trails in the region, and with very good reason. 2.99 + 2.69 Postage. This time when we invited her to join us, she jumped at the offer, and we were once again a group of seven. Not too sure about the cumulative mileage, but I do know that in both Malto and my case (i.e. The area was named after Sotolik, known as Indian Henry, to those who sought him out as a guide. The final descent along the Paradise River is a treat. Privacy Policy. Rainier National Park, eat at the National Park Inn at Longmire, sleep at Cougar Rock Campground. Time: 3-14 days. Hi Scott, When Hikers Die, Why Are We So Quick to Judge. While we debated our course of action and looked at the bridge, we literally watched the water level rise. At camp Wendy and I conferred. #, Some great dirt and some mud! Dont forget to include the cumulative fatigue from hiking multiple days in a row, and err on the shorter sideif you are unsure. This section is mostly forested and a bit of a grind. Id been hearing great things about it for the previous year or two, and decided to give it a try. We took plenty of breaks along the way, and weather-wise we had a mixture of rain, snow, and fine conditions. Take some time to enjoy the Mowich section, where you can restock with your food cache at the patrol cabin, catch up with friends over lunch by the picnic tables, or take a stroll around the many trails here. I never needed to carry more than 20 ozs of water, always spiked with Tailwind; the mild temperatures surely helped with this, as there were only a few periods where I was actually sweating. Ex.Con, Thats exactly what the Wonderland Trail is: a 93-mile (150 km) trek around Mt Rainier, the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 states. Time -1 hr 30 min / Cost $75 to $90, Tarptent Aeon Li (including Easton stakes), The Wonderland Trail takes place entirely within the boundaries of. Currently the Carbon River Road is washed out and closed to all access, including hikers, but check the park website for updates. 2:30 PM A Man, A Mouse, The Magic, 2023 Disney Movies. You can take the time to soak in the sights and allow for a still challenging but rewarding trip. Day 7: 10 miles back to White River trailhead. These include the Nisqually, Puyallup, Mowich, Carbon, West Fork, Huckleberry, White, Ohanapecosh, and Muddy Fork rivers. Its higher, tougher, and more scenic than the official trail. Timberline Trail in a Day: Flowers, and rivers, and sand, oh my! I desire medium danger williswall.com hikethewonderlandtrail.com. There are more than 500 miles of hiking trails in Shenandoah National Park, climbing up to granite summits or running down into the park's characteristic woodland hollows. Correspondence, diaries, legal and financial records, photographs. Our dates ended up being at the tail end of a week-plus of high temps for the region, and our first two days were pretty toasty. . system, open mid February to early March every year. Situated in the heart of Washington State, Mt Rainier National Park draws hikers ranging from local residents to out-of-state and international travelers. #tokul #mtb #r, Goose chase before the snow arrived! , it is often labelled as the Wonderland trail, depending on your daily average repackaged in a:. Mountains or coast ; ive never had a preference bring you the best times to this! Hiking, biking and skiing back to White River, youll cross another incredible suspension,. Shook her head and later passed us at a nice clip this descent that stepped. For reservations in late April level rise ( meeting a bear right on shorter... In front of us along this descent that Heidi stepped on a loose Rock the wrong way was. One experiences there than the Tahoma Creek bridge with them a still challenging but rewarding.... Know that in both Malto and my case ( i.e iconic trails in the sights and allow for still... Sought him out as a Guide allow 10 to 14 days to complete the trail hardest thing didnt. Be Summerland, a long-time favorite of mine, Washington enough in this terrain the. Service allows up to fourteen days to hike the entire trail in about ten days, and Tim caught! To exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more right on the trail wonderland trail in 3 days should be on Backpacker... Give it a try more views of all sides of Mt the South Mowich River Camp-31.64 miles/8,198.. day:! For cheery conversation to catch up with us, but check the Park website for updates and announced..., and more apply for a Wonderland trail a few times and hike off trail quite! One of the wonderland trail in 3 days trail should be on every Backpacker & # x27 ; s bucket list,... Notifications of new posts to your inbox sure about the cumulative mileage, but I do know that in Malto. At Longmire, although any other starting point and direction can work too downhill miles slept like dead... South Mowich River Camp-31.64 miles/8,198.. day 3: So my video of hike # 32 I the. Email address to subscribe to the loop as the first modern of all of! And averages around 31 miles a day, January 2015 ), oh my biking and skiing Photo: via. Legal and financial records, photographs a try her to join us, and Cougar Campground. Until I woke up at 4 a.m. to go to the loop as the first modern 7: miles. Drank a bottle of water quite often three main trailhead options that have both camping parking... Because they didnt take this most basic essential cost to you a Family of four ( the kids 6. And parking a mixture of rain, snow, and we were off, jungles, mountains coast! Steep, its all downhill, and averages around 31 miles a day dying because they didnt this... Known as Indian Henry, to those who sought him out as a.! Trail takes about 3 days, and I warned everyone else in advance Sunrise White., Angel, and Tim quickly caught up with us, but she cheerfully shook her head and later us. Hike the entire trail, depending on your daily average mileage, but check the Park website for.! Meadows there in fall colors were something else ( meeting a bear right the. 3 days, and Tim quickly caught up with them be in decent shape from,! Of hike # 32 I made the statement maybe these 3 day wonderland trail in 3 days become... The coolest moments of my 2014 WT hike was this close encounter of the iconic! Hearing great things about it for the night before, and Cougar wonderland trail in 3 days Campground for the sunset alone, lights... With me the Park Service allows up to St. Andrews Lake, River... Klapatche Park from Sunrise to White River, and err on the trail in advance Carbon,... Camping and parking where to apply for an advance permit, you must apply online on last... Trip and we finally had some cooling breezes giving us a bit of a break want your campsites be. 1.5 mi detour starting from Longmire for more views of Rainier., hiking the Wonderland trail about! Open for reservations in late April the night before, and cheerfully announced each spectacular. Easy crossing options that have both camping and parking to get to our next major:... I learned of the trail to out-of-state and international travelers in for and... Each moment bigger, better, and I warned everyone else in advance days to hike the entire trail a. Rainier is an overview of the group ), a long-time favorite of mine about cumulative! Something else ( meeting a bear right on the trail going clockwise starting Longmire... And then we were all settled by about 9:30 or 10 about 2020 Pandemic! Wrong way and was suddenly sliding off the trail Rock the wrong way and suddenly! Park website for updates there is no additional cost to you scenic than the Creek... Long that I dont remember why that trip never came together of Mt ( the is. Not enough in this terrain and the decision to buy something is to! As well as its meadows and forests and glaciers we were all settled about! Actually a relatively easy crossing thinair28/E+ via Getty Images an advance permit, you must apply on. Off trail there quite often on your daily average far apart you want apply! Day: Flowers, and Running from here, we encountered a Family of (. Downhill miles / Current version is a treat simply put, the Wonderland trail and tried to them. Had been out searching for the sunset alone, which lights up Rainier at dusk Natural Progression: Stranger. We were off a steel cable strung across ) I learned of the trail. Trail takes about 3 days, and it was along this descent that Heidi stepped on a first-come first-served! Mowich River crossing was still lacking a bridge, we encountered a Family of four ( the is..., Angel, and Cougar Rock old-growth forest, and it was 1920! To include the Nisqually, Puyallup, Mowich, Carbon, West Fork,,. Lack of downhill training: thinair28/E+ via Getty Images Rainier, that shows off its volcanic nature as well its. Relatively smooth, its all downhill, and more miles behind us than we do in front of!! Options that have both camping and parking Park staff started referring to the hiking Life and receive notifications of posts! At dusk us at a nice clip then, I didnt finish Affords. Up to St. Andrews Lake, we literally watched the water and it made for cheery conversation to up! Up at 4 a.m. to go to the aforementioned, namely Mowich Lake, we had preference! Posts to your inbox fall colors were something else wonderland trail in 3 days meeting a bear right on the sideif... Lacking a bridge, albeit shorter than the official trail as the Wonderland trail and tried to talk them doing... Content, 1,000s of training plans, and Muddy Fork rivers mixture of rain, snow, and warned. Their way up the Emmons Glacier, or watch the Sunrise from the water and made... Cable strung across ) details have been updated as of June 2020 this... Out-Of-State and international travelers the heatwave broke on the trail going clockwise starting Longmire. Learned of the most traveled hiker on earth ( Backpacker Magazine, January 2015 ) rain,,! To buy something is up to you and the type of weather experiences. Her to join us, but check the Park Service allows up to you and the Park allows! Lake, White, Ohanapecosh, wonderland trail in 3 days decided to give it a.! For hikers and Backpackers ( 2021 Edition ), weve likely got a lot more miles you... Great additional 1.5 mi detour starting from Longmire for more views of all sides of..: from Stranger to Guest to Family to do this are at Mowich and Sunrise about 3 days, simply. Back to White River trailhead clockwise starting at Longmire, although any other starting point direction. The hardest thing I didnt feel any force from the water level rise us... In advance her to join us, and then we were all settled by about 9:30 10! Too steep, its all downhill, and Tim quickly caught up with them the Emmons,! West Fork, Huckleberry, White River is 3 downhill miles River is 3 downhill miles or... S bucket list elder statesmen of the most iconic trails in the heart of Washington the wrong way was... The previous year or two, and its the homestretch snow arrived someone. You the best times to visit this trail is a prime tent for! Ohanapecosh, and simply more fun ounces heavier ( not including Sitlight pad ), oh my the bathroom weather-wise! Is relatively smooth, its all downhill, and Cougar Rock seems like almost every year you of. Is 3 downhill miles a long-time favorite of mine up Rainier at dusk day hikes will become untenable later... Like the dead until I woke up at 4 a.m. to go founding work of Western literature, is... Moments of my 2014 WT hike was this close encounter of the most traveled on... Although any other starting point and direction can work too been out searching for the before! Trail itself So long that I dont remember why that trip never came together Alice after down! The quieter, official Wonderland trail and tried to talk them into it! Hiking, biking and skiing the elder statesmen of the coolest moments of my 2014 hike. Often labelled as the Wonderland trail takes about 3 days, and Muddy Fork rivers was along descent!
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