Hiking The Stunning Wonderland Trail To Summerland

Wrapping its way around the entirety of Mt Rainier, the Wonderland Trail is Mt Rainier National Park’s greatest long distance trail.  While many ambitious backpackers tackle the entire thing each summer, far more hike certain sections as day hikes.  Possibly the most stunning of all these sections of the Wonderland Trail is the segment to Summerland and Panhandle Gap. An alpine meadow set near the treeline on the lower slopes of Mt Rainier, the dayhike to Summerland is a relatively...

Hiking The Sunrise Rim Trail in Mt Rainier National Park

Beginning from the famed Sunrise area of Mt Rainier National Park, the Sunrise Rim Trail is an incredible loop through stunning alpine terrain.  Sunrise is the highest point in the park cars are able to access, and the trail goes up from there!  You’ll hike through alpine tundra, over huge drop offs, and past wonderful alpine lakes.  This hike has just about everything! Miles/Elevation: 5.5 miles 1,115 feet vertical gain About Mt Rainier National Park: Established as a national park...

Summiting Shriner Peak In Mt Rainier National Park

Mt Rainier, the iconic mountain of the Pacific Northwest.  Climbing it is a multi day mountaineering ordeal, but just visiting the national park without climbing something feels like a waste and is just disappointing.  So what’s one to do?  What if there was a prominent, yet hikeable mountain nearby.  Maybe one that has incredible views of Rainier itself, and is doable as a day hike.  Well, turns out that mountain exists, and it’s called Shriner Peak! Shriner Peak is relatively...

A Visitors Guide To Newberry National Volcanic Monument

What if I told you the largest Cascade volcano was located in a relatively unknown national monument in Central Oregon?  Newberry National Volcanic Monument is located just south of Bend Oregon, and contains Newberry Volcano, the largest volcano in the Pacific Northwest! While this volcano doesn’t have the profile or social cred that Mt Rainier or Hood have, and it isn’t nearly as lofty (the highpoint is just under 8,000 feet), this is still a gem of an outdoor destination! ...

Summiting Paulina Peak in Oregon’s Cascades

Towering over Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Paulina Peak is the dominant feature of the whole place.  The highpoint of the Newberry Caldera, Paulina Peak is a nearly 8,000 foot high volcanic Cascade Summit, and while the peak itself isn’t as visually prominent as many of the other Cascade Volcanoes, the actual volcano is massive! The Newberry Volcano fills basically the entire national monument, and lava flows from this volcano stretch for miles around!  This may not be an iconic Cascade...