Anchored by the largest mountain in the Pacific Northwest, Mt Rainier National Park is just about a hikers paradise. With soaring ice covered peaks, lush green forests, a beautiful summer climate, and tons of hiking infrastructure, this is a fantastic place to enjoy being out in nature! But what should you do here, and what are the best hikes in Mt Rainier National Park?
If you’re planning a visit (good choice by the way) it can almost be overwhelming trying to decide what to do and where to visit! Mt Rainier National Park has numerous core areas which are all worth visiting, but many of them are hours away from each other. There are many amazing hikes here, but what if you only have a day or two? Visitors are spoiled for choice. We included the area of the park each hike is in to hopefully make things a bit easier!
To hopefully help prospective visitors to Mt Rainier National Park, we put together this list of 10 great hikes in Mt Rainier. We aren’t going to argue that this is an exhaustive list of every awesome trail here (it’s not). We won’t even argue these are the absolute 10 best. However, if you don’t know where to start, want a bit more clarity, or just want to see someone else’s perspective, here you go!
On this list are a wide range of trails. Some are easy and could be done by many people in an hour or so. Some require hours of sustained effort up steep mountainsides. The hiking in Mt Rainier is diverse, and that is reflected on this list. Whatever your ambition or fitness level, these are some of the best, most rewarding, hikes in Mt Rainier National Park!
Mt Fremont Lookout Trail: Sunrise
If there was one hike I would recommend to people in Mt Rainier National Park, it’s the Mt Fremont Lookout Trail. Beginning from the stunning Sunrise area of the park, this moderate hike takes you to an old fire lookout on the flanks of Mt Fremont, right smack dab in front of Rainier itself.
This trail begins on the beautiful Sourdough Ridge before reaching the small but photogenic Frozen Lake. From there though, the hiking really gets good! The trail proceeds to follow the northern ridge of Mt Fremont on an awesome exposed trail with panoramic views of Mt Rainier and the Cascades! This hike is shorter than most on the list, but it punches above its weight!
Burroughs Mountain Loop: Sunrise
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Also beginning at the Sunrise area of Mt Rainier National Park, the Burroughs Mountain Loop takes hikers through some of the most stunning alpine terrain in the park. This loop takes hikers to the summits of the three Burroughs Mountains which each provide fantastic views of the gigantic Mt Rainier.
In addition to reaching the Burroughs Mountains, this loop utilizes the Sunrise Rim Trail, the Sourdough Ridge Trail, passes Frozen Lake, and passes the turnoff for the Mt Fremont Lookout Trail. All together, especially with a side trip or two, it’s hard to put together a better full day of hiking that you can here!
Tolmie Peak: Carbon River and Mowich
Located in the remote northwest corner of Mt Rainier, the trail to Tolmie Peak is one of the numerous summit hikes in the park. While Mt Rainier itself is the most impressive summit, it’s not really accessible for most people. However, numerous other smaller mountains do make for great day hikes.
While Tolmie Peak isn’t the highest of these smaller peaks, nor the longest hike, I do think the hike getting there is fantastic. Beginning at one lake and passing another, this pair of sub alpine lakes is a rare sight on most of these summit hikes. In addition to the lakes, the summit views of Rainier are excellent. If you find yourself in this corner of the park, I would highly recommend hiking Tolmie Peak!
Crystal Peak: Near Sunrise
Another trail to a smaller summit in the park, the hike up Crystal Peak is a phenomenal hike. Located just outside the Sunrise area of the park, it is also pretty easily accessible with no entrance fees. Not only does the summit of Crystal Peak have fantastic views of Mt Rainier and the rest of the park and peaks beyond, the trail getting there is awesome too. The upper half of this hike is through wide open alpine meadows, which means you’ll have epic views while hiking too!
Skyline Trail: Paradise
Perhaps the most famous hike in Mt Rainier National Park, the Skyline Trail loops out and above the Paradise area of the park. In addition to the great up close views of Rainier and the panoramic views of the rest of the Cascades, this hike passes multiple waterfalls and vista points. Expect this trail to be really busy, but the views will be awesome!
Sunrise Rim Trail Loop: Sunrise
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A shorter route beginning at Sunrise, the Sunrise Rim Trail Loop is a route which begins on the actual Sunrise Rim Trail before looping back on the Sourdough Ridge Trail. This loop will take you to the summit of the First Burroughs Mountain before heading back past Frozen Lake onto Sourdough Ridge. I would recommend the Mt Fremont Lookout as a moderate hike in this area as well, but the Sunrise Rim Trail is an excellent hike in itself!
Shriner Peak: Ohanapecosh
Another trail to a minor summit in the park, the hike to Shriner Peak is one of the tougher ones on this list. Ascending 3,400 feet from the valley below to the summit, Shriner Peak offers excellent panoramic views on par with Crystal Peak, but the trail to the summit isn’t quite as good. You’ll spend much more time in the woods on this hike compared to Crystal Peak, which while not a terrible thing, means there is less time with the epic views this park provides!
The Wonderland Trail to Summerland and Panhandle Gap: Near Sunrise
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The Wonderland Trail is Mt Rainier’s premier long distance backpacking trail, but the section to Summerland and Panhandle Gap is the most stunning segment you can hike in a day. Beginning deep in the valleys below Sunrise, the trail follows Fryingpan Creek before reaching the subalpine meadows of Summerland.
Summerland is itself an excellent destination, but if possible, I recommend continuing on to Panhandle Gap, an alpine pass high above. When I hiked this trail in July 2022, Panhandle Gap was blanketed by a steep layer of snow, and without an ice ax or microspikes I didn’t feel comfortable continuing on to the pass. But if it’s accessible, it’s one of the best spots in the park!
Bench Lake and Snow Lake: Near Paradise
Check out our list of the best summit hikes in Lake Tahoe!
The shortest hike on this list, the trail to Bench and Snow Lakes is much different than most on this list. Rather than a view of Mt Rainier being the highlight, the real highlight here is the lakes themselves. Yes you will be treated to views of Rainier, but these are legitimately beautiful lakes!
Bench Lake is noteworthy for the view of Rainier above it, but to me Snow Lake is the real beauty. Reached by a trail of just over 1 mile, this feels like you’re deep in the backcountry! The stunning blue waters beneath jagged peaks don’t feel like Mt Rainier National Park, but it is still stunning nonetheless!
Naches Peak Loop: Near Sunrise
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Another of the shorter hikes on the list, the Naches Peak Loop takes a moderate grade as it loops all the way around Naches Peak. This trail in the northeastern corner of the park offers excellent views of Rainier and the mountains beyond, and has panoramic views in every direction. This is one of the easiest hikes on this list, so if you’re not a huge hiker, this is a good trail to consider!
Many would argue that Mt Rainier is the jewel of the Pacific Northwest, and I certainly think there’s a fair argument there! It’s the region’s highest peak, and contains some of the entire country’s best hiking! You may not love every single hike here, but the best compare favorably with trails anywhere else in the country: from Yosemite, to Glacier, to Zion, and beyond!
Did we leave some incredible hikes off of this list? Definitely. Could we argue about the order of this list all day? For sure. But I think that shows the true quality of Mt Rainier. Every single hike on this list is excellent, and there aren’t a ton of places that can match that. Come visit, choose a trail or two, and you’ll have a great time!
