Wonderland Trail

A full circle around a volcano, the Wonderland Trail loops 93 miles entirely around Mount Rainier, dipping through old-growth forest and climbing again and again into flowered subalpine meadows beneath the glaciated summit.

The circuit is relentlessly up and down, accumulating around 22,000 feet of elevation gain over what most hikers cover in nine to thirteen days. It repeatedly crosses glacial rivers on log bridges and passes iconic viewpoints such as Indian Bar, Summerland, and Spray Park.

Practical detail: a wilderness camping permit is required and awarded largely by an early-season lottery, since designated backcountry sites fill fast. Food caches can be mailed to ranger stations along the way. River crossings can be tricky when glacial melt runs high on warm afternoons.

Late July through September is the reliable window, after the snow clears the high passes and before autumn storms arrive; wildflowers peak in early August. Built in the 1910s partly as a patrol route, the trail showcases Rainier from every angle and is prized among Northwest backpackers.