Mount Rainier, WA

On the complete opposite end of the country of my last post is a mountain known to many in the backpacking community. Mt. Rainier is located in the state of Washington only about 100 miles from Seattle. One of the pinnacle trails of Mt. Rainier National Park is the Wonderland trail, encircling the entire mountain, 93 miles long. This is a very strenuous hike with lot's of elevation gains as displayed by this graphic. I think this hike would take at least a week if you would like to do any resting or side hikes, something that would be necessary to take in all the beauty that Mt. Rainer has to offer.


In order to get a reservation for a back country permit, go to the National Parks Website. There are first come, first serve permits available, but if you are going to plan a trip, it would be safe to place a reservation around March 15th in order to have a better chance of guaranteeing a permit. You must submit your plan on the Wonderland trail including the campgrounds that you will be sleeping at each night. The following is a list of the campgrounds and the elevations they are located at along the trail:

Devil's Dream- 5,060 feet
South Puyallup River- 4,000 feet
Klapatche Park- 5,515 feet
North Puyallup River- 3,750 feet
Golden Lakes- 5,130 feet
South Mowich River- 2,605 feet
Mowich Lake Campground- 4,929 feet
Ipsut Creek Campground- 2,330 feet
Carbon River- 3,195 feet
Dick Creek- 4,185 feet
Mystic Camp- 5,570 feet
Granite Creek- 5,765
Sunrise Camp- 6,245
White River Campground- 4,280 feet
Summerland- 5,940 feet
Indian Bar- 5,120 feet
Nickel Creek- 3,385 feet
Maple Creek- 2,815 feet
Paradise River- 3,805 feet
Cougar Rock Campground- 3,180 feet

For the very adventurous backpacker, there are climbing options within the park adding a challenge and fun aspect to the hike. Reservations for these must also be made at the park website when planning your trip. This site makes my list of the top 20 places to backpack in the US because of the grandeur of the mountain and challenge that the Wonderland trail provides.