Wonderland Trail
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| Wonderland Trail | |
|---|---|
 Mt Rainier from the Cowlitz Divide along the Wonderland Trail |
|
| Length | 95 mile (152 km) [1] |
| Trailheads | Longmire Lodge Mowich Lake Lpsut Creek Camp Ground Sunrise parking area White River Camp Ground Fryingpan Creek Trailhead Box Canyon Reflection Lakes Cougar Rock |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation Change | 20,000 ft (6,000 m) [1] |
| Highest Point | Panhandle Gap 6,750 feet (2,057 m) [1] |
| Season | mid July through late September |
The Wonderland Trail is an approximately 95 mile (152 km) [1] hiking trail that circumnavigates Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA. The trail goes over many ridges of Mount Rainier for a cumulative 20,000 feet (6,000 m) of elevation gain.[1] The trail was built in 1915. [1] An estimated 5,000 people a year complete the entire trail with several thousand others doing shorter sections of it. [citation needed] The average time taken to complete the entire trip is 10 to 14 days.[1]
Contents |
[edit] The Trail
The trail is entirely within the national park and most of it is not near roads or buildings. The trail passes through major life zones of the park, from lowland forests to subalpine meadows of wildflowers. As the trail circles the mountain, hikers see different faces of Mount Rainier, carved by 25 named glacers.
The trail is considered strenuous as it is almost always climbing or descending the ridges around the mountain. The highest point is 6,750 feet (2,057 m) at Panhandle Gap. [1]
There are many river crossings on the trail including two suspension bridges. Many of the rivers are crossed on primitive log bridges which can wash away during heavy rain or when there is a lot of snow melt in the rivers.
The main hiking season is late summer, which is often dry and sunny. However, Mount Rainier's high elevation and proximity to the Pacific Ocean can also bring moisture as rain or snow to the trail. In many years, the Wonderland Trail is still mostly snow-covered during June and early July.
The traditional route between Mowich Lake and the Carbon River is via Ipsut Pass and Ipsut Creek. Many people take an alternative route across Spray Park and Seattle Park. [2]
[edit] Camping
Camping along the Wonderland Trail is extremely popular throughout the summer and Wilderness Camping Reservations are essential for many of the most popular campsites. Eighteen trailside camps, 3 to 7 miles (5 to 11 km) apart, are located along the Wonderland Trail. Each camp has 1 to 8 sites for 1 to 5 persons per site. These sites will hold at most 2 tents. Parties requiring space for 3 or more tents must camp in a group site. Group sites are available at certain camps for parties of 6 to 12 persons. These sites typically hold 3-5 tents. Each camp has cleared tent sites, a pit or composting toilet, bear pole for hanging food, and a nearby water source.
[edit] Camp Reservations
Reservations can be sent in starting 15 March each year and on 1 April a lottery takes place to attempt to meet the requests of as many hikers as possible. Details of the process and a copy of the request form are available at the Mt Rainier National Park Wilderness Camping & Climbing Reservation Information Web Site.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Spring, Ira, Manning, Harvey (1999). 50 Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. The Mountaineers. ISBN 0-89886-572-7.
- ^ Spring, Ira, Manning, Harvey (1998). 100 Classic Hikes in Washington. The Mountaineers. ISBN 0-89886-586-7.
For complete trail descriptions refer to:
- Spring, Ira, Manning, Harvey (1999). 50 Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. The Mountaineers. ISBN 0-89886-572-7.
- Smoot, Jeffrey L. (1991). Adventure Guide to Mount Rainier: Hiking, Climbing and Skiing in Mt. Rainier National Park. Falcon. ISBN 0-934641-40-4.
- Filley, Bette (2002). Discovering the Wonders of the Wonderland Trail: Encircling Mount Rainier. Dunamis House. ISBN 1-880405-09-1.
