Wonderland Trail
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| Wonderland Trail | |
|---|---|
 Mt Rainier from the Cowlitz Divide along the Wonderland Trail |
|
| Length | 93 miles (150 km)[1][2] |
| Trailheads | Longmire Lodge Mowich Lake Ipsut Creek Camp Ground Sunrise parking area White River Camp Ground Fryingpan Creek Trailhead Box Canyon Reflection Lakes Cougar Rock |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation Change | ~ 8 miles (12 km)[1] |
| Highest Point | Panhandle Gap 6,750 feet (2,057 m)[3] |
| Lowest Point | Ipsut Creek Campground 2,320 feet (700 m)[1] |
| Season | Mid-July through late September |
The Wonderland Trail is an approximately 93 mile (150 km)[1][2] 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.[3] The trail was built in 1915.[3] An estimated 200 to 250 people a year complete the entire trail[1] with several thousand others doing shorter sections of it. The average time taken to complete the entire trip is 10 to 14 days.[3]
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.[3]
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. Most of the bridges washed away during a major storm in November 2006, so much of the trail is expected to be impassable to most hikers throughout 2007.
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.[4]
Complete trail descriptions may be found in a variety of trailbooks.[3][1][5]
[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] Wilderness Camping Permits
A backcountry permit, including reservations for designated camping areas, is required to hike the Wonderland Trail. Advance reservations for permits can normally be submitted starting March 15 each year, with a lottery normally taking place on April 1 to attempt to meet the permit requests of as many hikers as possible. However, as a result of the damage caused to the trail and to campsites by the November 2006 floods and the need to further assess damage and begin repairs, advance reservations are not yet being accepted for 2007 for complete Wonderland Trail hikes. As of late March 2007, the NPS reports that it does not expect to accept reservations for Wonderland Trail itineraries before mid-June 2007. Details on backcountry permits, the current status of permit reservations for the Wonderland Trail, and a link to the permit request form can be found at the Mount Rainier National Park web site Wilderness Camping Permits page.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Filley, Bette (2002). Discovering the Wonders of the Wonderland Trail: Encircling Mount Rainier (5th edition). Dunamis House, p. 52. ISBN 1-880405-09-1.
- ^ a b Wonderland Trail Profile (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
- ^ a b c d e f 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.
- ^ Smoot, Jeffrey L. (1991). Adventure Guide to Mount Rainier: Hiking, Climbing and Skiing in Mt. Rainier National Park. Falcon. ISBN 0-934641-40-4.
