Stunning Fall Day Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park

Crystal clear lakes, a variety of wildlife, beautiful meadows, and above it all Mount Rainier. An active volcano and iconic Washington landmark, Rainier stands tall at over 14,000 feet in elevation. While the most obvious destination for any hardcore adventurers and mountaineers is Rainier’s peak itself, there are a variety of options for all skill levels to hike and enjoy this park. Journey to Mount Rainier National Park in the Fall for some stunning day hikes!

Summer is by far the most popular time to visit Mount Rainier National Park to take in its stunning wildflowers and scenic views over the long days, but a Fall visit will still give you plenty to see and help you avoid the crowds. The pines and rainforest climate of Washington means that much of the plants stay green and what doesn’t turns a vibrant red or orange, standing out against the early snowfall.

Below are five stunning trails on the West side of Rainier, near Paradise and Longmire, to help you make the most of your time. These trails range in difficulty and length, so make sure to know the limits and time your group would need to complete the trail!

1. Skyline Loop Trail

• Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
• Length: 6 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,794 ft
• Scenic Rating: 5/5

Skyline Trail is an incredibly popular trail in Fall and for good reason. This trail is filled with picturesque lookouts and viewpoints across every mile. You will travel across a few streams, along ridges, and through meadows, where if you are lucky you may see some black bears hanging out. On a clear day, Rainier’s top should also be visible for a majority of this trail.

In the summer this trail is probably closer to moderate difficulty. However, depending on how late in the fall you are hiking, snow may cover a good portion of the trail. In mid-October We hiked the entire trail, and a good couple of miles consisted of struggling across the snow-covered trail following previous hikers’ steps and our All Trails map. It is also possible to hike just the miles on either end of the loop that are mostly snow-free if you are looking for an easier time and dry socks.

How to Get There: Skyline’s trailhead starts at the Paradise Inn Parking Lot. From there you can either take the trail to the left or right in a loop.

2. High Lakes Loop Trail

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Length: 3.2 miles
• Elevation Gain: 557 ft
• Scenic Rating: 5/5

High Lakes Loop starts at the pull-off for Reflection Lake. While you can see the glossy lake only walking a few feet from your car, I highly recommend going for a hike on this trail. I had low expectations of this trail, thinking the main draw was the first lake. However, this trail blew me away! Reflection Lake is gorgeous, but as you go higher up there are a few magnificent viewpoints and alpine lakes. While we didn’t see any deer, we did see their tracks, and the fresh snow on the pines made it feel like we were in an enchanted forest.

This trail has some moderate elevation gain and had some snow at higher altitudes. It was an amazing and peaceful walk, and early in the day, we saw almost no one for the majority of the trek.

How to Get There: The trailhead begins at Reflection Lake and can be taken in either direction. We started to the right and after about a mile were greeted with a great lookout for a lunch spot.

3. Carter Falls Trail

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 2.6 miles
• Elevation Gain: 557 ft
• Scenic Rating: 4/5

Carter Falls Trail is a short trail that leads to two waterfalls. It starts with a bridge crossing over Nisqually River with a beautiful view of Mount Rainier in the distance. After that, it is a relatively easy walk in the woods with consistent elevation gain. Although called Carter Falls, I found the second waterfall on this path, Mudcap Falls to be more enjoyable and much easier to view, with a lookout at the end of the trail.

This was low enough that we encountered no snow in October, and several Maples on the path were just starting to turn in color and would probably be even more amazing in late October or November.

How to Get There: The trailhead is between Longmire and Paradise and can be found just after Cougar Rock Campground. If you don’t have time for the whole hike, you can also just walk down to the river only a few feet away to take in the view.

4. Twin Firs Loop Trail

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 0.4 miles
• Elevation Gain: 95 ft
• Scenic Rating: 3/5

Twin Firs is a short and easy trial displaying the best of Washington’s rainforest. Tall trees and lush ferns surround the path. This trail is low enough in elevation that on a day it was snowing higher in the mountains this trail had only a slight fall breeze. The low altitude and easy path make it great for a quick warm-up hike or for families with small children.

How to Get There: The trailhead is close to the West entrance to the park before you get to Longmire. There are signs showing the way to the loop entrance and it exits back in the small parking area.

5. Grove of the Patriarch

• Difficulty: Easy
• Length: 1.1 miles
• Elevation Gain: 52 ft
• Scenic Rating: 3/5

The Grove of the Patriarchs is a Nature Trail off Stevens Canyon Road about a 40-minute drive from the Paradise parking lot in Rainier. This is an easy trail along and then over the Ohanapecosh River to a small loop on an island full of 1000-year-old ancient trees.

After walking 0.4 miles, there is a suspension bridge that you have to cross to get to the island. This is the main attraction of the trail! The ancient trees stretch high into the sky surrounded by a boardwalk trail. There are a variety of trees here the most impressive being the Cedars and Douglas Firs, but there is a variety of fall colors to be found lower to the ground in the right time of year.

The Grove of the Patriarchs is a great trail for families, with several educational plaques on the path with information about the forest and ecology.

How to Get There: Drive 40 minutes East on Stevens Canyon Road from Paradise or just 6 minutes North from the Southeast gate.

6. Rampart Ridge Trail

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Length: 4.8 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,417 ft
• Scenic Rating: 3/5

Rampart Ridge Loop Trail is a moderate trail that starts in Longmire. We only had time to go about 1.5 miles down the trail to a lookout over the Longmire area. The majority of the beginning of this trail is a walk through the towering pine trees. On a foggy Pacific Northwest day, it gives the perfect spooky vibe on a fall day.

If you don’t have the time for the full hike but are in the Longmire area the beginning of Rampart Ridge connects to the Trail of Shadows a short 0.7-mile loop.

How to Get There: These trails are right across from the Longmire area with plenty of parking, the National Park Inn and Dining Room, and Longmire General Store.

Tips for Visiting Mount Rainier National Park in Fall

• Check road conditions! Certain areas of the park close once snow accumulates on certain roads. The Sunrise section in particular closes in late September or October after snowfall. You can check road conditions at the Park website.
• You can check if Mount Rainier is visible from Paradise or if there is snow by looking at the webcams.
• Many restaurants and other amenities in the area are seasonal so make sure you know what is and isn’t open when you travel.
• Bring layers! Everyday when we left it wasn’t that cold at our cabin, but a hat, gloves and extra coat made all the difference the higher in elevation we got.

You May Also Be Interested In:

• Where to See Fall Color Near Portland
• Snowshoe Tamanawas Falls
• Cabin Packing List

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