Wonderland trail how long

Longmire has plenty of parking and is heavily trafficked, so your car will be just fine there. Longmire also has the National Park Inn and several nearby restaurants within 30 minutes. An active volcano topping out at 14, feet, Mount Rainier rises dramatically from the surrounding Cascade Range. Perpetually snowcapped, Rainier is a premier American mountaineering destination.

A rigorous permitting process locks you into certain established mileages and campsites, and this can be aggravating to backpackers used to a more freewheeling style. The views along every step of the Wonderland Trail are second to none. This is a trail to be savored. The National Park Service allows up to 14 days to finish the trail, but even a relatively slow pace of ten miles a day will see you complete the trail within ten days.

The Wonderland Trail is famous for its glaciers, waterfalls, wildflowers, and varied terrain, so take your time and enjoy yourself! Summer and fall are the best times to hike the Wonderland Trail.

Spring and winter are too snowy to backpack. You can expect temperatures in summer to be in the mid-to-high 70s during the day and in the high 40s overnight. The trail is particularly crowded in August—so if you want to miss some of the crowds but make use of long days and warm temperatures, then aim for July. If you wait until school gets back into session i.

Although demand for Wonderland Trail permits continues to rise yearly, significantly fewer people apply for permits for mid-September and onward. The daily temperatures drop significantly in the early fall, down into the 60s or high 50s, depending on weather and elevation. Overnight lows will dip into the low 40s or possibly high 30s, again depending on weather and elevation.

Terrain on the Wonderland Trail is varied but subalpine. In the early summer you may be walking over compacted snow with paths worn by other hikers. Permits : Permits are a must if you are going to backpack the Wonderland Trail. The NPS has recently changed the way they handle this system, so pay close attention here!

This information applies to people seeking permits during the peak season of June 1st — Sept 30th. Hikers doing the complete Wonderland Trail are limited to camping in designated camps only - the use of cross-country zones is not permitted. Fires, pets , bicycles , and other wheeled devices are not permitted in the backcountry at Mount Rainier. Although firearms may be possessed or carried in accordance with Washington State law, use of firearms throughout the park including backcountry areas remains prohibited.

Please review the park's laws and policies. The Wonderland Trail has eighteen trailside wilderness camps and three non-wilderness camps. Parties with people will need a camp that has a group site. There is no wilderness or non-wilderness camping at Longmire. Hiking from Longmire in a clockwise direction, Wonderland Trail camps are:.

There are two wilderness camps on the alternate route of the Wonderland Trail through Spray Park. They are:. Highest Elevation : 6, ft 2, m — Panhandle Gap. Lowest Elevation : 2, ft m — Ipsut Creek Campground. Late September The autumnal colours were just beginning to emerge. It is a trail that leads through primeval forests, close to the mighty glaciers, past waterfalls and dashing torrents, up over ridges, and down into canyons; it leads through a veritable wonderland of beauty and grandeur.

Northern Spotted Owl. One of the coolest moments of my WT hike was this close encounter of the feathered kind. Rainier October We took plenty of breaks along the way, and weather-wise we had a mixture of rain, snow, and fine conditions.

Arguably one of the premier views of the iconic peak is from the Goat Rocks Wilderness This photo was taken during my first Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike in Interested in a celebratory meal after completing the Wonderland Trail?

I highly recommend eating at Wildberry restaurant , located just down the road from Longmire Wilderness Information Center 7. Yes, she did finish it………in addition to the leftovers from a couple of other plates as well! Wonderland Trail Gear List Disclosure : This post contains some affiliate links, which means The Hiking Life receives a small commission if you purchase an item after clicking on one of the links.

This comes at no additional cost to the reader and helps to support the website in its continuing goal to create quality content for backpackers and hikers. Great photos too, btw. Hi Scott, Thanks for the kind words. Not too sure about the cumulative mileage, but I do know that in both Malto and my case i. In contrast, Bobby and Snorks are just getting started!

Cheers, Cam. Thanks for the tips and pictures. Map and compass are not enough in this terrain and the type of weather one experiences there. Thanks for the great guide as usual Swami! I hiked a section of the WT via walk up permit the other week and just wanted to mention that you do apparently still need a permit for the 3 front country sites. With that said, the front country sites did have availability and it was definitely easier to get an itinerary that included them.

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