Route guide · Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Wonderland Trail

A 93-mile circumnavigation of Mount Rainier that gains and loses over 22,000 ft as it drops into forested river valleys and climbs back to subalpine parkland, over and over. Camps are assigned wilderness sites, so the itinerary is fixed the day your permit is — build the plan around the camps you can actually get.

Length: 86.2 mi
Duration: 8–11 days
Gain: +25,180 ft
Season: mid-Jul – Sep

loophigh point 6,812 ftstrenuous — long with major climbsno cell — carry offline mapsno dogs

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permit required · we track who booked what · the whole crew on one page

9 campsites

Expand map ↓

Permit required — NPS wilderness permit with assigned camps — early-access lottery in spring, walk-up permits are scarce. Official info

The shape of the trail

Route profile · camps

campelevation

Day by day

A reference itinerary, from real camps

Camps below are mapped campsites spaced to balance the daily miles — the same planner that builds a Trailmix trip. Your dates, pace and direction reshape it live.

Total86.2 mi · 8 nights

Days on trail

Day 1 · 55.6 mi · +15,260 ft
Trailhead → Camp 1
From a trailhead like Longmire, this leg is a moderate climb through forest to reach Dick Creek Camp.
forested valley walk
Day 2 · 2.2 mi · +1,180 ft
Camp 1 → Site 1
A strenuous, long day with significant climbing through multiple ecological zones to reach the high-altitude Mystic Camp.
major elevation gain
Day 3 · 6.3 mi · +2,050 ft
Site 1 → South Puyallup River Camp
This is an extremely long and arduous section with over 11,000 feet of climbing, likely representing several days of hiking to reach Maple Creek Camp.
multi-day effort
Day 4 · 3.8 mi · +2,020 ft
South Puyallup River Camp → 4
From Dick Creek, the trail climbs steadily through subalpine terrain towards Granite Creek, passing beautiful Mystic Lake along the way.
past Mystic Lake
Day 5 · 2.4 mi · +80 ft
4 → North Puyallup River Group Camp
From Granite Creek Camp, it's a relatively short and mostly downhill hike to the White River Campground.
mostly descending
Day 6 · 4.9 mi · +1,820 ft
North Puyallup River Group Camp → Golden Lakes Camp
This leg climbs from Granite Creek past Sunrise, then descends into the White River valley before a big climb towards Summerland and Panhandle Gap.
two major valleys
Day 7 · 5.7 mi · +120 ft
Golden Lakes Camp → South Mowich River Camp
This short but steep leg climbs relentlessly through meadows from White River Campground up to the stunning camp at Summerland.
steady, scenic climb
Day 8 · 3.8 mi · +2,320 ft · hardest
South Mowich River Camp → Camp 8
A long day crossing two major climbs and descents, passing through the beautiful areas of Indian Bar and then descending into the forested valley to Maple Creek.
multiple canyons
Day 9 · 1.5 mi · +290 ft
Camp 8 → Back to trailhead
After climbing out of the Indian Bar basin, this leg is a long, forested descent down into the Nickel Creek valley.
mostly downhill

Conditions at the trailhead

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington · updated daily

FRI 10·09

46° / 30°

rain · 81%

SAT 10·10

35° / 30°

cloud · 15%

SUN 10·11

45° / 32°

clear · 3%

MON 10·12

49° / 32°

clear · 0%

TUE 10·13

50° / 35°

cloud · 9%

RIVER CROSSINGS — Glacial rivers can swell dramatically in the afternoon from snowmelt. Plan to cross early in the day and always check current trail conditions, as bridges are frequently washed out.

SUBALPINE EXPOSURE — The trail frequently climbs out of forested valleys into exposed subalpine and alpine terrain where weather can change rapidly. Be prepared for sun, wind, and cold.

Know before you go

hikingtahoma.com · cleverhiker.com · nps.gov · erinexploring.com

Best months

share of dry days · Open-Meteo Archive (ERA5), 10-year normals at the trailhead

TRAILHEADS

Most hikers start the loop at Longmire, but White River, Mowich Lake, and Sunrise are also common access points.

NPS

WATER

Water is generally available from streams and lakes, but some high-elevation camp sources can dry up late in the season; all water should be treated.

NPS

FOOD STORAGE

All designated camps have bear poles for food storage, making bear canisters unnecessary during the main season.

NPS

CAMPING FEE

A wilderness permit fee of $12 per person per night is required, plus a non-refundable $6 reservation fee.

NPS

RESUPPLY

Hikers can mail or drop off food caches at the Longmire Wilderness Information Center and the White River Campground.

NPS

RIVER CROSSINGS

Many glacial rivers must be crossed; while major ones have bridges, log bridges can wash out, requiring potentially hazardous fords.

NPS

Asked around the fire (about this trail)

Do I need a permit for the Wonderland Trail?

Yes. NPS wilderness permit with assigned camps — early-access lottery in spring, walk-up permits are scarce.

How many days does the Wonderland Trail take?

Most groups take 8–11 days. The reference itinerary here plans 9 nights, camp to camp.

When is the best time to hike the Wonderland Trail?

mid-July – September. Outside that window expect snow, storm damage or closures to change the plan.

How do I resupply food on the trail?

You can mail or hand-deliver up to five 5-gallon rodent-proof containers to cache locations at Longmire and White River Campground to avoid carrying food for the entire trip.

How difficult is it to get a permit?

Permits are extremely competitive. Most are awarded through an early-access lottery in the spring. A small number of first-come, first-served permits are available daily, but securing a full loop itinerary this way is rare.

When is the best time to hike the Wonderland Trail?

The primary season is from late July through September. Hiking earlier may require crossing steep, dangerous snowfields and fording high, fast-moving rivers.

Get the Wonderland Trail in the bag.

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