Washington·United States
Photo: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Wonderland Trail circles the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 states, climbing and dropping over ridge after ridge between river valleys fed by the ice. Every day brings a new face of the volcano, from the Spray Park meadows to the suspension bridges over glacial torrents.
In season: Jul–Sep · Peak: Aug
Around 150 km with about 7,000 m of total climbing, camping at designated backcountry camps. Snow can linger on the high sections until July, and the weather changes fast on the mountain.
The alternate high route through the wildflower basins
Ninety-three miles all the way round Mount Rainier
The most scenic section, permit-limited
Apply in the spring permit lottery for a full-circuit itinerary, or walk sections on shorter permits. Cache food at Longmire, Sunrise or Mowich Lake, start in August for the best snow-free conditions, and take the Spray Park variant on a clear day.
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