I am interested in walking the Wonderland Trail - which circumnavigates Mt Raineer.

I am interested in understanding from those who have walked it, what their experiences were.


Thanks in advance

it's not open now.
http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/the-wonderland-trail.htm

Do check out trailjournals.com. There are 10 or more WT journals there. Too bad about the flood damage and closing this year, but permits would have been tough to get again until late September anyway.

I've done the North Loop, which uses the WT for a day and a half. Ranier NP is a terrific place and worth the headache of dealing with permits. By circling it at varying elevations, you'll get the best possible perspective on one of the country's most iconic mountains. Take some small binoculars and you can watch the climbing parties!

I think the new full-color National Geographic Trails Illustrated map is nice.

The climate is generally Mediterranean in August and September, but cold rain and snow can come through the park even when it's sunny elsewhere in the state. Plan for any weather.

7sisters,

Hello,
I hiked the wonderland trail lastyear.....WOW!!! However as you know it is not open this year (parts are but not the whole thing) due to major flooding.

However NEXT YEAR you need to get a premit. They open on April 1st and you need to be on the phone.

The "Best time" is late August or early September. I say September as the School crowd is mostly gone and the weather is generally good.

The hike is up and down all day long. It is not easy. (Imagine yourself hiking up and down the letter V most of the day) That said the trail itself is nice as far a well maintained and well marked.

National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map of Mount Rainier National Park (#217) is the best map I've seen of the trail. You can get them at REI..Barnes and Noble.... If you are going to go I'd get that first and use it to plan your camping spots for when you get your premit. You have to camp in the campgrounds #1 by rule and #2 There are really no other places to camp even if you wanted to.

Most people hike in a clockwise direction. I went counter. I don't think it makes a bit of differents. The time it takes is up to you. The park rangers say 10 days. I did it in 5 days and ran into people doing it in 4. Most people start in Longmire and have a resupply at Sunrise. This is what I did. I drove my bucket of resupply to Sunrise and dropped it off with the Rangers the day before. There are many other options for resupply. Sunrise also has a diner and small store.

The trail is amazing. The trail is tough. The trail is worth the walk and it is worth the hassels of getting the premits. I did not find the trail to be overcrowded. Like I said I walked counterclockwise and ran into maybe 5 people a day. Only once, Mowich lake, was there anyone else but mayself and my partner in the campgrounds.

Sorry for making this so long but I like to share.

I would stay away from Devis Dream camp as it is dry. I was suppost to stay there on the "5th" night but we just kept hiking out instead. Olallie Creek was nice as was White River. I did not stay at but would recomend Indian Bar and Summerland. Mowich Lake is nothing more than a parking lot. For that reason there were lots of people meeting friends and family and staying the night. It was fine but keep in mind IT IS NOT a "CAMPING" spot like you would think. It is basically dirt/gravel parking lot with tables and and a bathroom. No trees.

Anyway I'll end for now. All questions will be answered if you ask more.

I'd do it again in a heart beat. It is a great trail!!!!

SweetAss

I want to do this trail someday. My co-worker will be in Mt. Rainier NP starting Sept 15 serving as the park's Public Information Officer for 10-12 weeks. I should have the scoop on what's happening later this year. I'll pass along info as it becomes available.

I am interested in walking the Wonderland Trail - which circumnavigates Mt Raineer.

I am interested in understanding from those who have walked it, what their experiences were.


Thanks in advance

I have done the whole Wonderland Trail twice and most of it several times. I rate it as a great experience. It is my favorite. In fact, I have hiked all three Wonderlands. There is one in Maine and also the "Wonderland of Rocks" in Arizona.

Although the Wonderland isn't open at this time, watch the NPS web site. All of the bridges have been repaired except for the one crossing the North Puyallup River. They were supposed to start repairing it yesterday.

I was in the Mt. Rainier Park last week and talked to a Ranger about it. He couldn't perdict how long it will take to repair that bridge, but he also said that the rest of the trail is now open.

There is no eacy detour around the North Puyallup bridge, but one could still have a great hike on the Wonderland Trail and just skip that section. I am seriously considering a hike starting on the Westside Road, taking the trail to Kiplatchi Park (The most beautiful camp site I have ever seen), then doing the Wonderland Trail counterclockwises back to Mowich Lake. That would cover about 80% of the trail and I did the other 20% last year.


Based on the snow I saw last week while climbing the Pennacle Peak Trail, I estimate that it will be September before the snow is mostly off of the section between Summerland and Indian Bar. The snow won't completely melt on Pan Handle Gap this year, but by September trail finding should not be a problem.

If you are intersted in pictures, the pictures from my hikes are available: http://www.naznet.com/mcclung/wt/index.html

It is my plan to eventually include additonal helpful information on the web site, but for now, the pictures will give you a good idea of what the Wonderland Trail is like.

If you have specific questions, I will be please to respond.

Firstly, let me thank all of you. I really appreciate your responses. I can sense the energy and fondness you have for this trail.

My plan is to backpack for a week in October and I am choosing between the following locations (I live in Delaware):
1 - Wonderland Trail
2 - Coastal part of Olympic NP
3 - Grand Canyon (have backpacked there 3 time)
4 - Yellowstone (have backpacked there once - an overnight) this w/b different part of park
5 - Colorado (never been)
6 - Idaho or Montana

So as you can see it's wide open right now. I'm not concerned about hitting snow, although I would rather avoid having to carry snow shoes. What I would want to avoid though w/b a place where likelihood of a huge dumping is high and route finding would be an issue. I'm going to be doing this solo.

I've completed the AT and would love to be in Maine in early October, but really I prefer a different spot.

Just wanted to let you all know my thinking and where I'm at.

4 - Yellowstone (have backpacked there once - an overnight) this w/b different part of park
5 - Colorado (never been)
6 - Idaho or Montana

So as you can see it's wide open right now. I'm not concerned about hitting snow, although I would rather avoid having to carry snow shoes. What I would want to avoid though w/b a place where likelihood of a huge dumping is high and route finding would be an issue. I'm going to be doing this solo.



You should be concerned about snow in these areas if you are also concerned about route finding. (ESp. in the high areas of ID/MT/CO).

By early-mid October, winter is officially here.

If you are prepared for winter conditions, it can be a wonderful thing. IF not, well..then it is not so wonderful. :)

Personally. I'd go to Arizona in October. Though I have not done AZ at that time of the year, I have been to Utah a fair amount in Fall. It is awesome..just about perfect.

Just my .05 worth.

Firstly, let me thank all of you. I really appreciate your responses. I can sense the energy and fondness you have for this trail.

My plan is to backpack for a week in October and I am choosing between the following locations (I live in Delaware):
1 - Wonderland Trail
2 - Coastal part of Olympic NP
3 - Grand Canyon (have backpacked there 3 time)
4 - Yellowstone (have backpacked there once - an overnight) this w/b different part of park
5 - Colorado (never been)
6 - Idaho or Montana

So as you can see it's wide open right now. I'm not concerned about hitting snow, although I would rather avoid having to carry snow shoes. What I would want to avoid though w/b a place where likelihood of a huge dumping is high and route finding would be an issue. I'm going to be doing this solo.

I've completed the AT and would love to be in Maine in early October, but really I prefer a different spot.

Just wanted to let you all know my thinking and where I'm at.

If you have a week, why don't you tackle two of them? Do the Ozette Loop Trail in Olympic National Park (2 days) then spend the rest of the week on the Wonderland Trail. October may be too late to hike the east side of the Wonderland Trail, but you could do the part from Longmire to Mowich Lake (4 day, three night).

I am interested in walking the Wonderland Trail - which circumnavigates Mt Raineer.

I am interested in understanding from those who have walked it, what their experiences were.


Thanks in advance

Good news. The Wonderland Trail has reopened.

I'd agree with Sutterbug on doing two different trails BUT since the Wonderland is now open.... However Oct is pretty late, Sutterbug may have more infor on the Snow conditions up there at that time but I'm sure it could turn into a major problem in October.

I just got back from the North Cascades yesterday (8/3/07) and there was a lot of snow up there still so I'm pretty sure that there is a good amount of snow on and around Panhandle Gap.

Good luck on what ever you do. Get you reservations in quick if you are thinking of the Wonderland.

SweetAss03

... Sutterbug may have more infor on the Snow conditions up there ...
SweetAss03

I hiked up to Spray Park this week. A lot of snow has melted since the last time I was there. Now that the Wonderland has opened, I am planning to do the Wonderland starting the end of August.

I'd agree with Sutterbug on doing two different trails BUT since the Wonderland is now open.... However Oct is pretty late, Sutterbug may have more infor on the Snow conditions up there at that time but I'm sure it could turn into a major problem in October.

I just got back from the North Cascades yesterday (8/3/07) and there was a lot of snow up there still so I'm pretty sure that there is a good amount of snow on and around Panhandle Gap.

Good luck on what ever you do. Get you reservations in quick if you are thinking of the Wonderland.

SweetAss03

I got my permit today. The rush hasn't started yet. Every camp on the Wonderland Trail is wide open this weekend.

I have decided to hike the Wonderland starting the last week of August and the first week of September. I got every camp I wanted on the night I wanted. There is still a section of the Wonderland Trail between Box Canyon and Reflection Lakes that is closed, so one will have to hike on the road for 4.5 miles. The rest of the trail is open.

This is the first time I have ever gotten reservations for Summerland and Indian Bar on the same trip. Both of those camps are usually full.

The camps I got are Summerland, Indian Bar, Nickle Creek, Pyramid Creek, Devils Dream, Kplatchy Park, Mowich River, Ipust, and Granite Creek. Start and end at Sunrise. I am leaving the trail for a couple of days at Longmire.

I am interested in walking the Wonderland Trail - which circumnavigates Mt Raineer.

I am interested in understanding from those who have walked it, what their experiences were.


Thanks in advance

My son and I hiked the Wonderland Trail from Frying Pan Creek trail head to Indian Bar Backcountry camp. We hiked out on Friday and back on Sunday. That section of trail is the most beautiful section I have ever hiked.

Because of the negative publicity this year concerning storm damage, there are very few people on the trail.

If you are looking for a great hike this year, the Wonderland will be a great option.

I noticed there was also zone camping along the WT. Is that available to hikers doing the complete trail?

I noticed there was also zone camping along the WT. Is that available to hikers doing the complete trail?

Yes, it is available; however, the rangers do their best to talk you out of it. They much prefer that hikers stick with the back country camps along the trail.

Some may not be familiar with the concept. One can get a permit to camp in a zone rather than one of the backcounrty camps. From my memory, the rules are that the camp has to be at least 1/4 mile from any trail, must be out of sight of any trail, must be at least 100 feet from a water source and the camper may not leave any trace of their camp.


The first time I hiked the Wonderland Trail ('01), the camps on the east side were all full. I decided to do a zone camp in that area. The Rangers convinced me that it would be really hard to find a legal place to camp under the zone camping rules. They allowed me to use one of the group camps instead.

If you are still planning to hike the Wonderland Trail this year, it is a great year to do so. The publicity about storm damage has kept hikers away. I hiked the east side (Frying Pan Creek to Indian Bar) last week (the second time this month). There were very few hikers on the trail. The entire trail is now open except for the section between Box Canyon and Reflection Lakes. That section (4 miles) has been rerouted along the road.

Thanks for the info Shutterbug.
I'll probably head out there in 08.