shout : into : the : wilderness
Mt Rainier
National Park
Wonderland Trail
trail details
Type of Trip: Backpacking Loop
Where: Mt Rainier National Park
Permits Required: Yes
Miles: 95
Net Elevation Change: 28,000 ft
Trailhead: Longmire
Cal Topo: https://caltopo.com/m/R2SP
Description: Circumnavigate Mt Rainier
logistics & itinerary
Wilderness Area : Mt Rainier National Park
When to apply? From February 12 until March 4, you can apply for the Wonderland permit lottery for dates within the June-September time frame. Applications will be processed in a random order and you’ll be notified sometime toward the end of April to beginning of May. The permit application also allows for some flexibility, if you want it. It will ask if you’ll accept alternate campsites, dates, starting trailhead, and hiking direction. In the notes box, we had also added that we could hike 16 mile days which is probably how we ended up with a campground not on the actual trail.
Permit Style: Lottery and then in-person
Permit Application: Wilderness Permits
Real Time Permit Availability
Day
Miles
Camp
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
16.7
7.6
10.3
13.5
12.9
17.1
16.9
Klapatche Park
Golden Lakes
Mowich Lake
Mystic Lake
White River
Olallie (off trail)
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Food Cache
*
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When did we do this hike? July 2019
Transportation: We parked our car at Longmire (this is why I love loops)
Itinerary:
Food Cache: We mailed two food caches in advance of our trip. One to Mowich Lake and one to White River. Follow the Mt Rainier caching guidelines here.
Water: Filter or treat all water. Creek crossings were pretty frequent allowing for several refill points through each day.
Leave-No-Trace: Follow Leave No Trace principles. Dispersed camping is not allowed on the Wonderland Trail. You must only camp at the campgrounds listed on your permit. All trailside camps at Mount Rainier have pit or composting toilets. In a cross-county zones the "cathole" method is the most widely accepted alternative in areas with soil. To promote decomposition, choose a site in organic soil rather than sandy mineral soil. With a small garden trowel dig a cathole six to eight inches deep and four to six inches in diameter and at least 100 feet from water sources, camp areas, and trails. Mix in dirt and cover, attempting to disguise the hole with brush and ground cover. Pack out all toilet paper. A less impacting option is to utilize “Blue Bags” and pack out all your waste, depositing the bags in designated collection barrels. Do all washing at least 100 feet from water. Do not put any soup in water (even biodegradable and natural soup pollutes). Carry out all trash. Do not burn or bury toilet paper or trash.
Flora Considerations: None
Fauna Considerations: We stored our food and anything with a smell in an Ursack Minor and used the bear poles or bear box that was located at each campsite. An abundance of deer, squirrels, rodents, and Stellar Jays can be found along the trail. The Stellar Jays will grab food right out of your hands. Know what to do if you come across a black bear or mountain lion.
Trail Specific Considerations: Be up to date on trail conditions, parts of the trail may still be under snow cover or be washed out. Some parts of the trail have 100% sun exposure over many miles. This is a long hike. Pay attention to how your body feels. Like any wilderness trip, you accept a certain amount of risk when going on your hike. You are responsible for assessing how comfortable you feel with that risk and understanding your own physical abilities.
#Washington #Mt Rainier #Pacific Northwest #PNW