Wonderland Trail Trail

Quick planning snapshot.

Time to Hike: 9 to 12 days to cover about 150 km of trail; most people break the route into 8 to 12 stages depending on fitness and campsite availability.

Best Time to Go: July to September is the prime window when most high snow has melted and the main campsites are reliable.

Getting there: The loop runs inside Mount Rainier National Park with common access points at Longmire, Paradise and Mowich Lake; these trailheads are reached by road from Seattle in a few hours.

Costs: Expect a park entry fee, required backcountry camping permits and zone reservations from the park service; budget for permit fees, food and fuel and allow extra for campsite reservation costs.

Difficulty: Physically demanding with long, sustained climbs and descents, creek crossings and exposed alpine sections; changing mountain weather and lingering snow can add objective hazards.

Mount Rainier National Park surrounds the Wonderland Trail, which circles the glaciated summit through a sequence of distinct zones. Hikers move from dense, mossy old-growth forest into subalpine meadows awash with wildflowers, then to rocky ridgelines with glacier views and waterfalls spilling from high valleys.

There are no staffed huts on the route; overnighting is in designated backcountry campsites and zones managed by the park. The trail is notable for its uninterrupted circuit of an active stratovolcano and for offering frequent summit views from different aspects, plus memorable places such as the high meadows near Paradise and the quieter lake and river sections around Mowich Lake.

Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are the usual international gateways. From Seattle drive roughly two to three hours to the park entrances; private vehicle is the most practical option as public transport into trailhead areas is limited.

Popular access points for starting the loop are Longmire, Paradise and Mowich Lake. Many thru hikers elect to go clockwise so the largest climbs come earlier in the itinerary, but both directions are commonly used depending on permit availability and personal preference.

The walkable season is typically July through September when the majority of the high passes and campsites are free of snow. Early summer routes can still have significant snowfields; late season brings early storms and short daylight.

Backcountry permits and campsite reservations are required and should be arranged well in advance through the park service reservation system. Expect variable conditions - lingering snow, high creek flows after rain or melt, and mosquitoes in low meadows - and pack for self sufficient, multi day backcountry travel.