Skyline Trail

For a good reason, more people tour Paradise than any other location on Mount Rainier. The views are absolutely spectacular, the services plentiful, and the trails many. Of all the trails in Paradise, Skyline is the most well known and frequently hiked. As you might guess by the name, the Skyline Trail goes above timberline onto alpine terrain with an awe-inspiring look at the Nisqually Glacier. The trail ascends rather steeply for about two miles, so prepare for a workout. At the junction with the Pebble Creek Tail, 2 miles into the hike, you reach the top of your ascent. This is the path many mountaineers take on their hike to the summit. A good glimpse of the path to the top can be had less than 0.5 mile from the turnoff, where Pebble Creek makes a good lunch spot. Otherwise, stay to the right, following the Skyline Trail. You descend steeply along switchbacks in alpine terrain almost all the way to the Golden Gate Trail junction. The Golden Gate Trail provides a shortcut back to Paradise, cutting about 2 miles off the hike length. To stay on the Skyline Trial, stay to the left. Along the hike you will see a bizarre bench made of stone which serves as a monument to P.B. Van Trump and Hazard Stevens, and their first ascent of Mount Rainier. You will then travel 1.3 miles of constant decline with random switchbacks which leads you to Myrtle Falls, an unimpressive but pretty waterfall. You must walk to the bottom, a short side trip, to see it well. Once you return to the main tail, you should be able to see Paradise and walk 0.4 miles back to the trailhead.

Highlights: Skyline views, glaciers, historic sites, waterfall
Distance: 5.2 miles roundtrip
Hike time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Directions: Link Here

Staircase Rapids Trail

Forest hikes rarely get better than this. This delightful and popular trail leads to beautiful scenes. The route is entirely in the deep forest, which consists of fir, hemlock, and western red cedar. The huge trees rise above lush undergrowth that is almost as luxuriant as that in the rain forests. The trail begins at the end of FS Road 24 across the river from Staircase Ranger Station at the edge of the clearing that was formerly occupied by the Staircase Resort. Near the trail’s beginning, a side path leads to the remains of a giant western red cedar that fell in January 1999, apparently from old age. About 14 feet in diameter, it was one of the largest trees in the valley and estimated to be eight hundred years old. The trail then comes out onto the banks of the Skokomish. The crystal clear stream, every rock on the bottom visible, flows rapidly here, the rushing water muffling the birds that dwell in the forest. The climax of the walk is Staircase Rapids, a series of regularly spaced terraces over which the river spills. This is easily one of the Olympics' most scenic stretches of river and well worth a visit. The name Staircase derives from The Devil’s Staircase, after a visitor called it upon returning from a trip up the river. The path at that time was largely a staircase of roots to which one had to cling when climbing up and down the bluff. Eventually the place became simply known as Staircase, and the name was later given to the rapids.

Highlights: History, wild birds, alpine glacier, deep forest, river
Distance: 3.5 miles roundtrip
Hike Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Directions: Take U.S. Highway 101 to Hoodsport and turn off onto Lake Cushman Road. Pass Lake Cushman State Park and drive to the end of the road, where there's a junction. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 24 and drive 6.6 miles to the Staircase Ranger Station and trailhead parking.

Whnoochee Lake Shore Trail

This hike is great for one who is an adventurous hiker. The Wynoochee Dam was built by the U.S. Corps of Engineers to control floods in 1967. The Forest Service built a trail around the new lake. Horses and motor-bikers are not allowed. The trial climbs up and down in order to cross ravines, the route gains and loses quite a bit of elevation. At various points one can look across the water to beautiful mountains that have been badly scarred by logging. The trail takes you through a swampy area overgrown with alders and maples. When the trail comes out to the head of the lake, you may be unsettled to find that it is necessary to cross the Wynoochee Rivers because the stream is not bridged at this point. The forest on the other side of the lake is more impressive because of the stands of virgin timber are more extensive.

Highlights: Virgin forests, Adventure, Wynoochee River
Distance: 12 miles roundtrip
Hike Time: 6 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Directions: From Olympia, travel west on State Route 8, which becomes US Highway 12 west of Elma. Exit US 12 at Montesano. Start your odometer at the end of the exit ramp and turn right. At 0.2 mile, turn left on Pioneer. At 1.3 miles, turn right on Wynoochee Road. At 36.5 miles, turn left toward Wynoochee Lake. At 36.7 miles, turn right onto Forest Road 2294. Drive past the dam. At 38 miles, turn right into Wynoochee Lake Dam and Picnic Area to park.

Trail of the Shadows

This hike is for people who like history and enjoy a nice easy hike. This short day hike takes you around an enchanting meadow, while leading you to many informative stations. The theme of the stations is James Longmire, his crusade for a natural health spa, and his love of the mountain. The first stop is a work of stone masonry with bubbling water, said in the nineteenth century to cure any illness. As the sign ironically reads, don't drink the water, it can make you very sick. The next stop is the cabin that Longmire build. Next door is Iron Mike, a spring which is tinted orange by iron minerals. The end of the hike includes interesting wild vegetation.

Highlights: Historical sites, wild vegetation
Distance: 0.7 miles roundtrip
Hike Time: 1 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Directions: Link Here

Stevens Canyon

This is one hike I would love to go on, as I adore crashing water. On this hike you pass by five waterfalls while hiking through a canyon filled with wildflowers and wildlife. Deers and snakes are a common sight in this area, so don't be scared when you see them. Wildflowers such as phlozx and glacier lilies line the trail in late spring, but Stevens Canyon is best known for its many falls. Sylvia Falls is the one of the waterfall you will see. Even though it is obscured by large trees you will be able to see something engaging. It appears as if the water shoots directly out of the land from no source. Martha Falls is another waterfall you will see on this hike and the most impressive because of its size.

Highlights: Waterfalls, wildflowers, wildlife
Distance: 6.6 miles roundtrip
Hike Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Directions: Located near Paradise, within Mount Rainier National Park. Coming from the Nisqually Entrance of the park, drive as you would to Paradise. As the main road makes a sweeping turn uphill to the left, about 8/10 of a mile from Narada Falls, turn right towards Stevens Canyon and park immediately in the large pullout where the two roads meet. Coming from the Stevens Canyon Entrance, drive towards Paradise and park on the left side of the road shortly after crossing the Paradise River. Find the signed Narada Falls trail on the east side of the bridge, and follow the trail downstream for no more than 1/5 of a mile to views back up into the cascades from the bottom. The entire falls are visible from the bottom from the trail, so there is no need to stray off the trail at all, and for the sake of not trampling meadow flowers, don't. You can also hike upstream from Narada Falls for about 4/10 of a mile, along the same trail, to the falls.

Glacier Basin Trail

Last week I went on another hike. This hike is near Granite Falls and is a long and difficult hike. First you must walk to an old ghostly town called Monte Cristo. This is a 4 mile walk which doesn't seem that bad on the way there, but on the way home seems a little long. Fifty years ago you were able to drive into the town, but today you must walk, bike, or horse ride. It is a nice walk as it is mostly flat and there are wild berries in the summer months. I found many salmon berries on the way into town. The town was set up for gold mining in 1889, but was closed in 1907 for being uneconomical. For more information about this town, check out, http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/wa/montecristo.html. Glacier Basin Trail starts in the town on Monte Cristo. It is a very difficult 4 mile roundtrip hike as it is vertical the whole way up. I had to take two breaks before reaching the top. Once you reach the top there is a big rock which you can sit to take a break and have lunch. You will have a beautiful view of the northwest forest, a cascading waterfall, and airborne butterflies.

Highlights: Waterfalls, butterflies, old gold mines, wildberries
Distance: 7.8 miles roundtripHike
Hike Time: 6 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Directions: Take Mountain Loop Highway thru Granite Falls to Barlow Pass. You will pass two very distinct bridges the first one is blue and the second is red. Also you will know that you are at Barlow Pass becuz the paved road ends. There is a parking lot on the left hand side or you can park along the road. You will need a parking pass available at the Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest ranger station that you pass as you enter the forest. ($7 for the day or $30 for the year) After completing the 4.19 trek (hike, bike, horse, or if fortunate to have a key drive) into Monte Cristo, continue on thru the town where you will see the signs for Glacier Basin Trail. (Lat:47.98595 Lon:-121.39377)

Lake 22

This Washington hike is not very steep but there are occasional rocky sections which could make it difficult. Past the bridge the trail climbs a little more steeply. During the hike there will be glimpes of waterfalls and cascades. The forests around Lake 22 are unique for Washington state and are a must see. Once you reach the top of the hike you are rewarded with a wonderful sight of the lake. The lake sits surrounded on three sides by half-mile high mountain walls shooting straight up from the sides of the lake. Lake 22 was carved by glaciers and is said to contain water from them. But you are not to drink the water due to parasitic content. There is a path that goes around the edge of the lake but be careful in some times of the year. Sometimes there is snow that makes for a slipppery crossing of the lake's bridge.

Highlights: Streamside scenery, old-growth forests, and a beautiful lake with a half-mile high mountain wall as a backdrop .
Distance: 5.4 miles round trip
Hike Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Directions: From Granite Falls: Follow the Mountain Loop Highway from it's south portal in Granite Falls, WA approximately 12 miles to the Lake 22 trailhead in Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest.

Rampart Ridge

This hike is great for those who want a workout, great scenery, and a hike that is snow-free in June. In less than 2 miles the trail takes you up 1, 200 feet and allows you to peer into the valley you just ventured from. Remember to bring plenty of water because this hike has no water sources. This forest trek will take you though ancient cedars and firs. There will be occasional glimpses of the snowy face of Mount Rainier, but the beauty is the wonderful local scenery. The deep forest is home to an assortment of birds and animals, including ravens and red foxes.

Highlights: A short but steep hike, views overlooking Eagle Peak, the Nisqually River, and Mount Rainier, assortment of birds and animals.
Distance: 4.8 miles round trip
Hike Time: 5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Directions: Drive I-90 to the Stampede Pass/Lake Kachess exit 62 12.5 miles east of Snoqualmie Pass. Turn north and drive 5 miles to the Lake Kachess CG, then turn left for 4 mi on Box Canyon Road #4930, then left for again for .2 mi to trailhead.

Big Four Ice Caves

Last week I made an easy hike to Big Four Ice Caves. Big Four Ice Caves is located about 25 miles east of Granite Falls, Washington. The hike is approximately one mile. The trail rises about 300 feet from a beginning at 1,700 feet, making Big Four the lowest glacier cave on record in the world! However, Big Four is not really a glacier at all; it is a debris pile. Snow avalanches tumble down the mountain continually during the cooler half of the year and accumulate. Because it is on the north, it is sheltered from direct sunlight and consequently is sheltered from melting. Be careful though, you cannot walk or touch its surface for you may be swallowed up by a deep crack or a hole covered by thin snow.

Highlights: Easy hike, waterfalls, snowfields, ice caves, Mountaing views
Distance: 1.1 miles round trips
Hike Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Directions: From Interstate 5 in Everett, take Exit 194 and follow Highway 2 east. Turn left on Highway 204, left on Highway 9, and right on Highway 92. After Granite Falls, drive 25.5 miles and turn right into the trailhead parking lot.