Route: Mt Rainier Northern Loop Trail (WA)

The Northern Loop trail formally begins 2.4 miles from the Sunrise Visitor Center. At the 3-way junction, here you will choose whether to do the Wonderland section first (CW) or descend into Berkley Park in CCW direction and save the Wonderland for the back half.

Consider the Northern Loop, a Wonderland Trail Lite. You still get a full adventure packed with spectacularly rugged scenery on this hike but with about one third the mileage of the epic trip around the Mountain. Plus, you’ll get a remote uncrowded experience as you wander through the northern hinterlands of the park. Incorporating a stretch of the Wonderland Trail; the Northern Loop ventures across parkland meadows, alpine tundra, old-growth forest groves, glacial moraine, high passes, and low valleys with lakes, creeks and a couple of exciting river crossings.