The cloud layer precluded views above to the glacier, but the overlook down to Kauntz Creek is steep and sometimes precipitous, magnifying the view. But Mildred Point sports one of the best views I’ve seen in this entire park, despite the “main attraction” being in absentia. I continued on to Mildred Point, a bit of a quad buster on the last half mile. The trail continued to the right, switch backing up until I crossed the creek above the falls. Comet Falls is truly impressive with an open view to the lengthy drop of this watercourse. I had been on the Rampart Ridge trail to Van Trump Park years ago but missed some essential points, which I covered today. However, no rain was anticipated nor encountered. I drove the relatively short distance to the trail head for Comet Falls for round two under noticeably less blue….a cloud layer had moved in and essentially stayed for the rest of my day. Reference the map above for loop particulars, the total stats were 79 miles with 13,300’ of elevation gain/loss.Ī full photo gallery of the Wonderland hikes can be seen here. There’s always something new to experience on this excursion, no matter how many times I’ve set foot to the trail over the years. I’m putting this year’s Wonderland as my #31, unique in both the execution and timing for the three segments. It was a sublime experience to cover this section of the trail this late in the season without contending with snow (there were a few icy spots before Panhandle Gap from previous snowfall that had not melted out). As this week wears on the forecast calls for snow levels to drop to 4500 feet, so winter is afoot. The latest I had done the Wonderland in the past was October 1-3 in the 90’s, also taking advantage of superb weather. Aside from easy access areas like Reflection Lakes and Summerland, I had the trail to myself. Then it was just a matter of driving around to pick up my bike.ĭetails are in the blog post above, but this proved to be superbly enjoyable. This allowed me to hike from Fryingpan Creek to Box Canyon, taking me past Summerland, over Panhandle Gap and the Cowlitz Divide via Indian Bar, then regaining my vehicle. On day two I drove to Box Canyon, retrieved my steed from the forest, and biked to the north side of the park at the Fryingpan Creek trail head, which is just a few miles before White River. This allowed me to hike the Wonderland from Box Canyon to Longmire. I started at Longmire for the short day on Sunday, October 21st. In order to avoid involving anyone else for logistics, I decided to finish the trail by positioning myself via bike and looping back twice. Without repeating myself in this 2018 hike section, I’ll synopsize these two days an incredible weather window that just couldn’t be passed up. There’s a reason they call the area Paradise! It was such a fun adventure and I can’t wait to come back someday and hike the other trails.Click here for the regular blog post on the three segments making up my 2018 hike of the Wonderland. While there are so many trails and regions of the park to explore, the Reflection Lakes Loop is a great choice because you get to see it all - mountains, wildlife, flowers, and lakes. Just beyond Faraway Rock is a small “hidden” pond - Fairy Pond is not on the map, but it’s hard to miss! There’s something so special about this quiet spot in the middle of the mountain. It was such a magical moment I’ll never forget. The best surprise, about halfway through the hike, was reaching Faraway Rock and being welcomed by the most peaceful view of the Tatoosh Mountain Range and the ever so blue Louise Lake. While some parts of the trail can get steep, I’d say that the hike is moderate and definitely doable for someone who isn’t a “hiker.” If anything, it’s a great workout, and the views are so worth it! From there, drop down to the lake and hike counterclockwise! Begin your hike at the base of mountain - the trailhead is located right off of Stevens Canyon Road. In only 2.75 miles roundtrip, the Reflection Lakes Loop trail offers sweeping views of mountain ranges and blooming wildflower meadows. But perhaps the best view of the mountain can be found at Reflection Lakes, located in the Paradise region. Just a 2.5 hour drive from Seattle, Mount Rainier National Park is perfect for a day trip, with hikes of all different lengths and levels. Mount Rainier may be the most iconic scene in Washington State, and there’s no better way to explore it than hiking one of its many trails.
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