I hiked the whole trail, and I would go back to the north and east sides, but would mostly avoid the south and west sides. The north and east are scenic and wild, with good trail and a lot of alpine hiking. The west side is often low, hot, buggy, and mountain views are rare. The south side is a slog up a steep overgrown trail.If I had limited time I would not hike the whole trail, but would concentrate on the best parts.
It was intriguing when we read it is a 93-mile trail looping around Mt. Rainier. We covered only a part of it near Sunrise Point. It was really beautiful and surely Wonderlandish! :)
Take 10 days away from the world and spend it in peace. This 97 mile trail goes around the base of Mt. Rainier and will bring you back to your center.
I've hiked the trail in 2 parts. Some of the foot bridges are not for the faint of heart otherwise all you need is strength and to be well prepared and have your campsites reserved. We've encountered rangers that were not very nice and for no good reason! Mice are a problem in areas and bring bug repellent. Water is everywhere and I just boil it and don't bother pumping it.
An incredible diverse adventure. I have been visiting for over 38 years
My girlfriend and I did the entire Wonderland Trail in September, 2011. The trail is 95 miles long, circumnavigating the base of Mount Rainier. The big challenge on this trail isn't the distance, but the 20,000' of elevation gain, and 20,000' of elevation loss you encounter over the course of the trail. We started at the White River Campground and went clockwise, and completed the trip in 10 days. There are many trailheads along the trail, so day-hikes or even short overnight trips can be done as well. I can't even describe the beauty of the scenery. You just have to see it for yourself. There are plenty of campsites (permits required), and lots of water sources. If you are planning to go, make sure you understand the physical demands of this trail. Plan your trip according to your skills and abilities, pack as light as possible, and utilize the food cache system. You must have a perk service permit, which must be applied for in early spring (info is on the park website). Important info sources include Bette Filley's "Wonderland Trail" book, the park service website, and get a good waterproff topographic map of the trail. I also strongly suggest using trekking poles, as they are invaluable for the steep ascents and descents, and crossing snowfields (depending on time of year and previous winter's snowfall). Also check out NWHiker.net, which has forums for hikers and people often post trip reports which have good info and pictures of the trail. Be prepared for mosquitoes and black flies. They were bad on the Southwest (wettest) side of the mountain. Most of all, have fun and enjoy it! Feel free to contact me if you are serious about hiking the trail and would like more info.
Wow, it was hard to keep my eyes on the trail as I was continually snapping my head to the left to take photos of the great views of Mount Rainier. While on the Wonderland trail, we crossed below two glaciers on exciting "bridges" over raging rivers of glacial water.
We conquered the Wonderland Trail in 11 days, cut it one day short than planned and walked 20 miles the last day, other than that we averaged 9ish miles per day. The camps we slept at were very well kept with flat spots for your tent and toilets, The trail is well marked with signs at every camp, footbridges and a couple impressive suspension bridges, also cairns kindly placed by fellow backpackers/hikers. Be sure to prep by taking several backpacking trips conditioning your knees, legs and feet for the constant up and downs on the Wonderland, approx. 23,000 ft in 93+ miles. Cache your food. Bring warm/rain gear just in case, and bring poles! Be prepared for the elements, weather can be unpredictable. Down and Gortex is our friend. I'd also recommend investing in some nice hiking boots for traction and ankle support. I was surprised at how many people wearing sneakers hiked this trail. Narrow loose rocky ledges, sharp edges, slippery slopes, mossy rocks, steep ascents and descents, prickly meadows, snow, dry river beds, and roots are just a few things good boots will really help a lot with. If you're lucky like us you'll see bears, elk, marmots, pekas and lots of birds. We watched 3 momma bears with 2 cubs each! It was truly amazing. Rivers, lakes, waterfalls, elusive mountain views and the quiet made this trip one of the best vacations I've ever taken. Imagine reading a book next to a lake, 5000 ft above sea level, several miles from any road with Mt. Rainier painted in the skyline. Breathtaking. Book we used for planning: MOUNTAINEERS BOOKS Hiking The Wonderland Trail: The Complete Guide To Mount Rainiers Premier Trail by TAMI ASARS15.00$ park entrance fee.Permit lottery fee: 5 bucksGear: $$$
Disclaimer: I've never hiked the whole trail (93 miles).This trail takes you all the way around Mt. Ranier. Mt. Ranier is one of the most beautiful places in the USA. I hike a few miles near the 'Paradise' visitors center and it's gorgeous.
My wife and I do a 1-2 week backpacking trip about every other year. We just completed the Wonderland Trail in 10 days and it is now my favorite for the U.S. It has everything. Waterfalls, wildlife, glaciers, great mountain views, and wild flowers. Plus, the place is carpeted with berries (especially blueberries) in a lot of areas and you can access them right on the trail. A lot of the trail has tree cover so you stay cool and avoid sunburn (but do bring sunscreen). Also be sure to bring rain gear because if you do the whole thing, you are bound to get a few days of rain even during the driest period of the year. There are good food caching options so it's possible to do the trail only carrying 3-4 days of food at a time.