Hiking the Naches Peak Loop Trail at Mount Rainier

Looking for more beautiful trails near Mount Rainier?
Try this hidden hike to Stafford Falls.

CURRENT INFO

General information about the Naches Peak Loop Trail is available on the Mount Rainier National Park webpage. Find current trip reports on the WTA (Washington Trails Association) website. This hike is featured in numerous hiking guidebooks, including Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington by Susan Elderkin and Moon Washington Hiking by Craig Hill.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Bring your America the Beautiful Pass or Northwest Forest Pass to hang in your car window. Passes are not available at the trailhead, so be sure to obtain one ahead of time. I prefer the America the Beautiful Pass because it covers everything the Northwest Forest Pass covers, plus national parks, national monuments, and other national lands. Some individuals, including fourth graders, active military, and seniors, may qualify for a free or reduced price pass.
• Vault toilets and garbage cans are available at both the Naches Peak (aka Chinook Pass) trailhead and the Tipsoo Lake trailhead parking lots.
• Picnic tables are available at the Tipsoo Lake trailhead.
• You can park and start your hike from either the Naches Peak/Chinook Pass trailhead or the Tipsoo Lake trailhead. We started at Tipsoo Lake, which is often less crowded.
• Hike the Naches Peak Loop clockwise for the best views of Mount Rainier. When there is snow on the trail, this also means that you’ll encounter less snow on the second half of the hike (it gets better!).
• The Naches Peak Loop Trail is popular and can be crowded. Hike early to avoid crowds, or go when there is still snow on the trail. We hiked through snow and crossed paths with only a handful of other hikers after leaving both parking lots behind.
• Part of the Naches Peak Loop follows the Pacific Crest Trail, which lies just outside of Mount Rainier National Park on National Forest land.
• Pets are not allowed on the section of the Naches Peak Trail that lies within Mount Rainier National Park.
• Always follow Leave No Trace Principles.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Naches Peak Loop Trail can have snow well into the summer. We hiked the loop on July 21st, 2022, after a year of heavy snowfall, and much of the trail was still covered. Please check the Mount Rainier National Park website and the WTA (Washington Trails Association) website for current conditions and trip reports. Bring good footgear (possibly even crampons) and hiking poles if you expect to encounter frequent snow, and don’t be afraid to turn back if needed. Everyone’s comfort level and experience with snow is different, so stay safe and make the decision that’s right for you.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Naches Peak Loop showcases breathtaking scenery on a clear day, from postcard-perfect views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding Cascades, to swaths of wildflowers at your feet. Throw in a couple of emerald-green mountain tarns, and day hiking doesn’t get much better than this!

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Even with the snow (or perhaps because of it) my kids loved the hike around Naches Peak. Keep in mind that the going wasn’t always easy (a feature, not a bug, in my 11-year-old’s opinion). Those with very young children or limited hiking experience should wait until the snow clears before venturing out. Check the Mount Rainier National Park website and the WTA (Washington Trails Association) website for current conditions and trip reports.

It’s also worth noting that my 6-year-old struggled as we neared the mid-point of the hike. By that time, hiking across the snow had zapped his energy, and he wasn’t exactly a happy hiker. Fortunately, his spirits lifted as the snow eventually gave way to a clear and open trail. It was a good reminder that sometimes kids need a little space to work through challenges in their own time.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

Mount Rainier National Park offers bountiful hiking opportunities. If the 3.5-mile loop around Naches Peak whets your appetite for more, consider lengthening your hike to include Dewey Lake or Sheep Lake. You can also try another nearby beauty, such Stafford Falls or Owyhigh Lakes. If the road to Sunrise is open, I highly recommend this scenic drive to the highest point accessible by car in Mount Rainier National Park. It’s a 40-minute drive from the Naches Peak trailhead, but the views are more than worth it.

We drove south after our hike, and stopped by Cliff Droppers in Packwood for well-deserved burgers and fries. This local joint offers a wide range of burger toppings, as well as veggie, salmon, and chicken options.

The kids and I were headed to Oregon, and as luck would have it, I had the entire day free. This, I realized, was the perfect chance to try a hike that had been on my list for many years — the Naches Peak Loop at Mount Rainier National Park. We could easily drive a few hours out of our way en route from Seattle to enjoy what promised to be an epic day hike. Tahoma, the mighty mountain, was calling.

We arrived in the late morning and found the parking lot for the Naches Peak trailhead at Chinook Pass was full. This lot offers direct access to the Pacific Crest Trail, so is often crowded from mid- to late summer. Fortunately, the parking lot at nearby Tipsoo Lake also provides easy access to the Naches Peak Loop Trail, and had plenty of open spaces. We took in the lovely view of Tipsoo Lake, then turned left to follow the trail in a clockwise loop.

The trail began with a short climb leading above the lake and into the woods. Ahead of us, I saw a long line of hikers, and I wondered just how busy this hike would be. As you’ll discover later, I needn’t have worried.

As we hiked, my eye was immediately drawn to the proliferation of wildflowers along the trail. Avalanche lilies, glacier lilies, anemones, and more waved gently in the breeze. Interested in learning to identify some of these beautiful blooms? Check out the Wildflowers of Mount Rainier on the national park website.

Soon, we also encountered our first patch of snow on the trail. It wasn’t much trouble to cross, but it made me wonder just how much snow remained on the trail. Mount Rainier was blessed with heavy snowfall late in the spring, and many high mountain trails were still blanketed in white.

We crossed a bridge leading to the opposite side of Mather Memorial Parkway. Before long, the road disappeared as we followed the loop around Naches Peak. A few people stood in conversation near the bridge, discussing the snow. Little did we know that we would encounter only four more hikers beyond this point. The snow, it seems, led most visitors to simply turn back.

Not us! Even without hiking poles, my kids and I were confident we could handle a little snow. Besides, in the worst case scenario, we could always turn around. For now, we forged boldly ahead. We had no trekking poles, but we had our hands. We also had three pairs of eyes seeking out the best places to step and the places to avoid. When hiking on snow, use extra care around any streams or flowing water, as thin layers of melting snow may crumble suddenly underfoot. Caution is also key around tree trunks, where secret holes may lurk below what appears solid on the surface.

So, while I can’t recommend hiking across a snowfield for everyone, we had a great time. My older son especially loved the challenge of finding the best route across the ice, and I loved watching him hone his pathfinding skills.

Things got even better when we reached the first tarn along the route. For those unfamiliar, a tarn is a small mountain lake. Often fed by snowmelt, tarns are the jewels of the mountains, shimmering sapphire or emerald under the sun. The boys were entranced by its beauty, and we decided this was the perfect spot for a snack break. We were also delighted to discover a world of living creatures in the clear water. Lithe salamanders darted underneath rocks, while water skippers danced on the surface.

After our break, we left the small mountain lake behind and continued our trek across the snow. By now 6-year-old T’s reserves were running low, and he insisted the snack break hadn’t been nearly long enough. These last snowy sections were challenging, and T was not amused.

Fortunately, just as things seemed to be going from bad to worse for young T, the path cleared. We passed the halfway point in the hike and took another break near a junction with the Dewey Lake Trail. Here the Naches Peak Trail leaves the Pacific Crest Trail behind and turns west, taking day hikers back to the parking lot.

But before reaching the parking lot, there are views to enjoy. And I mean views. Before long, we caught our first glimpse of Tahoma (aka Mount Rainier) rising in the distance. As the snow shrank away, more and more wildflowers sprang from the earth, craning their colorful blossoms skyward.

We passed another tarn. While this lake wasn’t as picturesque as the first, the backdrop, featuring our favorite mountain, couldn’t be beat.

With this turn of events, everyone was in high spirits once more. The trail on the south side of Naches Peak was easy to follow and the views kept on coming. At one point, I looked southward and discovered Mount Adams peeking shyly above the surrounding Cascades.

As it turns out, the snow wasn’t quite done with us yet. Toward the end of the hike, we came across several more snow patches as the trail grew shadier. Piece of cake! By now T was ready for more summer snow fun, and both boys “skied” happily down the slopes in their shoes.

The last downhill stretch led to Mather Memorial Parkway. We stopped briefly to check out Little Tipsoo Lake before crossing the road and hiking across one final snowfield to reach our car.

In and around the parking lot, other visitors snapped photos, stepped gingerly onto the snow, and paused by the lakeshore. They smiled, entranced by the beauty that surrounded us all, recognizing what a privilege it was to be here. I smiled, too, remembering our recent trek. Indeed, the promise of an epic day hike on the Naches Peak Loop Trail exceeded all expectations.