One of the most aesthetically pleasing hikes in any national park regardless of the season, the Skyline Trail Loop around Mount Tahoma (Rainier) takes you through stunning scenic landscapes at every twist & turn.
The Skyline Trail Loop is 6.3 mile loop trail in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington. Due to elevation and distance, this hike is considered moderate. Dogs cannot join since this is part of a national park. This hike took us about 3 hours with a few stops to snack and admire the views.
Details:
Directions (Google Maps): To get to the Skyline Trail Loop, search for the Skyline Trail Loop in Ashford, WA or click here.
Directions (old school maps): From Seattle, go south on Highway 5 until you get off on Highway 512. You’ll quickly transition to Highway 7, and then you’ll take Highway 706 until it turns into Paradise Road at the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center.
Driving Info: You’ll lose cell service on parts of this drive. And also expect long wait lines at the entrances if you don’t time it right. Weekends and mid-day are extremely busy.
Time & Weather: We hiked this in late August. It was cold and windy in the morning, despite the sun being out. But as you get walking and warming up the summer months can be pleasant. However, the weather changes dramatically and quickly here, so always check the latest weather reports.
Gear: We wore 1-2 layers for warmth, especially when starting early. The sun is bright due to the presence of snow year-round on the mountain.
Trail Navigation: The trail is easy to follow the entire way.
Water & Food: We drank a couple liters each along with some snacks. There is no water along the trail, although technically you could treat water from the cascading streams.
Trailhead Info: There is a large parking lot for the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center and access to this extremely popular trail. Signs are everywhere, and there are bathrooms available at the trailhead.
Pictures of the Skyline Trail Loop:
*Note: We hiked this loop trail counter-clockwise. Since we started in the morning, this meant we barely encountered anybody on the first half. But once we started descending down the other side of Tahoma (Rainier) we were constantly crossing/passing people.
Not too long into this hike you encounter this magnificent postcard-worthy view.
After breaking to the right you’ll hug this gorgeous alpine hillside. On our hike in August, we saw a black (brown in color) bear foraging the meadows down below.
As you turn in towards the mountain you’ll encounter a variety of streams, which can fluctuate in size depending on the season.
One of many beautiful waterways making its way down the mountain.
Eventually you’ll cross beneath the beautiful Mount Tahoma (Rainier). Even in August we had these spectacular views of the glaciers scattered about.
Tiny alpine meadows covered in colorful wildflowers.
As you descend from the highest point of the trail, you’ll arrive at Panorama Point. On clear days you can see great distances, including the rugged profiles of Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helens, and Mount Hood.
The trail continues to descend back into the valley below. This direction down gives you the new view.
Wind through lush green landscapes that look like fairy-tale land. The parking lot is not much further from here.
**The first of our 2 suggestions to do before/after hiking the Skyline Loop Trail is to drive 5 minutes to Reflection Lake. You can park on the left and wander lakeside with another postcard-worthy view. On days without wind, Tahoma (Rainier) reflects beautifully off the water.
**The second of our 2 suggestions to do before/after hiking the Skyline Loop Trail is to drive less than 5 minutes to Narada Falls. Stretch your legs walking down to this lovely waterfall.
Have fun exploring this phenomenal national park.
Want more? There are plenty of fantastic trails within a few hours drive of Seattle. Check out our list of the best hikes near Seattle to explore places like Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park and more!
