Hiking

Skyline Trail at Paradise

A loop through wildflower meadows to a viewpoint face to face with the glaciers of Mount Rainier.

Washington
8.9 km
2 min read

Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Distance: 8.9 km · 5.5 mi
Elevation gain: +520 m · 1,700 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Time needed: 3–5 hours
Route type: Loop
Permit: Not required
Best season: Mid-July to September

Skyline Trail guide at Mount Rainier: Paradise, Myrtle Falls, Glacier Vista, Panorama Point, wildflowers, marmots, snow on the trail, distance, time and the best season.

Overview

This loop of about 8.9 kilometers starts at Paradise, on the south slope of Mount Rainier, and climbs through subalpine meadows to Panorama Point at about 2,070 meters. Along the way, the Nisqually Glacier spills down the mountain right in front of you, and on clear days Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood line the southern horizon.

In late July and August, the meadows of Paradise are covered with lupine, paintbrush and avalanche lilies, and hoary marmots whistle from the rocks. The first stop, Myrtle Falls, is only a short walk on a paved path, so even visitors who do not do the whole loop can see the classic view of the falls with the summit behind.

Snow often covers the upper part of the trail until mid-July, and the route over Panorama Point can be steep and icy early in the season; an alternative path, the Low Skyline Trail, avoids the highest section. Weather changes fast at this height, and clouds can hide the mountain within minutes.

Skyline Trail: stops along the way

1

Paradise (Jackson Visitor Center)

The visitor center and the historic Paradise Inn, where the trail starts.
2

Myrtle Falls

A small waterfall below a stone footbridge, with the summit of Rainier above it.
3

Glacier Vista

A viewpoint above the cracked ice of the Nisqually Glacier.
4

Panorama Point

The high point of the loop, with views south to the volcanoes of the Cascades.

Skyline Trail: good to know

Arrive at Paradise before 9 a.m.; the parking lots fill on summer weekends.
Stay on the trail; the meadows are fragile and slow to recover.
Ask at the visitor center about snow on the trail and take microspikes early in the season.