Northern Loop Trail

 

Northern Loop Trail

• Distance, round trip: 45 miles
• Elevation gain: 8500 feet
• Hiking time, round trip: 3-4 days
• Wilderness Camps: Ipsut Creek, Carbon River, Dick Creek, Mystic Camp, Granite Creek, Berkeley Park, Fire Creek, Lake James, Yellowstone Cliffs

Trailhead Location

From Carbon River (west side)

Begin at the Carbon River Entrance at the northwest border of the park. Flooding altered the roadbed and closed the road to vehicles. Bicycles are allowed on the portion of the trail on the old road bed, from the Carbon River Entrance to Ipsut Creek Campground. Bikes are not allowed on trails past the campground.

From Sunrise (east side)

Begin at 6,400 feet elevation at Sunrise in the northeast corner of the park. Start the hike from the Sourdough Ridge Trailhead north of the main parking lot. From the Sunrise parking lot, follow the trail to the north, which climbs moderately a short distance to the top of Sourdough Ridge. Follow the Sourdough Ridge Trail west to hook up with the Wonderland Trail near Frozen Lake. Follow the Wonderland Trail to the junction with the Northern Loop Trail.

Trail Description

The Northern Loop Trail combined with the northern portion of the Wonderland Trail creates a long loop hike through the most pristine wilderness of the park, through forests and meadows, over rivers, under a cliff of colorful rocks, near the Natural Bridge, past numerous mountain lakes, in ever-changing views of Mount Rainier and its glaciers.

This trail description starts from Carbon River Entrance in the northwest and travels clockwise:
Hike the Carbon River Trail (former road) five miles to Ipsut Creek Campground. From there, follow the Wonderland Trail 1.7 miles to a log bridge crossing over the Carbon River, continuing on to the Northern Loop trail junction.

Take the Northern Loop Trail and begin a series of steep switchbacks, climbing 3,000 feet, mostly in cool forest. Pass Yellowstone Cliffs Camp, with views of Tyee Peak and the Yellowstone Cliffs. Continue onto to Windy Gap, at an elevation of 5,600 feet. At a few hundred yards beyond the top of Windy Gap a side trail leads to Natural Bridge, a 1.75 mile round trip. (This is not a maintained trail.)

The Northern Loop trail descends 1,400 feet in two miles from Windy Gap to a camp at Lake James, at 4,370 feet.

From Lake James, the route drops to a crossing of the West Fork of the White River, then climbing 2,500 feet towards Grand Park. Along the climb at 4.5 miles, a side trail leads to Fire Creek Camp. At 6 miles from Lake James is a junction with Grand Park trail. Continue right another 3 miles to a camp in lower Berkeley Park.

From Berkeley Park Camp, climb one mile through meadows to a junction with the Wonderland Trail (at this point can take the Wonderland Trail east past Frozen Lake to reach Sunrise). To continue the loop, turn right and follow the Wonderland Trail west to cross 6,740-foot Skyscraper Pass. Descend 800 feet to Granite Creek Camp, 4.5 miles from Berkeley Park. From Skyscraper Pass the trail drops a total of 2,100 feet to the snout of the Winthrop Glacier. Cross Winthrop Creek, a tributary of the White River, then climb 1,200 feet to Mystic Lake Camp at 5,700 feet.

To complete the remaining 8 miles of the loop back to Ipsut Creek Campground, the trail climbs 400 feet to a 6,100-foot pass and then descends through Moraine Park to Dick Creek Camp. Follow the Wonderland Trail back to Ipsut Creek Campground, returning to the park entrance via the Carbon River Road.

Backpacking

There are several wilderness camps along this loop trail as noted above in the trail description. Permits are required for camping. Permits and current trail conditions are available at park-wide from wilderness information centers, ranger stations, and visitor centers.

Trail Regulations

• Always check current trail conditions before heading out. Log footbridges frequently wash out during the winter or other conditions could be affecting the trail. Current trail conditions are available park-wide from wilderness information centers, ranger stations, and visitor centers. Check hours of operation.
• Fires are prohibited.
• No pets on trails.
• Treat water before drinking.

 

Pets are not allowed on trails.

At Mount Rainier, pets are NOT allowed on trails, in wilderness and/or off trail areas, inside buildings, in amphitheaters, or on roads closed for winter (service animals excepted). Learn more about pets. 

 

Hiking Safety