wBtmmm wcy«yS&jfli .V&2Smmmmmmm\ fmWk\ mmmWmZfWmVWm W&* M §?'/*£¥&LWrnA Ur+Jmmmm m$af •5-t'' s '•* f •' •' '• Jvfl MOUNT • RAINIER NATIONAL • PARK r~Wask inatopis Trail Guide MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK Washington This Trail Guide is printed in such a way that the Wonderland Trail Section 1 is the Carbon River area. By starting a trip in this section of the park (such as the one around Mount Rainier on the Wonderland Trail) the hiker may come out periodically at devel­ oped areas, such as Longmire or Yakima Park, to renew supplies or to dry off if the weather has been wet. However, the hiker may begin long trips anywhere, or short trips as he pleases, by noting the maps in this trail guide and the descriptions of the vari­ ous trails in each sec­ tion. 1 SECTION 1 about 50 feet in a setting of trees, "coasting" and the Mowich Lake Carbon River WONDERLAND TRAIL ferns, and moss-covered rocks. Trail intersection is reached. It is Up again out of the trees and into four-tenths of a mile from here to the sunshine of the alpine meadows beautiful Mowich Lake, which oc­ is a land of flowers and cool, pure cupies an old glacial cirque and is Summary of Trail head wall of a glacial cirque of water. Here are miles of open the largest body of water in Mount Mileages such enormous proportions as to trail through Seattle and Spray Rainier National Park. Mowich is stagger the imagination. At its Parks. In a few spots the trail a Chinook Indian word meaning There are 26.3 miles of the Wonder­ feet begin the ice masses of the Car­ reaches rocky country, snowfields, "deer." land Trail in this section of the park. bon Glacier which have^ helped to and above-timber-line areas. Here From Mowich Lake Trail inter­ Extending from Mystic Lake to the gouge out this tremendous 1 %-mile the trail is in the Arctic-Alpine section the Wonderland Trail fol­ North Puyallup River, the mile­ wide amphitheatre in the side of Zone which is characterized by lows down through the trees to the ages are: Mystic Lake to Cataract volcanic Mount Rainier. The head steadily diminishing species of plant North and South Mowich Rivers Creek Trailside Shelter, 3.7 miles; wall of the cirque is 3,600 feet high. and animal life, until finally barren about 4 miles from the lake. At from this shelter to Mowich Lake But speculations into the "nature rock, snow, and ice are reached. this low elevation (about 2,700 feet) Trail intersection, 8.1 miles; Mowich of things" must give way to practical However, one finds many forms of the flora belongs to the lowest life Lake Trail intersection to Sunset thoughts of traveling on, even though interesting plant and animal life even zone represented in the park—the Park Trailside Shelter, 9.5 miles; one hates to leave the warmth of a at these higher elevations. There Transition Zone, a great contrast to and from this shelter to the end of grassy seat in the shelter of clumps are many alpine flowers blooming the Arctic-Alpine Zone of Spray and the West Side Highway at the bridge of Engelmann spruce, alpine fir, in protected spots. Lupine and Seattle Parks. In the Transition across the North Puyallup River, and mountain hemlock. The trail mountain phlox are common. The Zone one finds such plants as sword- 5 miles. now leads steeply downward into Arctic-Alpine Zone is also the habi­ ferns, devilsclub, alders, vine maple, a narrow meadow called Moraine tat of occasional coyotes, marmots, and willows. Occasional Cottonwood Things To See Along The Park. Here an old vegetated lateral and ground squirrels. Among the trees grow along the river banks, Trail moraine blots out the sight of Carbon birds may be seen pipits, rosy finches, looking very much out of place Glacier so that one seems far away and pine siskins. Here and there amongst the conifers. Both the Mystic Lake, elevation 5,800 feet, from its ice and rock debris. Yet along the trail are smoothly polished North and South Mowich Rivers are is a blue gem of clear water amid all this is close by, as is scon revealed rocks upon whose surface are lines glacial streams subject to sudden pleasant surroundings of meadow- where the trail dips down sharply ("striations," the geologists call them), fluctuations in flow and so it is that land, with the rugged, rocky outline past the snout of the glacier. The a proof positive of glacial polishing they may sometimes be forded easily of Old Desolate Mountain to the terminus of the Carbon Glacier is and scraping in times past. Along in the morning and by afternoon be north. Trout fishing, picture taking, about 3,500 feet in elevation, which these high open trails one finds the muddy torrents. Bridges and foot hiking, or "geologizing" opportu­ may be the lowest point of glacial peace and well-being that comes logs built by the National Park nities in this section of Mount ice anywhere in continental United with warm sun, superb views, the Service are continually being washed Rainier National Park may tempt States. sound of trickling water, flowers, and away, or what is just as bad, the the hiker to spend some time at From Cataract Creek Trailside the absence of man-made "civili­ streams change their courses, leaving Mystic Lake Trailside Shelter. Shelter the Wonderland Trail winds zation." bridges high and dry. From Mystic Lake toward Car­ up by a series of switchbacks until Back again into the trees, a short After one leaves the moist-smelling bon River, the Wonderland Trail the high country is reached. Along side trail gives one a view of Spray lowlands of the Transition Zone, the rises steeply to a divide in alpine­ its lower part are heavy stands of Falls, twisting down over a wide trail again pushes upward. As the like meadow country where may Douglas fir, western hemlock, and area of red-purple rock. A little roar of the Mowich Rivers grows be had unsurpassed views of Willis western red cedar. A short side farther along is another short tenth- fainter in the distance, an old burn Wall, named for Professor Bailey trail (at a point about a mile from of-a-mile side trail which takes one is traversed and one gets an intimate Willis, who explored this section of the shelter cabin) leads to Cataract out to a view spot on Eagle Cliffs. glimpse of the extensive damage done Mount Rainier. Willis Wall is the Falls, a pretty, clear waterfall of More trees and continued down hill by forest fires. Next point of interest 2 CARBON RIVER SECTION OF THE WONDERLAND TRAIL <J0 (SECTION 1) is the Golden Lakes country. There far away from their point of origin. is a trailside shelter here. A stay in Small creeks, cascades, rock slide Longmire-Paradise this area may reward the fisherman areas, the penetrating squeaks of with a frying pan full of tasty trout elusive conies, the thick thimbleberry from the numerous lakes of the bushes, steep overhanging cliffs— SECTION 2 vicinity. these are the things that make the WONDERLAND TRAIL Sunset Park is huckleberry country Ipsut Creek Trail interesting. About in an old burn. A 2-mile side trail a mile and a half from Mowich Lake leads one to the Colonnades Lookout is a branch trail (1.7 miles) to Tolmie Summary of Trail Mileages large Douglas fir, western hemlock, where the guard will be happy not Peak Lookout and clear blue Eunice and some western red cedar. In This section of the Wonderland only to see visitors but to show how Lake at its foot. As with other look­ late summer patches of bleeding Trail (from the North Puyallup the "eyes of the National Park outs in the park, this one "looks out" heart, a red-purple flower, lend River Bridge at the end of the West Service" function in spotting fires. over piled-up miles of rugged park color to open spots along the trail Side Highway to Longmire) is 18.4 The Colonnades Lookout gives one and forest land, with the snowy bulk through the deep woods. The damp miles, or if the hiker continues to a commanding view of "The Moun­ of Mount Rainier ever present northerly slopes on the way to Reflection Lake, in the vicinity of tain," of the valley country to the except when hidden by fog clouds. Klapatche Park are likely sites for Paradise Valley, it is 24 miles. west, and, on certain clear days, of Retracing the 1.7 miles to the inter­ a host of moisture-loving shrubs Starting from the North Puyallup the Puget Sound area backed by the section of the Ipsut Creek Trail, the and plants. River Bridge, Klapatche Park is 2.9 snow-clad Olympic Mountains in hiker is soon on the last lap—a mile Nearing Klapatche Park there is miles; St. Andrews Park, 4.4; South Olympic National Park. The main and a half to Mowich Lake. a sudden transition from woods to Puyallup River, 6.8; Tahoma Creek, trail ends at the road bridge across open-meadow country dotted with 10.8; Indian Henry's Hunting the North Puyallup River. Further Northern Loop Trail Alpine fir clumps. Here and there Ground, 12.3; Kautz Creek, 16.0; description of the Wonderland Trail From Lake James Trailside Shelter are small ponds. This is "park" Rampart Ridge Trail intersection, from this point will be found in to the Carbon River Road is 6.2 country in the Hudsonian Zone (ele­ 16.8; Paradise Road just above Section 2.